Ever start an engine on the engine stand?

[miked]

have the desire to start the engine and make sure its running good (at low rpms) prior to sticking it in the car.

wondering if this is a good idea, concerned that the rotating mass will want to spin on the stand...

[Veepster]

do not do it on a standard engine stand...it most likely will flip over......some stands are designed for it, and it will be labeled as such.

[Michael]

There is a stand on the market that the engine actually sit in rather than on that you can do it with. I have done this with my sbc's and it is a great way to tune prior to install. But to do that it would need a radiator etc. Not sure on the price but I think you can find them @ harbor freight and even Jegs and Summit may carry them. I would not do it with a standard engine stand.

[Sgt. Dave]

What you want is a test stand, or an engine dyno. Try your local Vo-Tech school, you might talk the auto shop instructor into using theirs.

[la mula pescadora]

at school we use to have the engines at stands and running but they were hook up with a small gas tank and radiator you might be able to do this just make sure not to overheat the engine

[Michael]

Duhhhh....a test stand that is what you call it. The only way to go for sure.

[woodybeone]

I saw some stands at Carlisle this fall. They were a rectangle frame with heavy x-members to attach the motor mounts to. The motor actually bolted in via the regular mounts. It had a small radiator, a battery , and a small panel with starter toggle, and guages to make a self contained unit. I don't remember the name of the guy that had them but it looks like something that could be fabricated rather easily.

[Joe's 89]

Seesm like after fabbing a new test stand, getting a radiator, a battery, a fuel source and then exhaust outlets, that it might be easier to just put it back in the Jeep. That is unless this is something you plan on doing more than once, and in that case it might be worth it.

[miked]

searched for "engine test stand" and found this: http://www.mightymount.com/

not much different than the engine dolly that harbor/northern sells, except that it has a spot for the battery, radiator and contains gauges - oh, and the dolly is $40 vs the $700 for the mightymount... turns out that you can't start a motor on the dolly since there is no room for the flywheel/flexplate

here are some plans for small block cheby test stand: http://www.hotrodparts.com/chev.htm

[Stolen76]

run it on the floor ! I use 4x4's screwed together with lag bolts, just like the frame rails would be in the vehicle.

stick a garden hose in the water inlet, run a hose back out away from where you are standing, crank up the water, then the engine.

I've done this with little 4 bangers up to 11 liter diesels. If you use a bit of common sense (don't run full throttle, don't install the fan, etc..) it is very safe. If it does fall over, it doesn't have far to fall and will be held somewhat upright by the exhaust.

I too think it is very wise to run it BEFORE it goes back in the hole.

hope it goes well for ya

[Tubro]

i just drop it in the vehicle and start it up before i install the tranny. If there is a problem, undo a few bolts, yank yank, and figure it out. Not much harder and alot cheaper than a test stand.

[Mick]

When I was going thru auto at the university (ya I'm a shop teacher) we had engines on stands that we ran. The stands were larger and stronger than normal and had a VERY WIDE 5 legged base and more than one upright rising to hold the engine. We ran them without radiators for up to 3 or 4 minutes out of a lawn mower gas tank on a roll up platform that also held the battery, cables, and key switch to handle the craking. Worked well, I even passed the class, and that is more amazing!