I planned to put this in the Engine Stand thread we had already started, but it appears to be closed. 12Port had made an adapter plate for the standard 2-3/8 round stock used for the head of most engine stands. Then, Harbor Freight changed the round stock for their new ones to 3 inches. So 12Port, if you want to sell them to people for the new engine stands, the correct OD number is standard 3 inches. For those of you who want to make one yourself, I am attaching a bunch of pictures on how to do it.
First off, use a bell housing for your template. Its so easy to transfer using a piece of 11x17 Chipboard like this:
http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/Project1959235/Project59235330lg.jpgThis is done by just using a ball peen hammer to tap all the way around and in the holes until it breaks loose.
Transfer the pattern to a 1/2" x 11 x 13 or so piece of plate steel. There are two pins near the bottom, use a 7/16 drill bit for that, and 1/2" for everything else. This way, if you are off a hair, and you will be, the holes still line up nicely.
I wanted a 3 inch hole all the way through the plate because I want to weld the CRAP out of that round stock. To do that, placing it through the hole, beveling the end to get a larger weld area, then weld it flush, but also weld the entire back side too will ensure you have a strong setup. Have you ever used a Bi-Metal 3 inch hole saw to drill thru 1/2 inch Plate?
http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/Project1959235/Project59235332lg.jpgMy Porta-Band just barely had the throat depth to do this. I got real lucky there.
http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/Project1959235/Project59235335lg.jpgThe round stock is 3 inch DOM with 5/16" walls. I found it in a scrap pile at the local welding shop. I like the thickness.
http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/Project1959235/Project59235337lg.jpgThis is as far as I got today. The bevel is complete for the welding process and its ready for welding. It has been tested and should work very nicely.
http://devestechnet.com/Images/Projects/Project1959235/Project59235340lg.jpgOnce this is done, I can move on to cleaning the engine for paint. If you want to use spacers, I found the local hardware store has the 7/16" x 1/2" spacers with allen screw for about $1.50 each. 6 of those and you can even keep your bolts on the mount and they won't come off.
