Here’s another Quick Tech Tip From the Garage of Tom Zuloaga. If anyone has ever had an engine or a short block almost fall over because of a three-wheeled engine stand, this tip could save your life. The problem stems from most of the older engine stands, and alot of the cheaper new engine stands having only three casters. Adding another caster will dramatically increase the stability of the engine stand, especially with a fully dressed-engine. We are going to need one 2 1/2″ heavy duty caster and a 12″ piece of 2″ x 2″ x .120 wall square tubing. There will be some minor welding involved.
The single front caster on many older engine stands is not very stable when moving an engine around. Some newer inexpensive engine stands are also designed the same way.
Only one steel heavy-duty caster is needed because we are going to re-use the caster that is already on the engine stand. The piece of square tubing can be bought at any steel supply house for a couple of bucks. I like to use a 12″ piece since it will not be in the way when working on the engine. I prefer to miter cut the ends at a 45 degree angle for aesthetics and to keep from tripping over a square edge.
The caster on the stand is held on with a 1/2″ stud, so a hole is drilled on one end of the square tubing. The new caster will be held on by welding it to the other side of the square tubing as it is a different style of caster, but will do the same job.
The paint on the end of engine stand is ground off in preparation for welding the new end-piece on.
With the casters attached, the end-piece is lined up and tack welded to the end of the engine stand. The stand should now be placed on the floor and any adjustments made to ensure all four wheels are flat on the ground before final welding
The end-piece is welded on fully on all four sides. The welder being used is a Lincoln HD -3200, 110 volt/135 amp MIG unit available at Home Depot. It works great for projects like this and can be bought for about $500.00.
The end-piece is fully welded on and the engine stand is now ready for anything you can put on it. The total cost was under $10.00!!
For more information or questions about this Quick Tech Tip please contact Tom Zuloaga.
hello!!! actually i’m one of student from Malaysia have been studies in UniMAP. now im in my last year and im doing my final project. the title of my project is “engine stands”. actually i need some information about the engine stands from you. because i’ve got a little problem to find the information about the engine stands. i need the information because i want to start writing my thesis. i hope you can help me. all the collaboration from you, thank you very much..
By Mohammad Nazri Hussin. April 1st, 2007 at 8:06 pmGreat tip. I have been using a home made furniture dolly to store and move a flathead ford V8 arround the garage. I bought a Harbor Frieght stand several years ago, and when the workshop is finished soon, will dig it out. I do not remember if it is 3 wheeled, but if it is, I will modify it before it is ever used. Thanks for the tip
By JME. March 12th, 2007 at 3:18 pmI wantt o take time and thank you for your well done article on this crazy problem
By mohammad reza. February 22nd, 2007 at 1:07 pmI wantt o take time and thank you for your well done article on this crazy problem. We never seem to want to shell out the money for a decent engine stand. It is the PEP Boys special that I have stared at a million times asking “how coulds anybody actually make something so weak and dangerous” I Know I need to weld some barcing and stiffen uo the frame as it reesembles the leaning tower od Pisa. Of cousre it will get ingnored until the last polished stainless steel bolt with the cute little Ford V/8 on the top on Saturday midnight. I can feel the skin crawl up- my backside aas I imaginemyself coming out on Sunday and see the oil pan trashed from the engine toppling over . If I had just waited on the last bolt. The $248.00 oil pan is trashed and it is a good thing the dog isn’t around. $250.00 can make a guy one heck of an engine stand. All kidding aside, kudos to you for doing such a nice job on the article . As a iron worker and x-ray quality welder I speak with some knowledge of the subject. The article is clear and consice, even for a layman. I will be doing a Resto-Mod on that engine stand that has a new 347 stroker dangling like a apple. Please provide more helpful everyday kind of stuff. It is appreciatted Cheers Paul in LA 65 fastback in process.
By Paul Washburn. February 14th, 2007 at 1:56 pmVery nice! I have A homebuilt stand I bought at an auction that I will modify as per your instruction as soon as it warms up (14 below zero F this morning). Thanks!
HR
By harleyron. February 4th, 2007 at 2:41 am79 F-350
95 F-150
95 Bronco
79 Dodge D-150
76 H.D. Baglady
38 H.D.Knuckle