[eatonde]

Hey guys I have been looking for an AFFORDABLE engine test/run in stand, But I'm not coming up with anything I like. Everyone wants 2500 or more for one of these things and its just REDICULOUS... No way would I pay that much for something I can build myself. I could take the hard road and come up with all the measurements myself, but I have a lot goin on right now and would much rather take the easy way out. Of course the easiest way would be to just buy one, but can't do that. I have all the metal working tools I would need and plenty of 2x2 square steel tubing, and a good stick and mig welder.

I was just wanting to see if any of you guys have built one or bought one and would care to share the measurements from it. ANY/ALL measurements you can probvide will be very much appreciated. Like i said If I have to I can figure the fab work out on my own, through trial and error, but that tends to get expensive. So I figured I'd ask one of you guys, MOST of whom have been hotrodding a lot longer then me. It'll be used mostly for SBC engines, but I would like to have the option to use it for others if I ever need to. So I know some parts will need to be adjustable.

If anyone has a full set of plans on how to build your own, please share, if you don't mind PM me so I can send you my email address.
http://www.sonnyshelper.com/
Something LIKE this is what I'm after, It don't hafta be near as pretty as long as it gets the job done. I just Have been doing SOOOO many motors lately for personal use and for others, That it'd be a lot easier to test the engine on one of these then in the car. And just so you know When I say for others, I haven't been making hardly any money off the motors I do, they've been mostly as favors or for family and friends ect.... What most guys charge $50-$75/hr for I have been doing for a case of beer or just a heck of a lot less and that money all went to my kid's christmas.

Thanks a lot, Danny MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

[PapaG]

I don't have any, but I just checked on ebay several to chose from... $8.50 for one of them

http://motors.search.ebay.com/?from=...st+stand+plans

[454C10]

No drawings, but I recently converted my regular engine assembly stand to a run test stand. I made a simple bolt on attachment to connect to the engine at the engine mount holes and to hold the radiator/electric fan. Mounted the battery on the back of the stand with simple angle iron. Then used a few toggle switches for the ignition and cooling fan. I use a standard ford starter solenoid for the start control. I used a small electric fuel pump that sucks from a 5 gallon can and connected the alternator to the battery. Also have a water temp and oil pressure gage mounted on a little plate that screws to the stand. Finally. I use some cheap summit turbo mufflers on block hugger header for the exhaust system.

I have broken in 3 or 4 cams with my cheap run-test stand on a few 350's, a 396, and a 454. Burnt about 20 gallons of fuel just starting different engines and playing around with them (setting timing, adjusting the carb, setting valve lash, ext). kind of fun to have the engine running right in front of you. Stays stable even when revving it up quickly, but I did add a 24 inch front cross piece so it would be on 4 wheels instead of 3.

[steve392]

I built my own...out of wood. My carpentry/woodworking skills are better than my welding/fabricating skills. Besides, I didn't have a welder at the time, but I did have a lot of wood!
I have some pictures of it here on my project journal:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/jour...age=5&reverse=

Take a look at entry #32, # 33 and #34.
Besides running the engine on this, I can also use it to store the engine/trans assembly when it is out of the car. Most expensive things were the wheels, and they were about $7 each from Grizzly...
It's not as fancy as a nice steel job, but it is all self contained and movable.

Hope this helps,

Steve

[techinspector1]

Start with the front clip with wheels and tires from any Chevy that had a V8 in it. Run a couple of 2" X 2" rails off the front and out to a Vee to mount a trailer hitch so you can move it around. You have the motor mounts and radiator/core support right there. Maybe run a 1/4" rod from the top of the core support down to the frame to stabilize the support. Mount electric fan(s) to the back of the radiator. Make brackets for a gas can, battery and also for a starter switch/instrument panel Remove the steering box if you want to and weld the tie rods to the frame or just leave it in place and weld the tie rods.

[Bryan59EC]

I have a 67 ElCamino frame chopped off at the rear
and a 59 Chevy frame----chopped off at the rear.

Pretty mobile---drag em out to the back acre when not in use (with a lawn tractor)

[Plaintoast]

Not that I generally encourage buying their stuff, but this looks pretty good
and I've heard good things about it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98334
And the design looks simple enough if someone wanted to make one themselves.

[junior stocker]

There was someone on the site that built one for Chevrolet V-8's. He used a cast iron bellhousing, and various other scrounged up parts and pieces. Do a search.

302 Z28 posted a couple of pics of one he borrowed.

[jewing1]

Try sonnyshelper.com the best engine test stand on the market.

[fast68]

why do you need a stand?


all you need is the ground, or almost the ground haha,

i jut fired up my 305 i am about to put in a 78 bonanza pickup soon

on a rolling wooden crate thing

heres the one i stuck in my trans am

fired it up on the ground as well:



done it to all kinds of engines in the past,
also a 425 caddy as well.

a $2500 engine stand is for dummies with more money than anything else.

a crate and a hoist works great, always and costs nothing

[F-BIRD'88]

Necessity is the mother of invention. I also want to build a simple cheap run stand and am on a limited budget. Wood is great building material.

[cobalt327]

The front sub frame from a Camaro with the suspension and steering removed is what I used for many years.

Has all the holes to mount every engine GM made for a passenger car that I tried except Caddy. With it, I temporarily welded angle iron brackets.

Sucker was heavy, though.

[Foxxr200]

Check out Taylorspecialties.com they are a well built stand and very affordable can be bought to fit small/big chevys or small fords or get both mounts to run chevy and fords www.taylorspecialties.com

[68NovaSS]

EnviroTech, check your PM's.

[GT23T]

Check out http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1011. not bad for $442.40