Lift ideas., Anyone use an engine hoise to lift a 914? Options

[jhadler]

As long as I'm planning on puliing the motor YET AGAIN. I started thinking of easier ways to get the car high enough for an engine pull in a cramped garage. Has anyone figured out how to use a large engine hoist to raise the rear (or front) of a 914?

-Josh2

[rascobo]

Yeah, I usually work alone on mine. My solution was to buy an electrical ceiling hoist. the one I purchased is rated @ 1200lbs. and as I 'm only raising the rear of the car much of it's weight is transfered to the front (which I jack 16"-20" & support securely). Now I raise rearend enough to support, eng./trans with floor jack, and disconnect everything, then raise higher if needed to pull eng/trans from beneath or to give my big self more room to work (usually 36-40") blocking it securely & lowering car onto stands removing the weight from cable (You don;t want to trust any devise ie; jack, engine hoist, ceiling cable(or chain) hoist, to support the car, especially with You under it). When done I tighten cable ,remove blocks/jack stands, lower car, remove eye-bolt and tube, & raise the cable,
it takes up no additional room when not in use.
In addition I reinforced the two ceiling joist that carry the load w/ some left over 2x10's , and mounted the hoist across them on the recommended 1-1/2 square steel tubing. Finally I used an existing hole I'd previously drilled in trunk floor (for new trans. ground point) to pass a 1500lb rated eye bolt through the floor and another 1 1/2" square X about 32" steel tube to spread the weight across trunk floor. With trunk open just connect cable hook to eye bolt. I can raise & support the rear to 36"-40" in about 15mins.(including jacking the front up to provide more room to work)It cost me roughly: <$100.for the hoist on sale, <$ 20. for steel tubing, <$10. for an eye bolt, and I had the lumber..... . So around $125.-$150. and about 3 hrs. labor. It's made the work so much easier. The most helpful tool I ever owned, only wish I'd done 20 years ago.

Good Luck, and of course, no one needs to be reminded (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) to.. BE CAREFUL whatever lifting device You use.