Supporting engine from above... Without a crane?

[Caffienated]

Okay, it would take far to long to rant about why I don't have access to my own lovely SC10, but it turns out I can't get at it.

I need to remove and replace my front subframe, which obviously carries the main engine and gearbox mounts, and so I need to support the engine, and a crane would be ideal.

Hiring one's going to be problematic cos I'm only off on Sunday, when the tool places are all closed, and the only ppl locally I can trust to collect and return it for me wouldn't physically be able to load or unload it.

Buying one just to get it delivered sounds a bit extreme!

I've seen support beams used on other cars that basically bolt to the strut towers and allow you to temporarily support the engine on the vehicle's own suspension.

Are these standard or model specific, and can I use one for this job? Thought is that it'd be a much easier thing to move about...

Ta!

T.

 

[Caffienated]

...just had a quick browse (boring day at work! )

Found a few possible products in the 40-50 quid range, inc delivery.

So this isn't really about possibility anymore, more about any super deals anyone knows of or particular recommendations.

Right now I'm leaning toward the Sealey 300kg jobby on justoffbase.

Anyone know how much load I actually need to support? I've shifted gearboxes and engines about seperately, and yes, they're heavy, but 300 kilos??? Surely that's overspec'd for an AGG+O2?

 

[Slimy]

Is this the sort of thing you're looking at?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...ox-support/path/workshop-cranes-engine-stands

I would think a 300kg support would be enough for most 4 pot engines.

 

[Caffienated]

Yups, that sort of thing...

Seen a Sealey branded one for 56 inc free delivery on justoffbase, so probably go for that instead, spec is basically identical.

Weight question was more 'isn't 300kilos overkill for a beezer?', but haven't found anything lower rated on a brief search, so I guess this is probably it...

Ta!

T.

 

[crossedmike]

do you not have a strucutal beam in a garge you could use a chain thru or round to then lift the wngine witht the support of a jack then bolt the chain to the floor i do this

 

[Caffienated]

Sadly no suitable beam, and no suitable garage anymore either... Umm... *hangs head in shame* umm... Imighthavedroppedthecarintotherollershutterdoor... :blush:

 

[crossedmike]

Sadly no suitable beam, and no suitable garage anymore either... Umm... *hangs head in shame* umm... Imighthavedroppedthecarintotherollershutterdoor... :blush:

haha took me 2 attempts to get the structual beam as i noticed flex each time could of caved mine in haha

 

[Caffienated]

I've always assessed rsj's in garages for lifting suitability by swinging on them and doing a few pull ups. If I don't like the look of them I don't chance it.

But yeah, my (dad's) door... I was too tired to be working alone tbh, and I forgot to chock the front or put the car in gear. I had the axle stands at all three holes on the jack loops, and the wheels off the back. I'd been under looking at the strut bottom mounts and heaving the exhaust around to get better access. I leaned up against the boot while chatting on the phone and the car rolled forward off the stands into the door...

So lucky I wasn't underneath heaving on something! Also lucky the car came out unscathed apart from bending the rear disc shields a bit and mashing the jack loops a bit...

Shame I can't say the same about the seemingly fragile shutter door...

 

[crossedmike]

I've always assessed rsj's in garages for lifting suitability by swinging on them and doing a few pull ups. If I don't like the look of them I don't chance it.

But yeah, my (dad's) door... I was too tired to be working alone tbh, and I forgot to chock the front or put the car in gear. I had the axle stands at all three holes on the jack loops, and the wheels off the back. I'd been under looking at the strut bottom mounts and heaving the exhaust around to get better access. I leaned up against the boot while chatting on the phone and the car rolled forward off the stands into the door...

So lucky I wasn't underneath heaving on something! Also lucky the car came out unscathed apart from bending the rear disc shields a bit and mashing the jack loops a bit...

Shame I can't say the same about the seemingly fragile shutter door...

haha im light so dont make that much different if i swing haah

 

[Caffienated]

I'm not a fatty! Sure I'm 11.5st, but at 5'11" that's not beef!

What I mean is, if the beam flexes with me on it, I'm not going to consider heaving an engine on it. A proper rsj shouldn't, but I've seen a few feasible looking beams in garages that aren't strong enough to be structural and don't seem to have any other purpose...