Any of us that have dropped/installed an engine know what a PITA the front cross member bolts can be. This bad boy makes my day as I'm fabbing a lot lately and the engine goes in, then the engine comes out, etc.

Break the nut loose by hand. Crank it down on the bottom end of the bolt, clamp it and it hangs on all by itself. Hold it with your ankle and hit the top end of the bolt with a pneumatic ratchet (manual ratchets work too just slower).

Close up of that thing? Its a vice grip wrench?

Cool looking tool. Do you put it on the top or bottom?

It's a 110mm clamping ajustable end wrench from stanly. I stole it from my little brother. You just twist it down like any other adjustable end wrench then clamp it kinda like a vice grip and it just hangs there so you're not fumbling with two wrenches.

My engine dollies are pretty low so I don't have to lift the car too much when pulling it. I rest the rear of the car on the dollies then attach the wrench to the bottom end of the bolt just sticking out under the side of the car. I use my ankle as a stop for the wrench (with thick work boots, that thing might kick and leave a bruise) then just reach into the engine compartment with the pneumatic. 10 seconds tops to pull the bolts.


Edit: Just looked it up, $18 at amazon:

Linkey to amazon

If you're repeated removing and installing the engine, why not just use non-locking hardware until you are ready to drive the car? Besides, I fail to see any need for a special wrench when I can just put a short 17mm box wrench on the top and let'er rip.

The Cap'n

'cept I use a std socket & ratchet. My cheap box end doesn't have enough offset.

My favorite tool was a lift and a can of PB Blaster

That combo wrench is darn cool though, never seen one before. Man, I need some more tools!

Just saw that Amazon is now listing it for $11.88. Placed my order!