Engine stand?

[Steve K]

Hey forum — I have an engine with I suspect a broken connrod. Planning on pulling the engine and repairing. Haven’t worked on a boat motor before (have done motorcycle and car work).
Plan is to build an overhead gantry to lift the motor. Simple question: will a standard engine stand couple up to the engine? What kind of bolts will I need?

 

[Ronnie]

I don’t think a standard auto engine stand will work. Here are a few pics of one of my engines strapped to a moving dolly. If you plan to use a standard stand you will have to remove the coupler at the back of the crank. My local shop showed me the tool (an insert) they use to do so and said that I would need a long breaker bar and to apply a lot of heat before hand.

one alternative maybe some 2”x4”s on work bench. That’s what I used when moving engines in and out of the boats.

 

[Steve K]

Thanks, Ronnie. Curious if you did bottom-end work on that engine? Seems like that would be fine for the top end, but I’m not sure how easy it would be to pull the crank and rods that way.

Haven’t planned it out yet, but I guess I will head to pull the heads first to get the timing chain removed, then flip it to to the bottom-end. I guess I could lay it on a moving blanket or something, but a stand would make all of this a lot easier.

 

[Ronnie]

I didn’t do any of the engine work myself. A local shop replaced the timing chain on the engine in the pic before I pulled it from the boat.

the timing chain in the other engine broke and damaged about half of the intake And exhaust valves. I ended up giving them that engine in exchange for the diagnostic fees on it as well as the new timing chain.

I see what you mean when you say it would be easier to work on the bottom end of you could flip the engine over. If you remove the plastic covers and coils you may be able to lay the engine upside down on its valve cover and keep it in place with a jog made of wood and or straps.

here are a few more pics for you to consider.

 

[bikerman5345]

Your best bet to put that on a stand is to use the motor mounts bolted to a cradle type stand. Then it will be secure for you to work on.

 

[WREKS]

Thanks, Ronnie. Curious if you did bottom-end work on that engine? Seems like that would be fine for the top end, but I’m not sure how easy it would be to pull the crank and rods that way.

Haven’t planned it out yet, but I guess I will head to pull the heads first to get the timing chain removed, then flip it to to the bottom-end. I guess I could lay it on a moving blanket or something, but a stand would make all of this a lot easier.

In case you do not already know: When you remove the camshafts to remove the head, just do not flip the head. You will lose all the spacers