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Guys - I'll be building Dad's engine soon and then plan to take it back to the machine shop to have it dyno'd. So, I need some way to get it there safely, and an engine stand in the back of a pickup isn't the way to do that. Given that, I've designed what I'm calling an engine "cradle" - but what would you call it? And, what suggestions do you have?
It is designed to fit into the corrugations of a 2015 F150 bed, although that may be the same as earlier years - I haven't checked. Anyway, 1 3/4" square tubing is a very good fit, so that's what I'm planning to use. I've only roughly drawn the engine block and pan, so things look a bit odd w/o the heads, intake, etc. But, the dimensions are correct. However, I don't have the holes in the mount plates properly displayed. Nor, do I have the bolts at the rear which go into the bell housing bolt holes shown. But, you'll get the idea I think.
Here's the first shot from the driver's side front:
This is from the driver's side rear:
And this one, from the driver's front but low, shows the bolt hole in the bell housing:
I am guessing the red portion is the oil pan? The black portion being the block?
Yup. I didn't take any time to make the pan look real, just made it a box that goes as low as the very bottom of the real pan. That way I could make sure that it would clear the bed of the truck.
I like it so far. However, there should be a cut out at the bottom for forklift forks. I know you will be using a shop crane, but the machine shop may have a forklift. So you would be strapping it from lifting eyes (which should be included on the cradle as well) with the shop crane, but wherever it may be going could be equipped with a forklift.
A forklift could use a strap and ****** it up like the shop crane too. That would have it swinging with a chance of an accident and also limits how low the mast can be lowered and may cause issues going in and out of overhead doors.
Maybe something like some beefy rectangular tubing pieces about 6" long and sized big enough for forks welded to the outside of the bottom?? Simple enough and wide enough being attached to the outside of the cradle. Maybe midway up so the forks dont have to slide in on the bed?
Brandon - I like the idea of stubs sticking out for forklift forks to hit. But, I don't know anything about a forklift. How close together can the forks be? And, are they easily adjustable?
Lifting eyes? Hadn't thought of that. Hmmmm, where would you look for them?
Chris - I might have a dollar or two in this engine, plus a lot of time painting or powder-coating the parts. So, no tire for me. In fact, if you remember, I used both a tire and the shop crane to get the $40 400 home in Rusty. And, it was that experience that told me there must be a better way.
I think Wholesale tool used have a variety of lifting eyes in stock.
As far as the forks go. They are easily slid in and out and I think the adjustment is quite variable. So they can slide them in or out to fit what you have/ I need to measure to the width and height of them to see what you need to accomodate them. I am going to the suplly house today. I will measure them.
Also, I think the cradle needs to be somewhat universal as far as how the engine secured. What if you want to use it for the Bee's engine too? Something needs to be slotted or sliding with pins. I dont know what , but dont make a dedicated 351M/400 cradle. What if you want to do a 454 in the Chevy truck?
And, very good point on the cradle being universal - at least for a V8. Now, that kind of idea, as well as the forklift and lifting eyes, is exactly why I posted on here. Thanks!
If it will accommodate a V8 then it should easily accommodate most V6's too because most of them are just like the V8's minus a couple of cylinders. It will probably accommodate some other engines as well (300 I6) just because they all fit up the trucks and cars somewhat similar.
In other words because you are designing it around the bigger engines gives it a better chance to be applicable for smaller engines where if you were designing it for a smaller it probably wouldnt work on the bigger as easily.
Forklift forks on a machine shop lift are bound to be nasty.
Consider that 99% of the pallets you can find will have a 'normal' width, and have slots on the side so they can get out if boxed in from the end.
Why not make it easy on the guy and conform to standard?
(He will have to shift them, set them back for *everything* else he does that day, shift them back to get *you* out of the shop, and set them back to normal)
Or even make it easy on *you* and just bolt your frame *to* a pallet?
