ok guys, spring break is comin up for me(hardly spring yet, but whatever) and im ready to get my engine runnin. i want to build a test stand, and i have thought of a new idea....i was thinkin about putting a piece of 1/4 steel (somethin like 26" X 26") on the back of the engine(drill it like a bellhousing, with a hole for the flexplate cut in the middle and a small hole to the side for the starter. then weld the plate to 2 pieces of tube steel, then use some kind of mounts(factory rubber or solid mounted?) to the tube steel, then make some legs with casters on them. anybody think this would work? would a 1/4 steel plate hold the weight ok? my dad and i seem to think it would, but i could always just bolt the auto tranny up to it i guess, but i didnt really want to do that. any info would be great.

thanks,
mike

 

When I went to school, we built a cradle type frame that the motor mounts bolted to.
This cradle allowed for a 2 gallon fuel tank,radiator,battery holder,
small metal flat bar instrument console for quick connect gauges.
All this on a 3'x 4'cradle on 4 warehouse style wheels to move it around easier.

When you're done , Sell it to a school.



Dennis



Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"


78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon

 

If I were building an engine stand, I would make the front mount similar to what you described. I would do the flywheel end differently. I would increase the length of the bottom rails so that I could mount a bellhousing to the motor. You can probably find either a stick or C4 auto bellhousing and then make a plate to bolt to these holes. This allows you to mount a starter via the bellhousing so you can crank the engine if you so desire. If you have no plans of ever cranking the engine on the stand, you could use some plate or angle to attach to the engine in the lower two bellhousing bolt holes on each side of the block.

Just my .02

 

I have done what you describe and use it as the rear mount on my modified tractor. Only I made it out of 5/32 mild steel plate.Make some front motor mounts as well. I just used the original tin plate that comes in between the engine and tranny and used it as a template. Starter bolts up and away you go. I am currently working on a similer but more involved project. I am hooking a diff up directly to the crank and then i plan on using the brakes to put a load on the engine. Sort of a poor man's dyno.