Storing and Lifting Engine Dilemma
Discussion
Hi All,
This is a very strange and problematic dilemma that I bring to you.
I have basic knowledge of engines and cars from what I have researched online but I would like to learn more about engines and cars in general. After reading some posts of other people in the same situation, it was recommended that stripping an engine would provide very helpful and practical knowledge.
Here the issue lies, the easy part is getting an engine (from a scrapyard or old car), having somewhere to store it is the hard part.
So I have an unused detached garage at a different property (that has tenants in) that I can use, however it is about 10 miles away from home and have nowhere to store it at home. If I was to get an engine a garage would be ideal. Due to the distance and security of the garage, leaving stands and hoists etc around is just asking for them to get nicked.
Can you guys suggest any alternatives to an engine stand that is either (a) hard to steal or (b) extremely cheap. Or any other methods of doing the job of the stand to make it easier to access the engine?
Thank you!
This is a very strange and problematic dilemma that I bring to you.
I have basic knowledge of engines and cars from what I have researched online but I would like to learn more about engines and cars in general. After reading some posts of other people in the same situation, it was recommended that stripping an engine would provide very helpful and practical knowledge.
Here the issue lies, the easy part is getting an engine (from a scrapyard or old car), having somewhere to store it is the hard part.
So I have an unused detached garage at a different property (that has tenants in) that I can use, however it is about 10 miles away from home and have nowhere to store it at home. If I was to get an engine a garage would be ideal. Due to the distance and security of the garage, leaving stands and hoists etc around is just asking for them to get nicked.
Can you guys suggest any alternatives to an engine stand that is either (a) hard to steal or (b) extremely cheap. Or any other methods of doing the job of the stand to make it easier to access the engine?
Thank you!
Put them through the dishwasher first 
(Joking apart, this does work. Just be sure the lady of the house is out, unlikely to return before the cycle finishes & give it a wipe out afterwards.)
On a more serious note, consider a motorbike/scooter etc. Much smaller & the basics are much the same, just less cylinders.
ETA. I take it this garage is nothing to do with the rented property & the rent paid by the tenants doesn't include it?
(Joking apart, this does work. Just be sure the lady of the house is out, unlikely to return before the cycle finishes & give it a wipe out afterwards.)
On a more serious note, consider a motorbike/scooter etc. Much smaller & the basics are much the same, just less cylinders.
ETA. I take it this garage is nothing to do with the rented property & the rent paid by the tenants doesn't include it?
Edited by paintman on Saturday 30th December 19:16
Well, a cheap Ebay engine stand is only about £30, so if it were to get nicked, it's not the end of the world, and they're a lot better for working on stuff. Puts the engine at a convenient height, and allows you to turn it upside down easily to work on the bottom end.
Edit: you can make a perfectly serviceable stand from wood, shaped so the engine sits on the flange of the sump, but while these are great for storing engines, they don't help as much when working on them.
Edit: you can make a perfectly serviceable stand from wood, shaped so the engine sits on the flange of the sump, but while these are great for storing engines, they don't help as much when working on them.
Edited by InitialDave on Saturday 30th December 20:13
InitialDave said:
Well, a cheap Ebay engine stand is only about £30, so if it were to get nicked, it's not the end of the world, and they're a lot better for working on stuff. Puts the engine at a convenient height, and allows you to turn it upside down easily to work on the bottom end.
Pretty much this, wtf is going to steal a stand with a scrap engine on it from a locked garage?If you're struggling to work this out on your own god only knows how you'll cope with an engine.
The car maintenance learning curve IMHO starts simple, e.g. oil & filter changes, and progresses to break pads, possibly discs, suspension & steering,
and only then moves on to stripping engines & gearboxes.
You don't go from "a bit of online research" to full engine rebuilds in one go. No one strips and re-cons engines anymore anyway.
Just a thought but if you haven't the space for an engine your not going to be working on your cars anyway.
As previously suggested go for the car resto evening course at a college. That should scratch your itch.
Paul G
and only then moves on to stripping engines & gearboxes.
You don't go from "a bit of online research" to full engine rebuilds in one go. No one strips and re-cons engines anymore anyway.
Just a thought but if you haven't the space for an engine your not going to be working on your cars anyway.
As previously suggested go for the car resto evening course at a college. That should scratch your itch.
Paul G
227bhp said:
Pretty much this, wtf is going to steal a stand with a scrap engine on it from a locked garage?
If you're struggling to work this out on your own god only knows how you'll cope with an engine.
People will steal anything if its not bolted to the floor. If you're struggling to work this out on your own god only knows how you'll cope with an engine.
But thanks for the advice, I have looked for courses near me and there isn't many to choose from making this quite difficult to attend.
Hence why I have stuck to online and doing small things to my car such as those mentioned by someone above. But its always good to read it on paper and learn, but without seeing it first hand I think it lacks the actual procedure and reality.
Of course engine stands are cheap that's not an issue.
Dish washing the parts is a good idea but the idea of building something is interesting or just doing it on the floor. These are all things I am going to consider, but if you have any other suggestions please let me know!
Thank you
Pistom said:
Do you have any interest in classic cars?
At our local club, there is always someone rebuilding an engine.
Get pals with someone like that and offer to brin over a beer or 2 whilst you watch them waste their time and money. I mean, enjoy their hobby.
When you say Local club, what exactly do you mean? As that sounds like a great idea to be honest! At our local club, there is always someone rebuilding an engine.
Get pals with someone like that and offer to brin over a beer or 2 whilst you watch them waste their time and money. I mean, enjoy their hobby.
PositronicRay said:
Yes, that's a good one. The Triumph Sports Six Club is also a great one as Triumphs tend to need engine re-builds about as often as my daily diesel needs filling up with fuel. (It's an 80ltr tank before any Triumph fans complain).
AChilvers said:
227bhp said:
Pretty much this, wtf is going to steal a stand with a scrap engine on it from a locked garage?
If you're struggling to work this out on your own god only knows how you'll cope with an engine.
People will steal anything if its not bolted to the floor. If you're struggling to work this out on your own god only knows how you'll cope with an engine.
But thanks for the advice, I have looked for courses near me and there isn't many to choose from making this quite difficult to attend.
Hence why I have stuck to online and doing small things to my car such as those mentioned by someone above. But its always good to read it on paper and learn, but without seeing it first hand I think it lacks the actual procedure and reality.
Of course engine stands are cheap that's not an issue.
Dish washing the parts is a good idea but the idea of building something is interesting or just doing it on the floor. These are all things I am going to consider, but if you have any other suggestions please let me know!
Thank you
The other one is to start with a mower, motorbike or generator, there was a chap in the Homes & Garden section asking for ideas on stripping an old Atco engine, there is also a guy on here who makes beer money from repairing broken generators and selling them on.
227bhp said:
I really do doubt someone will break in to steal something which weighs approx 250kg and is worth £20, but nevertheless whereabouts are you? There maybe someone nearby who needs a hand. You can come and strip engines until the cows come home for me
The other one is to start with a mower, motorbike or generator, there was a chap in the Homes & Garden section asking for ideas on stripping an old Atco engine, there is also a guy on here who makes beer money from repairing broken generators and selling them on.
Just saying, people do strange things to get their hands on stuff that they don't understand and that is worthless. The other one is to start with a mower, motorbike or generator, there was a chap in the Homes & Garden section asking for ideas on stripping an old Atco engine, there is also a guy on here who makes beer money from repairing broken generators and selling them on.
I'm in the Leeds area of Yorkshire. Tried looking for evening courses just to get things rolling, but finding it a little difficult to find them in this area.
Very good idea
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