Engine testing stand

chromebumpers

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
Providing you have a good fan and do your own welding, could you take a motor storage stand, (not the type that swivels 360 degrees) and made it more stable with provisions to mount a radiator and some gauges and come out less than $300?
 
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http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-test-run-stand.930/#post-40783

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rotator-for-engine-stand.734137/#post-8155589

few of us will build an engine test stand,
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but many of us use an engine assembly stand, but if you want to build an engine test stand its certainly a useful tool.

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-stand-bolt-sizes.8443/#post-29605

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-stand-mods-accesories.3724/page-2#post-44298

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-test-run-stand.930/#post-40783

related info
all these stands are CHEAP and not high quality but the better ones are functional

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a trip to the emergency room waiting on your first stupid move


[
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a bit better but not much


these two lower stands are at least functional and reasonably stable,
Ive got 3 of one design and one of the other design in my shop, and after installing much better casters they provide a functional economical engine stand



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easily fold-able if not used


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a good basic low cost ,stable stand for very little cash out lay


if you have some spare gauges and sensors, an old radiator,
4 sturdy swivel castors and lets at 20 ft of scrap 2" box tube,
and maybe 20 ft of 1" box or similar scrap steel like 2" angle iron,
I think you could get in under $300,
the linked thread should be useful

obviously having a few tools to fabricate with , and a bit of previous experince is a huge advantage
sitting down and sketching it out first always helps

TOP QUALITY MIG THAT WILL HANDLE 95% OF AUTOMOTIVE WELDING
and a bit of careful measuring and a bit of ingenuity, and some thinking about what your trying to accomplish can do wonders
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http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-cus ... 46819.html
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Here's the last one I cobbled together out of a partial kit and misc stuff laying around in the shop I was working in. The pains about them are needing a bell housing and most of the pre made kits aren't high enough off the ground for a hoist to roll under. If you look at all the pics above you'll see there isn't enough ground clearance for an engine hoist leg. So you end up raising the run stand on blocks to be able to use a typical engine hoist. I used a fork lift but not everyone has one of those handy.

You could build a stand from scratch for less than $300. Not including radiator, battery, fuel tank, and fan. Simple key switch, gauges and wires would be included.

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...litronix-gauges-take-a-look.12281/#post-77995

 
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Mine is made from a super heavy duty home-made engine stand. If you forget about using a radiator and just use your garden hose, then it is much simpler.
Plus you can control the temperature by how fast the cold water flows into the block. Another benefit is that there is no pressurized cooling system used that could blow a hose off and burn you with hot water.
 
while I'm a bit hesitant to fully agree with substituting a garden hose water flow,
into the engine,as a coolant supply, for the use of a radiator on an engine test stand,
the idea has some areas of merit worth looking at, and just to be a bit clearer,
Ive generally advised using a garden hose and its water flow pouring over the outer surface,
of a radiator on the test stand to further speed cooling of the pressurized coolant in that radiator,
and running a test stand outside in the drive way vs inside the shop,
JUST in case something goes unexpectedly wrong...
especially if it could even remotely involve fire from leaking pressurized fuel!

for what should be all to obvious reasons
simply because if you have a grasp on the potential risks,
youll want to limit your potential losses.
(and having a fire extinguisher readily at hand,
and not having the engine or car starting up under questionable conditions,

in a confined space attached to your shop or home,
makes a good deal of sense)

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http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-fire-extinguisher-handy.81/page-2#post-42551
 
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