Hemi storage cradle / dolly plans?

Hi, does anyone have a blueprint to build a little dolly or cradle for storing Gen 2 hemis? I used to have one that bolted onto the motor mount holes and the bell housing area. It would be nice if it left the bellhousing flange open to put a transmission on it if needed.

Thanks, Joel

Just use an old semi tire. I’m sure you have a few laying around.

My engine cradle just mounts on the front side of the bell housing face, so I could have the bell indexed.

I used to have a nice one I got from Lofgren, but I don't know what happened to it. It would be nice to get a good design, set up the chop saw and the welder, and knock out a few assembly line style.

Something a little more precise and steady...

I'd send you a picture of mine, but it is at Harlans at this time.

OK, I'll check back with you on that in 6 months.

Wedge and Hemi are different anyway.

Yes, but easy to do. Just bolts up differently, just like my INDY block.

I used to make them but I stopped. Bob Mazzolini was making Hemi dollies but not sure if he still is.

If I design one, I'll make to fit onto a $15 Harbor Freight furniture dolly. Cheaper than buying caster wheels, and can be set in a truck bed without the wheels for stability.

Harbor Freight, and stability do not go hand in hand. LOL.

Im sure its there somewhere. Look again

What I use for an engine dolly on old engines (usually short blocks) are the Harbor Freight car dollies.
They don't roll very well with a car on them, but do just fine with an engine.

They could have brackets welded to them to bolt an engine on them like AndyF's pic.
They would be strong with less fabrication needed than building from scratch, you just need brackets to bolt the engine in place.

Here's mine, no prints but tape measure and a chop saw will almost get you there.
Also have seen more than one grocery cart sacrificed for the cause....

I think this is the one that Summit sells.

IMG_1921 by Greg Ault, on Flickr

How about one of each flavor?

Steel caster roller roll way better than the rubber tires one due, at least in my shop

I found this one on e-bay - its very well built

www.rcrmetalfab.com 1-219-808-6268

I haven't had success going that route. I built six dollies using the Harbor Freight 1000# furniture dollies. There are two problems. The first is the casters, they are too small in diameter and of poor quality. With the weight of a fully dressed out 440 you can barely move it as they catch on every minor defect in the floor. After you have moved them around for a while, loaded all the time, the casters start deteriorating making it harder to push. The second is the dolly itself, I made a box on top of the dolly that the oil pan fits into. Even with this additional reinforcement, with the constant load of an engine the dolly starts to sag.

The next one is going to be steel square tube and at least 3" diameter casters.

Exactly. I tried a bunch of different designs when I first started building engine dollies and ended up with a steel frame and 5 inch poly casters. Nothing else held up or worked for very long.

I’ve built a few out of 1-1/2” square .083” wall. They are plenty beefy. Some i used the factoru munt brackets welded to the cradle, and others i just got some 3/8” ppipe welded to arm supports for ft mounts.

^^^ I like Those^^^