Starting engine on engine stand

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Belgian1979
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Starting engine on engine stand

Post by Belgian1979 »

I have one of my engines on an engine stand (type on which you store an engine while not in use - Summit brand). I would like to start it up, but not sure if it would be possible on this stand? Any views on this? Thanks.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by rfoll »

If you are talking about an assembly stand I would be afraid of it tipping over. But those short knee high things, it would be easy. Strap your radiator to a saw horse and use a boat tank to feed it. You might need to install your exhaust upside down on such a contraption.
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Belgian1979
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by Belgian1979 »

rfoll wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 5:08 pm If you are talking about an assembly stand I would be afraid of it tipping over. But those short knee high things, it would be easy. Strap your radiator to a saw horse and use a boat tank to feed it. You might need to install your exhaust upside down on such a contraption.
No not an assembly stand. The thing to long term store an engine. It has 4 wheels on it. Bolts to the engine mounts and trans flange.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by dynoflo »

i built a flathead ford for a fellow and he insisted i run it before he picked it up. I had it on a engine stand with rad and it was smooth running. He just had to snap throttle and it almost flipped over. Its the flywheel effect.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by 427dart »

No problem with mine that was just an engine stand that I made up a new center mast with bellhousing plate and made up a square tube piece that was bolted across the 2 leg extensions that go forward. To this was a pair of upright tubes that had the block engine mount locations. This square tube extended out and had one adjustable bolt/foot on each side to prevent stand tip. Worked very well with a torquey 427 Ford Windsor build! Have a video of it someplace. Same picture again....
Yellow tube has engine mount holes and welded to that bolt on cross bar with adjustable feet. Made a small gauge panel with toggle switch ignition and a palm button start switch. Ignition was a simple Ford Duraspark box from 1985. Oil pressure gauge in place along with engine fan and radiator plus battery on bottom. A remote 2 gallon fuel jug gravity fed the mechanical fuel pump.
After the engine was run We removed it and installed it in my 1985 Mustang LX with the headers still in place...just removed the slip on collectors!

For the July 4th driveway party later that year I put my old 351 Windsor on it with open headers and the gang over for cookout. We would crank it up and run it a bit. Was cool at night with some flame out the headers! :D
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by strokersix »

Stack some heavy stuff on the legs of the stand. Like several iron cylinder heads to add mass and lower CG.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by af2 »

My dad in the 70's hated when I fired the 327 up when he had customers until they came over and helped me tune it!!!
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by GerryP »

It should be fine on an engine storage cradle. I used to start them up with them sitting on a couple tires. Nothing ever fell off the floor. I don't think I would ever do one on an assembly stand.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by Krooser »

I have run a race engine on a shipping stand made of 2x6's... No issues.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by Belgian1979 »

Looks like the stand I use.
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by SupStk »

My test stand is commonly called a dyno
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Re: Starting engine on engine stand

Post by Belgian1979 »

That would indeed be preferred. 8)
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