Engine Cranes

[oceangal]

so its time to buy an engine crane. i did a search at CAC and saw a nice thread about mods but not so much about cranes. Looks like Peps Auto boys has a 2 ton foldable, ebay has them. Which brands have you used that you like?

If I get one that is local I don't have to pay shipping or sales tax as I can shop in NH. Are the ones online say at harbor freight any better quality than what I can get locally for probably less money?

Thanks!

 

[6880 Mike]

FWIW: before making your choice, you will want the longest neck and longest legs you can find. Without a long neck, it's almost impossible to get the hoist into the engine bay from the front of the car. C3 noses are too long. You have to come from the side. Hence the need for the longest legs you can find.

 

[fine69]

so its time to buy an engine crane. i did a search at CAC and saw a nice thread about mods but not so much about cranes. Looks like Peps Auto boys has a 2 ton foldable, ebay has them. Which brands have you used that you like?

If I get one that is local I don't have to pay shipping or sales tax as I can shop in NH. Are the ones online say at harbor freight any better quality than what I can get locally for probably less money?

Thanks!

Lori,

Do you have Advance Auto parts stores up there? If so, I got mine from them for about $150. The crane is a heavy beast, so I just unpacked the box, and loaded all the parts in my trunk.

It worked like a charm with my '69... just be sure to lift from the side. Sharks have long noses!

Ralph

 

[duke94]

I bought mine from Harbor Freight. They have a store nearby so no shipping. It was the best price I could find. I think they are all made in China these days. I've had mine for 4 years and pulled many motors with it including a couple of BB.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93840

 

[fine69]

I bought mine from Harbor Freight. They have a store nearby so no shipping. It was the best price I could find. I think they are all made in China these days. I've had mine for 4 years and pulled many motors with it including a couple of BB.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93840

Yep. Mine looks identical.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Mine says Alltrade Professional on it. It's a 2 ton with telescoping boom and legs. It has an 8 ton cylinder and will lift most anything. I have used it to unload my pickup truck when I haul heavy stuff. It has the reach to get clear in as far as I need to go. We also use it to set pickup truck beds back on the frame after restoration.

I don't know what it cost. It was my late father in law's. It doesn't fold but I have a dedicated corner for this stuff in the shop. If you buy a telescoping one remember to always extend the legs the same amount as the boom so it doesn't tip forward and drop your engine where the nose of your Corvette used to be. The point of lift should never be any further forward than the front casters. A little to the rear would be even better.

Tom

 

[JohnZ]

I have the 2-Ton version of the HF folding crane linked above, bought about 12 years ago when shipping was free on anything over $50.00 (today the shipping would be more than the crane). Has pulled many engines over the years, works fine, stores in a small area.

 

[fine69]

The point of lift should never be any further forward than the front casters. A little to the rear would be even better.

Tom

Excellent advice.

 

[oceangal]

I do have advanced auto so we will go there over the weekend. I found a great deal on one but the delivery time won't work for this project. Its the same one JC whitney sells but at overstock.com its only 1.85 for shipping!

http://www.overstock.com/Bulk-Home-...st-with-Leveler/2964818/product.html#moreinfo

 

[oceangal]

We got a crane on Friday night at Advanced Auto. They were more $ but matched the verbal price from Pep Boys. Saturday I went to meet an old friend for lunch and when I got home it was mostly assembled. Two side pieces didn't line up in their holes, they were off by almost 2 inches so once Rick drilled new holes it was good to go. Then something unexpected happened... he had to put decals on it! This must be a guy thing? So on went the Jegs, MSD, Summit etc.

The tranny was out last weekend and I think the old motor is getting pulled today. Last night I was scraping some grime off some parts when a friend of Ricks called to tell him the drag racing was on. So guess what we did the rest of the night? Watch drag racing! The drawback to having a TV in the basement.

So thats the update and I must admit I am getting pretty psyched about driving the vette this spring.

 

[Heavy Duty]

We got a crane on Friday night at Advanced Auto. They were more $ but matched the verbal price from Pep Boys. Saturday I went to meet an old friend for lunch and when I got home it was mostly assembled. Two side pieces didn't line up in their holes, they were off by almost 2 inches so once Rick drilled new holes it was good to go. Then something unexpected happened... he had to put decals on it! This must be a guy thing? So on went the Jegs, MSD, Summit etc.

The tranny was out last weekend and I think the old motor is getting pulled today. Last night I was scraping some grime off some parts when a friend of Ricks called to tell him the drag racing was on. So guess what we did the rest of the night? Watch drag racing! The drawback to having a TV in the basement.

So thats the update and I must admit I am getting pretty psyched about driving the vette this spring.

Yep... got my engine lift from Advanced Auto as well. I also bought an engine stand from them at the same time....but it didn't have ANY of the hardware to put it togather. So after 2 weeks of waiting for hardware I took it back and got my money back. Went right across the street to the AutoZone and got the same stand 5 bucks cheaper and it did have all of the hardware.

The stand is already in use...got the new engine setting on it. I put the '78 Pace Car on jackstands Sunday so my little project is fixing to get started.

I tested out the lift by removing the engine off my boat. It weighs around 475 lbs. It handled it very well. In the next coming few weeks it gets the real test of removing the engine from the PC. I hope to have this little project done by the end of May.:cool


HD

 

[Tom Bryant]

You can never have too many engine stands.

 

[fine69]

You can never have too many engine stands.

I agree. I just put a disassembled bare 454 block on the stand that I used for my 350 rebuild. I'll likely need to get a more sturdy stand when I put it all back together.

 

[TimAT]

When you get an engine stand, I'd suggest one with 4 casters and the bottom frame shaped in a "H" pattern. Those 3 legged stands work ok, but the danger of tipping one over is VERY real and can cause serious injury. Even a small block can and will tip- if it starts to go, you WILL NOT be able to catch it. If you have a body part under it, you will then have a broken/damaged body part. Be very careful.