Engine run test stands

Has anyone ever bought one of these from the Walmart site? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobile-Engine-Testing-Station

Buddy of mine has one. At that price he couldn't resist. Hasn't used it yet. Looks "ok" but you get what you pay for ... $ 220. !!

I know it's cheap. Just something to use once and fold it up and put it in the corner of the garage. Brother has a welder and figured we could make something work to test fire a new build to break in a cam and check for leaks... That price just has me thinking

Me and my dad built one out of scrap laying around the shop about 15 years ago. Used factory motor mounts and an old 4 speed bellhousing to mount it up. Couple of toggle switches, old MSD box, old fuel pump and gas jug on the floor, some cheap gauges, etc. Very nice to have for cam break in and head retorquing. Mine aint pretty, but it works great.

I always pre-run/break-in my engines before I install them. And I just set them on a used truck tire with the radiator screwed to 2 2x4s. It's not pretty, but has worked for me a dozen times or more.

We could build one I guess. I just figured this would be easier and take less time than building one.

I have never seen one half that price. Its funny they have another that is just about ten times more expensive than this one. I am not sure how they are going to start the engine in the picture. Bare crank flange out the back!

Keep us posted on this.

On second glance I think that engine has been photo shopped into the stand lol.

I got mine from Summit. Yeah, it cost a bit more. $500 + $100 for the gauges. But it's strong as hell, works real well, rolls around my garage easy enough, and I feel comfortable with my motors hanging off of them. I feel I got my money's worth.

For $219.00 the Walmart rig is really not a bad deal, comes with gauges, fuel tank, and even some engine sending units and small parts. Perfect for a spare that's for sure. Not a piller of strength but sturdy enough, I'm sure it will work just fine.

Here's a working link Walmart Test Stand

Thanks for the photos.

Summit sells what appears to be the same unit for about $100 more.

Somebody there complained that it was a one gallon tank rather than the five gallon tank described but I think I would prefer small tank.

Do you plan to mount a radiator? If so what is the plan.

Thanks,
Bill

Barry I bought some plans and started building my own because I didn't want to buy a cheap piece of crap and bandaid it to make it stronger. Mine is about 80% finished, bought gauges, and I bought a fixture off a Moparts member to mount a starter on a big block. I think I have it sold as I have been trying to clean-up some but if the deal falls through I can let you know if you are interested. It is made to fold up so you can lean it against the wall if you want to.


New engine breakin bench 003 by John Cadamore, on Flickr

engine stand 001 by John Cadamore, on Flickr


engine stand 002 by John Cadamore, on Flickr

Does anyone make something like this for a small block?

Thanks,
Bill

any pics showing what these adapter[s] look like ?

w/r/t break in on a stand: the rings will only seat from combustion pressure, must be run against a load.

Built this from free scrap, yes it looks like a free test stand

No need for a radiator, just hook upp your garden hose and regulate the engine temp whit a ball valve..... and you have "free" hot water in the other garden hose...

I kinda like to tinker so it looked like a cool project. But I mainly did it because both Matt and I were running solid lifter cams in our engines. I figured because I take my inner springs out it would keep my old, fat butt from stretching over the fender replacing the inner springs. Now I only have one engine (my 422) with a solid lifter cam and I hope to put a roller cam in it eventually.

i built my own using a stock k frame and some old scrap. make sure its tall enough your cherry picker legs will slide under it.


Untitled by nevin saum, on Flickr
Untitled by nevin saum, on Flickr
Untitled by nevin saum, on Flickr

I just used an extra k frame. I was able to make sure headers cleared everything while being able to run in the engine. I had the K frame sitting on jack stands. I bundled a radiator and box fan together and sat it in front of the engine. I used a bell housing and some scrap steel to make a panel with gauges, switch and orange box. It wasn't portable, but worked well.

So what are you fellas using for a fly wheel when you run on a test stand?
Would an old torque converter work?

Thanks,

Digger73 (Mike)

I made brackets that sit on the legs of a engine hoist (cherry picker). Space is a premium in my garage, and I didn't want to have to store something else that took up a lot of room and was hard to move around. The 2 brackets I made take up very little space, and are not heavy at all. All the steel was scrap I had laying around, so it cost me nothing except a little time to make it. I also made a switch panel and wiring with a spare Chrysler electronic ignition box I had that attaches to the hoist with 2 bolts when I use it as a "run stand". Same with oil pressure and temperature gauges. I have used this several times and it works great and it's very easy to set up. Works with both small blocks and big blocks.

^^^ Trick! I like that.

You can cut down a torque convertor to use the ringgear only.
I wouldn't use a complete torqueconvertor for balancing reasons. The insides won't be held centered because there's no transmission input shaft.

I mounted a neutral flywheel against the B&M balanced flexplate and used slightly longer bolts into the crank flange.


I build mine from a spare cart and some scrap metal.
Here it is with a 360ci Small Block installed;

let me know John. Terry and I are looking for something like this.

You folks are really creative and have great fabrication skills that's for sure!

If you were so inclined, I'd suggest you have a sellable product with that.

- EM

The cherry picker mounted one is very clever, good work.

Yall would laugh if you saw mine, lol. When I said we built it out of scrap, that's exactly what it is...pieces from an old combine, etc. lol

Now that's a great idea ... I already have the folding engine crane ... just need to make some mounting brackets!

Lets have a look, pics please! On a side note someone mentioned loading the eng, I'm wondering if you build one with a functioning 727 behind it is there a way to load the eng to help with ring seating? here is a good read on this: go to www.mototuneusa.com then scroll down & click on "breakin secrets". their take is that you get ONE shot to get an excellent ring sealthat will give good leakdown numbers as opposed to a "good" or "so so" ring seal & the gist of it is to load the eng repeatedly by goosing the throttle during the breakin. Andy I like your that stand is more open in the back cuz I need more access to that area & my next one will be able to be rotated for sure.

OUTLAWSSAA,

Are you just using the transmission as a bellhousing with a flywheel or do you have a pump and a converter in there?

Thanks,
Bill

Been using that Walmart test stand for a few years,works fine. Had to do some minor mods to the stand for the block motor mount hook up.

I need to take a pick of my fugly deal, I bent the ramps I load my bobcat with so I cut one in half and each part got a motor mount and a rad across the front.

I cut the other ramp in half, drilled holes for the trans tail mount and thats that.

Like a fat chick or a honda 50.

Best of all time right here!

Good view @ 3:45

https://youtu.be/UjBkk_1mcC4I