engine lifting device survey

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:58 am

So what do you people out there use to remove and replace engines out of your subie (mainly)?

I have seen bods who drop the engine and gearbox and front suspension and steering and drag it all out by lifting body up at the front - not for me

My first non subie engine removals were done with a cable puller hanging off cahins (that word is c h a i n s )wrapped around the oldies prefab tin garage frame.

NO GET BRIGHT IDEAS from this bloody dangerous contraption !!

I have had a small jap motor drop from head height to floor as I was trying to disengage safety click due to some oversight alowing it to do so. Lucky it was not wanted and a tyre was directly underneath to save the floor.

Recently took photos of an EA82T in a Brumby and the no chassis rail mods. Lee showed me his cable puller and what he hung it off. FMD !! It was a threaded eye hook hanging off the carport ceiling support made of folded tinplate C section stuff (forget technical term for it)

I currently use 2mm wall 40mm steel tube that bends a bit between its supports of a brick pylon and steel post 2.9 metres away and I think that is dodgy and about to make an integrated lifting support a little stronger.

I was however looking at the folding engine cranes available. CruizingBrumby had one and I was impresssed - also with his tiny workshop/storage facility in ninner Sydney !!. Supercheap have them on special at times for 200 bucks, but bloody hell they are heavy (80kgs?)in themselves and still bulky to store, but quicker than making one.

Then there is the odd one (Daniel from Gundagai) who will borrow his sister and lift an EA81 out on a pole and chain

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:25 pm

i got a Folding engine crane.

bought from Malz its rated to 1000kg (but they are adjustable length and with that the rated weight changes...)

has been used on my wagon, my dad's old Outback, Alex's wankywagon, removing the Block Only out of my parents 3.5 DOHC Pajero (wouldnt put the entire thing back in though as it couldnt lift it high enough with the engine back together so i had to hire a huge crane) Subafury matts wagon...

i think it does the job well for the subis Flat fours neway lol.

cost like 200 and something.

timmo · Post by **timmo** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:54 pm

I use a chain block only because it was free, engine crane would be better because it doesnt need an overhead structure like the block does - I had to reinforce a rafter in the shed to use.

dfoyl · Post by **dfoyl** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:59 pm

I've used a full-size (6ish ft tall) mobile crane to pull out an EA81 and a SB V8, and it's a lot sturdier than the Supercheap stuff. The old style units can be picked up for practically nothing, just because the pneumatics need a quick service and people can't be bothered fixing them. The disadvantage is the space they take up in the shed. I've also used the overhead cranes and they are a lot better to work with imo, but you need to have decent roof and side beams to set them up. Again, the cranes can be bought for a song as many small shops close up and new businesses don't use them or buy newer, better units.

Dean.

dibs · Post by **dibs** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:06 pm

hi guys

truss and a bloke n takle. been guna buy a lifter as it would be good for lifting pumps n stuff on my trucks.but then would need concret yard

dibs

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:48 pm

10 tonne Hiab on the back of my Hino.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:13 pm

two or three blokes on an EA motor.

Other motors - winsconson V4 + others that don't weigh as much - steel tripod that's about 7 metres high, can vary upon setup (fits in shed

) - then endless chain hung from a loop of chain that's been doubled over a few times...

If I'm doing my subi engine on my own its the old swing set with a lenght of U steel across the top horizontal bar with endless chain hung from a loop of chain.

Back in the days of the old torana we once (and only once) used a cable hand winch that I can remember dad owning since I was a kid. I can't remember what we hung that from, but it moaned pretty badly once we stopped lifting

That's about it really, the old fergi tractor with jig is used rarely now, the seals on the hydrolic pump need replacing.

Cheers

Bennie

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:23 am

ah yeah, the old swing set. I was most impressed when I saw that idea on a guys property (surrounded by his fleet of subies in various stages of strip.

I forgot to say I also use a chain block with my structure

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:29 am

1 x big star picket...and 2 x piece of chain and 2 x ppl at either end lifting:) done it several times

dave

BlackMale · Post by **BlackMale** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:41 am

Yep, another vote for engine crane (although I would also use block n tackle if I had the overhead beams. Therefore engine crane and lift out, although with my current project I am thinking assembling the engine and gear box then sliding it under the car and lift it up with the engine crane (as overhead space/clearance my be an issue).

BaronVonChickenPants · Post by **BaronVonChickenPants** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:45 pm

I've got a 2T folding engine crane that has had a serious work out, everything from an EA81, EA81 and gearbox, EJ18 and gearbox, 4.1L 6 cylinder coming out of an XC Falcon, right up to a 351 and gearbox going back into the XC Falcon....and out, and in and out, and so on.

Prior to that i have used blue and yellow rope, doubled over twice, over a steel truss in the shed, then truckies hitches to pull out an EA81 on my own or 2 blokes if theres someone else standing around.

But if you have solid ground the crane is so much easier.

Jordan.

SUBIIE · Post by **SUBIIE** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:28 pm

engine crane all the way, worth the $200 and the space, f'd around with chain and tackles for years with all the figging around it just isnt worth the hassell.

go the folding crane

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:43 pm

To remove my first EA82, i used a block and tackle in a large machinery shed. Worked well as i was able to roll the car back and forth to make it easier to remove the engine.

When i re-reinstalled it, i used a small hydraulic crane on the back of a ute. (same pump up type an engine crane, but it was bolted to the ute tray).

I prefered the block and tackle because

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:58 pm

We use an engine crane here. Bought from Mitre10 because thats where my brother works. Looks like all the other cheap ones, rated to 1500kg but I wouldn't put more then 500kg on it.
Before we got the crane it was just by hand with two people to lift my EA81 out.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:21 pm

Block and tackle - done it a few times..
Did use old swing set to pull out Camira & commodore engines out.
Block & tackle in the garage - did pull commodore engine out about 3 months ago.
I've used engine hoist few times but pain in the arse having to hire one for limited time.
Cheers
AP

Post by **Alex** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:26 pm

i use matataks engine crane. Or daves method with the star picket

alex

Battlewagon · Post by **Battlewagon** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:10 pm

Built my own 3-mtr tall lifting frame with cross travel and fitted a 1.5ton chainblock. Was going to fit wheels to it but realised that since my car has wheels, it's easier to move it than the frame.

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:46 pm

on an L wreck- hack through the thin radiator support bar on the front end and then pull the motor and box straight out forwards

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:26 am

12 tonne excavator or the bobcat or the backhoe, or the 2.5 tonne excavator.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:45 pm

Lightning_Silver_RX wrote:12 tonne excavator or the bobcat or the backhoe, or the 2.5 tonne excavator.

Sounds like a few choices there!