2 Cheap Engine Stands = 1 Flathead Engine Stand

I took 2 engine stands and made one flathead engine stand. I will have more pics after it is painted.

 

It's pretty nice, but wouldn't going to the exhaust ports have been OK?

 

Hey thats way cool! Got a couple flatheads to work on and right now they are on the floor.

 

That is a way cool idea for using cheapie engine stands! I can't believe I did not think of it my self.

 

Not if you want to mexican hat-dance...

 

X2......... A single stand with the horizontal round tube fitted with an angled flange to bolt to the exhaust ports would have given complete rotation ability for bottom or top end work...complete access to front or rear components. A lot less fabrication and certainly less friction.

But, it obviously will work and that's the main thing.

Ray

 

Looks great buddy!!! Great job

 

The only problem ive found with a stand bolting to the exhaust ports is you cant clean the ports out unless you do one side and then switch the stand to the other side.

 

You can also add this and make it easy to turn for about 30 bucks.....and an old Chev timing set and a harbor frieght boat winch

 

Now, THAT is very clever !

Ray

 

I guess I probably won't be able to afford a KR Wlson anytime soon so that'll Work!!! Good thinking WIllie!

 

Ok, I'm curious. I have a 46 Flathead I would love to hang on an engine stand but I knew the bellhousing wasn't strong enough (like you would do a Chevy, Ford, etc) So you are saying that making up a steel plate to go across the exhaust ports doesn't put any strain on the block ? How many bolts to you fasten it down with and what size steel do you use for the plate.

Don

 

I made mine like that but used a heavy c -chanel
and drilled holes for the ports .And no rotating devise
thats a god idea

 

4 inch hotrolled c chanel 1/4 inch thick..was the first useful scrap i found
glued a exhaust gasket on it and drilled all 6 holes and hole for the ports
so yo can clean them on the stand

 

Thank you, that is what I will be making. And I guess it is strong enough in that area to support the complete motor ?

Don

 

Apparently, as the "KR Wilson" fixture mentioned above by Jeffrey James was the Ford Factory Service Tool for this very purpose and used the exhaust flanges bolt holes...........If Henry thought it was good enough, who are we to dispute him?

Ray

 

That's really interesting, Ray. I just never thought of hanging the flathead by the side of the block. I am going to make one of those for sure and get the motor off my floor.

Thanks guys for that info.

Don

 

I 'borrowed' that idea when setting up my straight eight Buick for overhaul on a stand. That's one puppy that really couldn't be hung from one end.

I made angle iron bracket that bolted onto the pan rail, and another that utilized the side mount boss, and they both bolt to the stock engine stand fixtures.

Ray

 

When you think about it, there is no way you can hang any engine where you can completely assemble it with one setup on a stand.

 

So am I to understand that you can not hang a flathead from the rear bellhousing area? Will it break the block? I am getting ready to hang one off a stand to use as my mailbox holder so I am using a cracked block. I dont want my motor to land on the mail mans toes!

 

There's wimps that tell you the bell housing will break off if you hang a 59 type block from
the back and there's a whole lot of others that have been doing it since they first appeared
in 1932. If the bell area is cracked, it could fall....If it is good, it will hang there forever.

 

Thanks Pete, I have an old 8BA motor that has cracks around the exhaust valves but the block is sound. But I think I will be more cautious on my good motors, just in case. A lot of good ideas here.

 

I've got a factory-built flathead engine stand in my other garage. I'll post some photos next time I'm over there. It looks similar to yours, but not as sturdy. The single point stands were designed to hold 750# on one post. The flathead stands were designed to hold 500# over two posts.

jack vines

 

I had a KR Wilson in the 80's I bought for 25 dollars, had no idea what it was, I adapted it for my first SBC rebuild. Wonder what ever became of that....

 

I use 3/8 plate and 4 bolts, the 2- 7/16 in front and two- 3/8 in back, bannana slice the pipe at 45 degrees and weld the plate to it............. and have had no trouble turning the complete engine and C4 behind it............

 

Now that rotater is cool. I have some old Packard and Lincoln parts around here. Something to do while I recover from the Morton & Brett.

 

You can hang an 8ba from the bell housing bolts like you would any other motor but the bolt arrangement on the earlier flathead blocks supposedly isn't strong enough to support the motor on a conventional engine stand hence the use of a plate bolted to the exhaust flanges.

 

yup,





Of course not mine........

BTW, I like the cheap stand idea.........and the turner

 

I finish up the engine stand last night. Need start my next project.