Just go buy one. You're 16 you'll still be using it 30 yaers from now.

 

And you'll have "friends" come out of the woodwork :-)

see what happened in my shop, when my friends discovered my tools...

scroll down this page: http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/toys11092004.htm

 

that's pretty damn funny.
I have a bunch of stray's that hang around to
except the fridge is stocked with Coke products dad's fridge is stocked with the beer.
I have reserved an engine lift for sat-monday for 34.50 from Sunbelt.
I'm probally gonna buy one when i start working again some time around late April.
I like to stash my money and save it and don't like spend it so when i start working again if i can part with some i think i just might buy one.

 

Took the words right out of my mouth. And he's right about the 30 years. By the time your 46, you should have enough money and the wisdom that comes with those 30 years to let someone else do it. Until then it is great to have around and you will likely gain some valuable experience. They are good for jons other than pulling engines. You'll be surprised at how many uses you will find for one. Case in point, when you are a little older and have a house and a wife that wants her flower beds redone, the are great for pulling large, well rooted shrubs. At least mine was. Also niec for lifting heavy object into the back of a pick-up truck.

Good luck with your project.

 

GTEX, I had the same problem. Everyone knew there was always some cold ones in the fridge so the shop became a popular hangout. I happened on an old RC Cola machine and it helped recoup some expenses and everyone still came by.

 

Rent one on a Friday from a rental outfit that isn't open on the weekend. 3 nights of use for the price of one.

 

Buy one if you have the room to store it, and feel like dragging it around for the rest of your life. Or just rent one from your local rental yard. Kind of tough if you are working on the vehicle you will need to pull the thing.
My dad pulled an engine out of a 58 F100 years ago and he bought 3 6X6's from the lumber yard. He run one along the 2x4 cross joist, and installed the two uprights up to it. With the top board held againist the 2X4, the two uprights were cut a little longer and drove in place with a sledge hammer. So that when finished he could drop the side units and lay them on the floor. The top board stayed in place.

 

angus thats what i did there not open on sundays so i get it for sat. sun. and part of monday.

 

I was in the same situation, I couldnt justify buying one because of their price and how often I would use one. I always borrowed one from my dads buddy until he ruined his (somehow bent the main arm on it while working on his dozer) when I was needing it pretty bad so I looked through the local trading post and found a used one for $100. In my opinion it is one of the best investments I have ever made. I found other uses for it like hanging things from while painting them, I made a sling to pull the front clip from my trucks while working on them(im a big guy and i like the easy access), not to mention moving extremely heavy objects around the garage and basement by myself(woodstove and freezer). Once you get one youll be glad you did.Just my 2 cents.
Oh yeah i forgot to mention it also comes in handy while putting my 39's back on after brake jobs and axle work. Trust me you'll find more uses than just pulling engines.

 

I use our John Deere 3010 with a front end loader. I've taken out a 300-6, a 270-6, and a big freaking diesel out of our main tractor, which picked the rear of the tractor up off the ground. Works like a charm on gassers, just not diesels.

 

Agreed, just buy it... and pick up a couple of extra engine stands or storage cradles, too. It was AFTER the engine from my dumptruck was hanging on my cherrypicker that I realized that all 3 of my stands were "occupied". I now have a 4th. You will be the most popular kid on the block when the guys find out what you got. And that $34.50 you are ponying up for a rental? That could be YOUR $34.50 every time those moochers need one. At least till it's paid for itself, then drop the rental fee to a case of Coke. (Add two cans for every extra day they keep it, trust me......) I had a line of people wanting to come over and use my 2-post lift even before it was delivered!

 

Since you live on a farm, I am going to suggest you build or borrow a swingset. Make it a large enough swing set you can get around a vehicle. Strong to handle an engine, though.

Make two 'A' frames, with a fairly strong center beam at the top of them.

Then when your done, just take the beam off and lean up the 2 a frames against the barn.

You would be surprised at how useful it is.

I made a huge (12 foot span, 12 feet high) A frame in front of my garage. I think I may have a pic of it in my gallery. Anyway, I made mine out of 6X6's, and an 8 inch steel beam I found in a field at a buddy's place one day. I put a chain pull up there and used it to pull my 7.3L diesel out of and into my F350 and F250's.

As well, I have used it to lift trailers, cars, etc, anything you need to get under to do work (with blocking after it is up of course).

Point is, I built it from cheap materials, and it will last as long as the wife puts up with the eyesore...