Engine Cradles and Geared Engine Stands

[Chatt69chgr]

Has anyone run across a "good" engine cradle for a BB.  All I find on the net look like they were constructed from tubing used for a barbeque grill.  I mean something made out of heavy wall square tubing.  I finally found one that was made in Grass Valley, CA but called there and found they are out of business.  For the short term, I made a transport cradle out of wood to get my 440 home.  The one I threw together is just a 2X8 box screwed to a piece of 3/4 inch plywood with bracing on the sides.  The oil pan will sit on it.  I'll immediately pull the engine out of the transport box and install it on my engine stand.  I did see a picture of the wood transport cradles that the factory uses.  They do more or less the same thing I did----except----they nail four 2X4's vertically to the 2X8's so the engine doesn't sit on the oil pan but just above it maybe 1/2 inch.  On the front the 2X4's are positioned under the front motor mount casting.  On the back, the 2X4's are positioned under the bell housing attachement face.  A good idea.  But I don't have time to change my box right now. 

Also concerning engine stands.  I have a 1500# Goodyear Racing stand that is pretty heavy duty.  But it doesn't have the geared mechanism to rotate the engine.  I figured considering how many millions of these type stands are out there that someone would have a gear assembly you could buy to retrofit your existing stand.  Have not been able to find one after a bunch of searching on the net.  I did find a fairly good looking rotating style stand on the Northen Tool site currently reduced from $299 to $229. 

[69*F5*SE]

here's the engine dolly I picked up for my 383.  It works.   

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Universal-Portable-Engine-Storage-stand-Dolly_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3a4ee9c63bQQitemZ250432046651QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Chatt69chgr]

Thanks for this info.  The metal to make that stand would cost at least half of what he is charging.  And it is plenty heavy duty.  For the time being, I just completed a wood version of that, minus wheels, but with a boxed in area for the oil pan to sit down in, to transport my engine back to the garage from the assembler.  My uprights "catch" the engine on the flats portion of the bellhousing flange and on the cast-in engine mounts.  I think they use this same arrangement to ship crate engines from the manufacturer to the customer.  Catching the engine in this fashion with the wood uprights keeps the engine weight from resting on the oil pan.  As soon as I get the engine back in the garage, I'am going to fit it on my 1500# manually rotating engine stand since I already own it. 
I don't know how I missed finding that cradle the other day.  I searched every which way and that never came up.   

[69*F5*SE]

Glad to be of help.  The engine dolly seems to work fine for rolling it around the garage.  It's just sitting in the corner with the engine on it as of now and holding up well.   

[r_biccum]

I ordered the same one, looks like a decent little cart!

[tan top]

 got one of these from mancini


http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/hedumodo.html

[Brightyellow69rtse]

does the motor bolt to the cart in any way? i could easily make one. im just unaware where the supports actually come in contace with the motor.

could one of you take some pics for me from different angles?

[69*F5*SE]

I bought the one like in the Ebay listing above.  The risers that support the engine are angle cut and rest on the oil pan flange where it meets the block.  It actually works pretty good for storing your engine and/or moving it around the shop.