MS wrote:

My back is getting too fragile to wrestle fully assembled engines while rotating them on the stand. This thing was cheaper than even one doctor visit…

Yeah, Thursday night my longblock almost took me over with it. Where did you get it and how much?
 

Harbor Freight had it on sale under $300.  They charged only $6.95 shipping. I chose to let them deliver it rather than driving 15 miles to HF to pick it up.  Took about an hour to assemble it.

Unfortunately, the first engine to assemble is the 4.3L GM V6 going in my boat.  Once that gets done, I have four 5.0 Ford engines to build.   Then maybe I can get rid of my five other engine stands.

Texas! wrote:

I recall reading on some Ford forum that somebody had a genuine vintage Ford/Rotunda version of that rotating engine stand. That would be a cool addition to my shop!

I bet that Ford stand is made alot better!

Nice 

Now if only they didn't make one with a motor and a remote control you would be really stile n!!!!

Thats a great idea!

BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

Quicksilver wrote:

Now if only they didn't make one with a motor and a remote control you would be really stile n!!!!

Send it out to DAZE to add rollerbearings.
 

Funny you say that... I made my own. This is one of my first youtube videos so the quality is not there but the concept is sound and easy to copy for those of you wanting to make one.
https://youtu.be/C7qOrofD4Hs



 

MS wrote:

The advantage of a worm gear over a sprocket drive is the worm gear locks in position automatically as the engine is rotated. No matter where you quit cranking, the engine is locked in that position.

Excellent point!! When I did this upgrade I thought about getting a worm gear hand wench for just that reason but decided to stick with what I already had for cost savings, I didn't like where the handle would have been with the worm gear wench, and the ratchet mechanism on the wench I have also locks it if I let go of the handle.  By the time you figure in materials and time... especially time because the materials I already had, it's not like I saved a bunch over the one you got but the project was fun 😁 
 

I’d be out in the garage with a glass of gin in hand giving my engine a fair ride round and round.  Cool toy!

Well, thanks for the post MS.  I picked one of these up yesterday at HF.  Yes, I have two engines stands already.  The issue I had, and why I decided to pick this up, is I have to build a heavy engine shortly (6.0 Diesel, every ounce of 1,000lbs) and my other stands are not rated for that kind of weight.  One is a 3 point stand too, and I've had it try to keel over on me before.  Nothing I couldn't handle with a small block on it, but with that big Diesel on it I see things going south in a hurry.  This will end up being one of the more expensive engine's I've built, so the cost of the new stand fell under the category of "cheap insurance". 

Last edited by TKOPerformance (3/23/2023 6:56 AM)

How do you like it so far?   I was wondering in particular what you think of the adjustable floor stops.   Seems like they would be a bit annoying on the front legs.   There used to be plastic drip catches for the old design of a single bar, but with this style of four legs in a "mini" shop crane design, I'd probably want to lay a piece of cardboard on it.  Either way those would interfere with something laying flat.  I looked at the one Eastwood offers; it doesn't have those and has locking wheels instead.  Then I noticed this one has locking wheels too.    So, pros and cons?

Usage report. 
The locking wheels are a total joke.  Like any other caster from HF, they roll if you grease them, otherwise not.  The locks are a joke.
I also thought the rubber jacks would be in the way and also probably a joke.  However, they are quite useful and position the stand like it was BOLTED TO THE FLOOR (sorry, couldn’t resist.).  They work well but you have to grease the threads or they bind up.  I don’t really find the rubber jacks that necessary for a small block, but this is a 1500 pound capacity stand and, if a really heavy engine was on it, they might come in handy.
Rotating a fully dressed engine is so effortless, I don’t know how they do it.
The legs do fold to use less storage space.

All in all, no complaints except the large footprint.   I plan to shorten and re-angle the legs so it is not so wide.  I will never have a Detroit Diesel on it, so I will make it so it fits more normal size engines.

Note: Jegs sells a 1,000 pound version with same rotating head and more conventional base design, but it does not have the huge ballbearing on the big shaft like this one does, and it costs $25.00 more.