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Posted by: NS914 Oct 27 2016, 04:16 PM

Hey Everyone,
I am looking for your thoughts and pics of course re Engine Cradles you have assembled. I am finishing off the wiring for my car and will assemble the Webers as well and likely do a few other things while it is out. This will likely be a month or two of work and I want to locate my engine on a safe and stable cradle that I can then lift the engine from and reinstall.

I don't think I have seen a thread re cradles so this should be interesting. As always, thanks for your thoughts and ingenuity. Grant

Posted by: stugray Oct 27 2016, 04:31 PM

If you want cheapest, get one or two of the small $10 furniture dollys from harbor freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-In-x-12-In-1000-lb-Capacity-Hardwood-Dolly-63098.html? ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNDIwOTYyODEiLCJza3UiOiI2MzA5OCIsImlzIjoiNy45OSIsInByb2R1Y3Rfa
WQi%0D%0AOiIxMTcyMiJ9%0D%0A

Otherwise get one of the engine stand porsche "engine stand yokes" and a cheap engine stand.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search_2014.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=NF&make=POR&model=981&section=engtol&page=4&bookmark=16&part_number=PEL-TOL-MCDENG

Posted by: jimkelly Oct 27 2016, 04:41 PM

you probably wont lift the engine INTO the car. you will probably lower the car ONTO the engine (wheels off). i second furniture dolly.

Posted by: barefoot Oct 27 2016, 04:42 PM

here's mine, length of 2X12 with cross beam at front under mount bar and notched out 4X4 for tranny.
I could slide my 4 wheel jack under the dolly to lift, had to find the balance point.

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Oct 27 2016, 05:14 PM

Hard way to do it. I did that on my first removal. Sucked! Good quality floor jack and raise engine into place.

Stu, I think he means a cradle for lifting the engine.

Posted by: Mark Henry Oct 28 2016, 12:17 AM

I use a scissor lift table like in the link below.
You just need a 2x4 across the engine bar and a block to level the tranny. Only PITA is you have to remove the handle...no big deal
.
But I also use a two-post lift, so my car is level and I have no issues with the car not being high enough.

http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-61405.html

Posted by: NS914 Oct 28 2016, 07:04 AM

Thanks Guys,

My plan is to use the cradle as a stable platform assemble the curbs and generally store the engine until I am finished with the wiring and other work in the engine bay.

I have used my trolley jack to lower it down out of the car in the past and that works with little trouble.

Thanks for the follow up and pics. I will post as I get into it. Grant

Posted by: North Coast Jim Oct 28 2016, 07:07 AM

I also used the Harbor Freight hydraulic table. Worked like a charm with and without the exhaust mounted on the engine. It made this a one man job and no issues of the engine getting away from you. Had to jack up the car to get the proper height so I could wheel the engine in place. HB table is 9" high to the bed about the same for a jack system. I've used a hyd jack before on my 1st 914 engine pull years ago and that was NOT fun.

As for building the engine up from the short block I used the small Harbor Freight engine stand. Had to do a little grinding on the mounting bosses to keep them from crushing the tranny mounting flange but that part was easy.

Posted by: stugray Oct 28 2016, 08:18 AM

Every time I have installed an engine, I have use Just a floor jack.

Roll the engine under the car on the furniture dollies or slide it on a few layers of cardboard or plywood.
Then lift up one side at a time (using the engine mount bar) and place on a block tall enough to get the floor jack under.
Do both sides, then lift the rear and roll the floor jack under.
There is a square Aluminum block that juts out from the case right at the back of the case. place the floorjack under that and lift.

Back when I was young and strong, I could do this entire process alone.
Now I use a helper to steady the engine as I raise it.

You may have to get the engine under the car, then lower the jackstands for the FJ to reach unless you have a tall FJ.

Posted by: euro911 Oct 28 2016, 09:47 AM

I also use the Harbor Fright hydraulic tables

You just remove the handle bar so it will fit under the car. Some day, I hope to fab a hinge system for the handle bar to make it quicker to activate up and down instead of removing it.

Posted by: 74ravenna Oct 28 2016, 10:26 AM

Does anyone know the weight of a T4 with Transmission attached?
Thinking about the HF Lift, just want to make sure I buy the correct one.

Thanks.