i'm planning on doing a compression test as well, prior to tearing it apart - not sure how i'm going to make it happen, but I guess we'll see. I was hoping to be able to mount the engine to the stand with the tranny spacer still in tact. maybe some bolt-on braces from the stand bottom to the engine mounts would be a good idea, though - kind of a hybrid engine stand/engine cradle. I like welding projects anyway :-)

I was thinking of something similar. the beam i'll be hanging from in the barn is a double 2x10, with about 12 feet of span. I was thinking I could run diagonal 4x4s up from the vertical posts toward the hoist point in the beam if needed. since I have just the engine on the rolling chassis now, i'm thinking i'll hook it all up, give it a tug with the hoist (a 2-ton chain fall I have) while its still bolted to the frame. if I can get the front wheels up off the ground without any cracking of wood, that should be plenty safe with just the engine on it. worst case is the hoist mount pulls out of the wood (its bolted through the beam) and the chain fall comes down and whacks the engine. ...maybe some plywood over the engine with a hole in it for the chain to pass through is a good idea :-)

for all you guys with engines on stands. sounds like the 1-tonner will hold it well, but does it hold up to some serious wrenching on the engine as well? i'm thinking about my rusted exhaust manifold bolts...

 

I built my 7.3 on the Harbor Freight 2K# stand including torqueing the headstuds to 120 ft-lbs. Other than greasing the engine mount where it plugs into the stand, you should have no problems.

I was a little leery of the stand at first but after using it with the prybar, its a good unit. Never felt tippy or flimsy.

 

well, here's the engine handing from the barn beam hoist and then sitting on the engine stand.

I haven't let the stand take all the weight yet as I tried mounting through the tranny spacer using stock tranny bolts. they're only grabbing a few threads in the block, so I have longer ones on the way from McMaster today.

boy, is that engine massive, though...


a priceless comment from my 3-year old daughter as she's watching me move the frame around getting ready to pluck the engine: "daddy, your engine have a hiney! I have a hiney, too! My hiney is in my underwear. your truck need some underwear." it took me a second, then a realized she was talking about the y-pipe on the back of the turbo. I just about lost it laughing.



here's the whole setup. went much smoother than expected.


and for what its worth - I don't think i'd recommend the harbor freight stand to anyone else. it was $130 and I kind of wish I had spent the extra $30 or so on the Ranger 1-ton stand from Summit. who knows, maybe they come out of the same Chinese factory, but the welds on this HF unit are pretty sloppy and the slots in the plate that the engine mounts to (through the 4 movable arms) are all over the place. 2 of them are OK, one is way too big and one is way too small - like the part moved on the laser/water-jet it was being cut on. I was very close to bringing it back to HF all pissed off, but I was able to make it work, so just dealt with it. ...you get what you pay for...

 

Laser/water jet? I don't think the 7 yr old chinese kids know how to run one of those! JK, glad you got it out ok JP. Gotta love young girls, I have a 3 yr old granddaughter. They sure can say some good ones!

 

you're right! they obviously don't know how to run it!

and yes, they sure do say the darnedest things! now, boys on the other hand - they DO the darnedest things. my 1 year old son is not yet talking, but last night, he climbed up INTO the pots and pans drawer and was standing on top of the pans looking proud as could be before my wife noticed and ran over and grabbed him.

my daughter listens quite well when I have her down in the barn working with me. ...she never shuts up, but listens well. i'm genuinely afraid my son will hurt himself when the time comes to bring him down there with me!

anyway, the engine is out - now its time to get to work tearing it down to put the 'go fast' stuff on it!

 

Sounds like a normal young boy to me!!!

 

yeah, I was actually quite proud of him. glad he didn't get hurt, but impressed that he could climb up there and stand like that.

 

the ol rooster pose!

 

Are you going to rebuild the motor or just put goodies on it? Definitely do both manifolds, PITA in the truck.

Skip, I'm with you on the FTE shirt, its a no show!

 

I'm def going to paint and reseal the oil pan and exhaust manifolds. Going to upgrade turbo, HPOP and injectors for sure. I'll do a compression test on the stand and inspect the bottom end real well. Also plan to do the lpop and front cover as well as leaking rear mainseal. Not planning on head removal unless something is wrong with compression or valves. Sound like a reasonable plan?

 

Yes, sounds like a good plan!! If you have any plans at all in the future I would put studs, springs and push rods in. Don't forget the collector donuts or if you have plans for bellows then that's no big deal.

Edit: plans for 'big power'.

 

they stop giving out shirts or what??? heck thats the only reason i do the 3 years!

 

Oh yeah bellowed up pipes for sure. I figure, I'll do all the inspection work first, then tailor the final plan accordingly.

About the studs and springs. I've read that studs are only needed as you approach 500hp. I don't really plane to go that high...

And for the springs - can you do them with the heads in place or do you have to pull them?

Also, what's with the t-shirts? I like t-shirts, but I don't follow... :-)

 

Anything over 30+ boost, head studs are recommend. I've also read over 40psi boost, so take your pick. Springs can be done with the heads in place. In the truck the studs and springs in the back are hard to get at.

If you sign up as a supporter for 3 yrs., then you are suppose to get a T shirt. I only did one year so I guess I don't qualify.

 

Sounds like I might as well do studs now just to be safe. Def want to do as much now while its all easy to get at, right?

I'll have to look into springs - anyone got any good reading recommendations on where to get and how to do springs?

How about all the HPO plugs in the heads? Think I should pull them all and re-o-ring now? i know some of those are tough/impossible to get at in the truck.