Dropping Engine Cradle without a Lift
10-03-2016, 03:42 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-01-2006
Location: lockport,ny
Posts: 1,377
Dropping Engine Cradle without a Lift
I decided to take Hellshotrod's suggestion and drop the cradle instead of pulling the engine out the top.
I had to figure out a way to do it with minimal expenditures (no lift $$).
Here is a picture of what I did:
I used two Harbor Freight farm jacks (7000lbs capacity each) that cost $58 each. They lifted a 8 foot long 4x6 from Home Depot ($15). Just behind the front wheel well opening is a flat reinforced area that goes across the width of the car. I was able to put the 4x6 there without hitting anything like exhaust parts. To eliminate the possibility of the 4x6 popping out or moving around (very bad!) I found some 1.5" diameter holes in the reinforced areas that I attached bolted-on pegs to fit into. See the picture below:
Also, it would be bad if the car rolled forward or backward while jacking, so I used a 2x4 and 4x4 to chock the rear wheels. I also pounded 12" landscaping spikes through the chocks into the ground to prevent them from sliding:
I used a pallet jack that someone gave me a few years ago to drop the cradle and roll it out. If I didn't have the pallet jack I would have used a couple of cheap furniture dollies from HF (the ones that are just a frame and 4 wheels) along with my floor jack.
I bolted the base of the HF farm jacks to a 2' x 2' piece of 3/4" thick plywood to keep the base from sinking and sliding around. The car lifted easily.
Here is the engine on the HF engine hoist:
Here is the cradle minus the engine:
Now I need to go get an engine from the junkyard and put everything back together.
BTW, I wasn't able to get the 3 bolts off that attach the exhaust manifold to the flex joint because they were rusted into a lump of rust. So I unbolted the exhaust manifold from the engine and left the exhaust manifold attached to the flex pipe. Now I can get into the empty engine compartment and cut the nuts off.
Steve
I had to figure out a way to do it with minimal expenditures (no lift $$).
Here is a picture of what I did:
I used two Harbor Freight farm jacks (7000lbs capacity each) that cost $58 each. They lifted a 8 foot long 4x6 from Home Depot ($15). Just behind the front wheel well opening is a flat reinforced area that goes across the width of the car. I was able to put the 4x6 there without hitting anything like exhaust parts. To eliminate the possibility of the 4x6 popping out or moving around (very bad!) I found some 1.5" diameter holes in the reinforced areas that I attached bolted-on pegs to fit into. See the picture below:
Also, it would be bad if the car rolled forward or backward while jacking, so I used a 2x4 and 4x4 to chock the rear wheels. I also pounded 12" landscaping spikes through the chocks into the ground to prevent them from sliding:
I used a pallet jack that someone gave me a few years ago to drop the cradle and roll it out. If I didn't have the pallet jack I would have used a couple of cheap furniture dollies from HF (the ones that are just a frame and 4 wheels) along with my floor jack.
I bolted the base of the HF farm jacks to a 2' x 2' piece of 3/4" thick plywood to keep the base from sinking and sliding around. The car lifted easily.
Here is the engine on the HF engine hoist:
Here is the cradle minus the engine:
Now I need to go get an engine from the junkyard and put everything back together.
BTW, I wasn't able to get the 3 bolts off that attach the exhaust manifold to the flex joint because they were rusted into a lump of rust. So I unbolted the exhaust manifold from the engine and left the exhaust manifold attached to the flex pipe. Now I can get into the empty engine compartment and cut the nuts off.
Steve
Last edited by RJ_RS_SS_350; 03-21-2017 at 11:10 PM.
10-03-2016, 04:00 PM
#2
Technical Moderator
Join Date: 01-23-2009
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 24,667
I talked to a guy that claimed he did it in his driveway on a weekend. He is a mechanic that does it a lot in the shop with a lift so he had a smaller learning curve than most.
I think he dropped the cradle down and the lifted the car and rolled it off.
I think he dropped the cradle down and the lifted the car and rolled it off.
10-04-2016, 05:42 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-07-2011
Location: SE Mich
Posts: 2,180
Impressed I am.
I once dropped the gas tank on an S-10 in my driveway by lifting the box off the frame to disconnect the lines and then dropping it. Neighbors were definitely wondering if the 'hood was going to hell... After one overnight, it was all back together just fine.
This appears to be much more significant, but I like the approach a lot.
I once dropped the gas tank on an S-10 in my driveway by lifting the box off the frame to disconnect the lines and then dropping it. Neighbors were definitely wondering if the 'hood was going to hell... After one overnight, it was all back together just fine.
This appears to be much more significant, but I like the approach a lot.
10-06-2016, 07:25 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-07-2011
Location: SE Mich
Posts: 2,180
That seems to be the trademark of Canucks, who are ALWAYS very unimpressed that some kid in South Beach can't find a puck. Just my observations...
10-07-2016, 10:53 AM
#7
Administrator
Join Date: 10-13-2011
Location: Welland,Ont Canada
Posts: 36,455
Last edited by Oldblue; 03-22-2017 at 04:31 PM.
