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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: hoevesruperd on March 10, 2008, 01:53:50 PM

Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 10, 2008, 01:53:50 PM: i'm slowly planning a rebuild of my e30. i would like to know what kind of engine crane are you guys using? is there a brand thats better, cheaper or one that i should not buy? what price should i expect to pay? canadiantire has a 2-ton one for sale at 350$

any help is appreciated
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 10, 2008, 02:40:58 PM: i've got one for 500kg... i think thats enough..! and they are not so expensive like the bigger ones! do you want to lift the entire car? ;-)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 10, 2008, 04:00:26 PM: i actually might have to lift the whole car (with the engine already out) to restore the floors and paint them. how much did you pay for the 500kg one?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 08:22:10 AM: i dont remember exactly... sth around 200.-$
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 08:25:46 AM: i am welding sth like that... to turn the chassis upside down...

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/000_0216.jpg)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: CePa318IS on March 11, 2008, 08:55:51 AM: Quote from: swiss318is;44533
i am welding sth like that... to turn the chassis upside down...

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/000_0216.jpg)

What is your sourcing for that and pricing?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 09:04:19 AM: i need a piece of paper (0.05$)... a pencil(0.1$)... 15m of steel for 15.-$ (225.-$)... a few bolts (20.-$)... time... some beers (100.-$)... a saw and a welding machine.. thats it.. its called a "rotisserie"... you can find things about that on google
i am gonna make a thread about that...
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: bmwpower on March 11, 2008, 09:07:53 AM: Doesn't Harbor Freight offer one?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 09:35:29 AM: Quote from: swiss318is;44541
time... some beers (100.-$)

thats it? i want one. i'll give you 500$ of beer instead and show me how you do it!

has anyone built an engine stand?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 09:39:25 AM: hoevesruperd ...i'll give you 500$ of beer...

can you send me that in written form?? :-)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 09:39:32 AM: Quote from: bmwpower;44542
Doesn't Harbor Freight offer one?

i just checked on their website!!! they have very cheap stands. is it only an online store or is there a place i can go in Vermont or anywhere near Montreal to buy these tools?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 09:41:43 AM: Quote from: swiss318is;44545
Quote from: hoevesruperd;44544
....i'll give you 500$ of beer...
Quote

can you send me that in written form?? :-)

hahaha. i have a friend who makes delicious beer, if i give him 500$ he could make you about a thousand beers. (very very good beer ) still interested?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 09:42:05 AM: a bought my engine stand for incredible 250.-$... i was too lazy to build one by myself!! :-( but it fits perfectly and i can turn the engine... i put small wheels on the engine stands, so i can drive around... :-)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 09:43:15 AM: where exactly do you live ?!? is that far away with the bicycle from switzerland...?? i have to build a small tanktrailer for the beer first...
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 09:44:34 AM: you canadian must have long and cold winters...!!! haha... ;-)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: 1991 E30 M42 on March 11, 2008, 10:26:14 AM: I bought my engine stand from Harbor Freight for $50 and picked up my engine lift from a local shop that was throwing it away because they got a new one.
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 11:14:29 AM: Quote from: 1991 E30 M42;44557
I bought my engine stand from Harbor Freight for $50 and picked up my engine lift from a local shop that was throwing it away because they got a new one.

i will probably go stateside to find them tools, seems to be much cheaper

Quote from: swiss318is;44550
you canadian must have long and cold winters...!!! haha... ;-)

yes indeed we do!! we had 40cm of snow on sunday and it might that way until may
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: dude8383 on March 11, 2008, 11:38:37 AM: I bought a "Big Red" engine hoist that could support up to 2 1/2 tons for $150...I've pulled like 5 engines with this thing and its awesome.
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 11:54:21 AM: the problem i have is that shipping on such an heavy item + custom fees would top it to more than 700$.
Where is the best place to get one in canada?
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 12:51:30 PM: why you dont go to the next bigger garage and ask where they buy their cranes??
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 11, 2008, 04:47:36 PM: Quote from: bmwpower;44542
Doesn't Harbor Freight offer one?

wow... they have incredible low prices!!!dirt cheap!!!i sell tools, powertools and cranes here in switzerland too... but this prices??how about quality and warranty??
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 11, 2008, 06:11:34 PM: Quote from: swiss318is;44574
why you dont go to the next bigger garage and ask where they buy their cranes??

yeah i will, maybe at my local parts store they can tell me where to get one too... or else i'll just go the gym, build up some muscles and pull the engine myself hahah
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: Cobra Jet on March 12, 2008, 09:34:51 AM: Are there any decent Auto Parts stores in your area that sell engine cranes? I know in the States, you can buy an engine crane at Advance Auto, Auto Zone, NAPA, Mr. Auto, O'Reilleys, etc... (all of which also have online sites). The cranes come disassembled in a large carton but I would imagine that freight or shipping charges would be expensive as far as shipping from the States to another Country (even if in neighboring Canada) due to the overall weight of the product...

IF you do purchase a pre-made engine crane, be sure to check out the quality of the metal and also the quality/craftsmanship of the WELDS on the steel.... Some cranes look like they were put together by 3 yr olds based on the very poor quality welds and I would surely not want to be supporting close to 500lbs with such a poor quality piece of equipment... I would stay away from Pep Boys engine cranes, as there have been some threads online about these cranes failing (bending or collapsing) under the weight of an engine. An engine crane needs to be just as safe and built well like a set of good quality jack stands. :)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 12, 2008, 07:39:09 PM: thanks cobra jet! we have NAPA stores here as well, i'll go check out what they have to offer. i will also check with my car parts store's rep if he has any recommendations. i just dont think the canadian tire (looks like a walmart) home brand would be a good investment since i hope this crane will last me a lifetime
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 16, 2008, 03:34:10 PM: my engine stand... rolls royce version ;-)

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00780.jpg)
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00784.jpg)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 16, 2008, 03:35:48 PM: (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00785.jpg)
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00783.jpg)
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00782.jpg)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: swiss318is on March 16, 2008, 03:36:57 PM: (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00781.jpg)
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: Cobra Jet on March 17, 2008, 02:04:30 PM: (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg19/swiss318is/DSC00780.jpg)

Oh crap, you rotated the engine and the head fell off! :D
Title: Engine Crane
Post by: dark_islight on March 23, 2008, 07:47:10 AM: To "hoevesruperd",

You can get engine stands and lifts from the St. Eustache flea market for low dollars in new condition or wait until the Canadian Tire version goes on sale for $199 (lift) and $49 (stand).

Check with Seb at Bimmershop.ca, he modified 2 engine stands to create a "rotisserie" to do his 325TI race car.

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/pmiracing/new84/IMG_1478.jpg)