Re: Engine install from bottom?
[Re: PJM]
#114552
09/03/08 03:11 PM
09/03/08 03:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,168 Vancouver, WA
MoparMarq
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,168
Vancouver, WA
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My goal is the same, though I've not actually done it yet.
My "plan" is to roll the engine/trans/k-frame assembly on my home-made dollies under the car and lower the car down onto the k-frame in the correct location, adjusting the dollies as necessary, to make the k-frame/frame rail bolt hold line up.
The car is support by jack stands now. The rear jack stands are located under/at the mounting locations for the front spring hangers. My spring hanger mount bulkheads are boxed, so they're stiffer, although I don't think it matters. The front jack stands are under the rails by the forward torque boxes. With the rear wheels removed, so that no weight is supported by the rear springs (which makes the front of the car more difficult to lift), I can actually lift the front of the car by the front bumper by hand (OK, both hands). Pretty easy to do since there's no engine or trans in. It would probably be even easier if I put a couple hundred pounds of dead weight in the trunk (say, a Homeowner's Association officer).
Anyway, the k-frame ears might not be high enough to pull this off, but I can always shim up the k-frame on the dolly with more 2x4s. Getting the front of the car up high enough to slide the whole thing under shouldn't be a problem as it's easily liftable by two guys and the rear valence is high enough off the floor it shouldn't hit.
A lot of guys make a rig to bolt to the front frame rails and lift the front with a hoist. I didn't want to go that route, since (1) I don't have the extra steel tubing laying around, (2) I can't weld, and (3) my front bumper was on already to make space for the engine/trans (no matter how big the garage is, there's always a "space" issue).
Additionally, a lot guys will completely assemble the k-frame; including the spindles/brakes. I needed to work on my brakes, so they're already installed. I'll just remove the rotors when the time comes, bolt it all up, then put the rotors/calipers back on. Even with the rotors on the front, I could still lift the front without too much trouble. I'll post a series of pics...
This first one is of the engine/k-frame dolly and trans dolly. The engine/k-frame dolly is actually a generic engine dolly (from Harbor or Jegs, I don't remember) with the uprights removed. The dolly under the trans is a regular wheel dolly with 2x4s for leveling. All the weight is on the k-frame and under the trans, none on the pan, though it looks like it. -Marq
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Re: Engine install from bottom?
[Re: MoparMarq]
#114553
09/03/08 03:17 PM
09/03/08 03:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,168 Vancouver, WA
MoparMarq
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,168
Vancouver, WA
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This one is of the front of the dolly. It looks like the casters are attached to the 3/4" plywood, but they're part of a steel frame engine dolly. You could probably just as easily make a dolly out of 1" plywood and 4 casters. I had to taper the front so that it would fit between the outriggers of the engine hoist. Obviously needed the engine hoist to get the engine mounted on the k-frame in the first place. The k-frame has a small skid plate on it, so it won't rest level on the plywood without the 2x4s underneath. Didn't matter, though, as I needed the extra height anyway, so that the control arms, tie rods,and lower ball joints would sit above the engine hoist outriggers also.
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Re: Engine install from bottom?
[Re: MoparMarq]
#114559
09/03/08 03:47 PM
09/03/08 03:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,383 Az
69hemibeep
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,383
Az
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I was going to remove the wheels from my rotisserie so I could roll the motor over the center bar and use the rotisserie as a lift. But now I have access to a lift.
1969 Hemi Roadrunner 2nd owner
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Re: Engine install from bottom?
[Re: 71rm23]
#114561
09/03/08 04:17 PM
09/03/08 04:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,105 Horsham, Pa.
Finoke
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,105
Horsham, Pa.
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Quote:
Check out:
www.uscartool.com
Talk to John. He might be a member here(not sure). There are pictures etc on what you need
I have my engine and trans on the K frame dolly (uscartool). I plan to plop my /6 with trans on it after the hemi goes in from the bottom.
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