Engine Stand - How does it grip?

[wainstones]

I've just taken the engine out of my Beta ready to start a rebuild and I thought I'd be clever by mounting it on a purpose built engine stand. The stand is made by Sealey, has a 450 kg limit and the bracket for the engine comprises a back plate with four adjustable fingers and short (2 inch) prongs at the ends. Having seperated and removed the gearbox, removed the exhaust manifold and cleared the driveshaft centre section, I really can't see how these prongs are supposed to engage in a safe and secure way. I've tried offering it up but cannot imagine that it will hold securely when I start applying torque during the stripdown. Am I being really stupid here? Should I be fabricating a method of bolting the engine to the stand? I've read the Sealey instructions but they just cover assembly.

Chris

[Pope1]

Chris,

As far as I can tell, you're supposed to find holes in the end of the block that you can bolt to. You position the fingers to correspond to where the bolt holes are and put the bolts though the 2" prongs on the end of the fingers. I've never performed this operation so I don't know what our blocks have in the way of suitable holes, presumably at the flywheel end.

Have a look at this link and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=020110455

[Maigret]

The idea is to pick up the bolt holes that the gearbox uses.
You may need longer tubes to clear the flywheel or remove flywheel first.

[wainstones]

Thanks Pope 1 and Maigret - now I understand. What confused me was the picture in Guy Croft's manual that shows an engine stand connected to the back of the engine. It now appears that he has used bolts through the stand back-plate into the threads from the drive shaft centre section support bracket. I'll need to have a look at mine again when I get back to my garage next week.

Chris

[Will]

I've found the best way is to bolt the EXHAUST SIDE of the engine to the stand. I know this sounds odd, but it lets you build the whole engine (less the head) on the stand without having to screw around with the stand to get the crank, inspection plate, flywheel, etc. mounted.
To do this, turn the head of the stand 90 degrees, so the rectangular plate is oriented vertically. Then drill the stand's plate and bolt into the motor mount holes, keeping the block low enough that the sump seam is below the edge of the stand's plate. Then drill and bolt the upper part of the plate into the upper rear engine mount. You may have to use a stack of washers between the mount and plate to get the motor vertical.
Now you can use the stand to spin the engine END FOR END- pretty slick, eh? It's surprisingly easy to perform tasks like honing cylinders when they are pointing towards you. No more pushing the crank around to fit those thrust washers either, just tilt the motor and drop them in!
-Will

[Wallace]

I've seen that too - but I've never liked it as you're supporting the complete engine (if you do a full rebuild) on only 4 M8 studs . . .I'll try and take a photo this week (yes - mine is STILL on it's stand and NOT in the engine bay . . . :cry: )

[Wallace]

Try

http://www.lancisti.net/forum/modules.php?set_albumName=album53&id=IMGP0994&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Wallace's photoalbum - the second page.

[wainstones]

Thank you for your thoughts and experiences on how best to secure a Lancia engine to a stand. I have opted to drill the stand's back plate where required and bolt this to my engine using just those 4 x M8 bolts at the bottom of the block on the exhaust manifold side. It seems to be very well supported and gives me all the access I need for the rebuild.
If it all goes horribly wrong now - I'll let you know!

[Will]

The Abarth shop stand is pretty handy for an engine that has the bottom end put together already, and is a great item for wheel-around storage. I don't know if anyone else here has got one, but I could take some detail pics with dimensions if there was enough interest and folks wanted to "roll thier own".
-Will