Engine test stand

[ZekeD]

Does anyone have plans for an engine test stand?  I have looked for the one that Squidtone made with no luck.    Just going to use it once ( ok, right... Never mind).  But do not want to put a lot of $$$$$ into it.

Thanks, guys

Zeke Duge

[Ryan_M]

A friend of mine made one by cutting a 2A frame in half. He kept the front half from the trans crossmember forward and left the front axle and wheels in place.� He then welded a crossbrace where the frame was cut and added a trailer hitch. A motor with a bellhousing and empty transmission case attached will sit right on it. Plus, it can be rolled/towed around the shop or yard. Pretty slick. Unfortunately I do not have a pic.

I am slowly collecting the components to build one of my own.

[ZekeD]

Right..... A great but outta my reach idea.   There are not so many pieces here in central Oregon to cut up, and it is very BIG.    I need something smaller, you know space is cubic when you are trying to heat it!
 

Thanks
Zeke

[squidtone]

ZekeD
If you need more details, let me know. The basic "stand" is just 2x4's made into a cart with ancient casters. I used some scrap metal to make uprights for the front engine plate "ears" down to the wood cart, and scrounged some old CJ-7 seat bracket material to make "L's" for the rear bellhousing down to the cart.
I used old bed frame metal (kinda really lousy metal, but it's what i had lying around) for the radiator mount. It's a sidemount radiator; easy to bolt up.
I bought a lawnmower gas tank at a swap meet for a buck and gas grille metal bits and pieces to mount that.
The switches and gauge panel is old sheet metal junk from a cabinet I cut up.
If you want some dimensions, let me know

[Birddog7]

Here is a test stand I builded from plans I got off ebay from Fishermanruss #331051831960

[ZekeD]

Thanks, gents!    I like the simplicity of Squidtone's and the flexibility of Birddog7's.    What to do. What to do?    Think about it over a beer, I guess.

Zeke

[athawk11]

I'm all about simple...and using what I happen to have on hand, so I'm with the Squid on this one. 

That said,  if I were to do this stuff on a regular basis, that Birddog stand is the BOMB! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Tim

[Ryan_M]

Birddog - that is pretty nice. How do you attach a radiator?

[Birddog7]

Ryan_M, I will be using a side mount radiator up front on the front angle brackets. Will take pictures when installed.

[Ryan_M]

Ryan_M, I will be using a side mount radiator up front on the front angle brackets. Will take pictures when installed.

Ok I see now. That's great!

[Carls_jeep]

Unless your intending to break in and dyno the engine I don't see a reason to run it in a test stand. If you built the engine correctly and all the clearances were in spec there is no reason the engine won't run. The only issues you may have is leaks and they can be fixed in chassis. Don't you trust the work you did?

This is coming from a retired diesel mechanic. We always dyno tested out of chassis rebuilds but those engines went into or stock, not a truck. If an engine was pulled out of a trk for rebuild it was almost always for an exchange engine.

[Jesse]

Here is the test stand I built about 7 years ago, I think its pretty slick. You can easily move it where ever you need it. It has a radiator mount, fuel supply, and a full array of gauges. Pretty easy to put together for a couple grand, less if you buy and sell pieces as you go.






-Jesse

[ZekeD]

As always the humor is often as enlightening as the facts....  Thanks everyone,  it was the leak issue that I was trying to circumvent.   So I put it back into the frame hooked it up and it did not leak for now.......

Regards
Zeke