The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Pulling engines in the dirt

My father needs to pull the engines out of two cars he
is getting rid of. He has a garage with a concrete floor, but
its so small I wouldn't consider working in there. He has
a huge quonset, but dirt floor. My engine hoist cherry
picker is huge, very heavy, but comes apart in three lug-able
pieces. I knew it would just sink in the dirt before we
even hoisted the engine, so I found a new way to utilize it:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2300932650102828028thtwVv

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2851380350102828028WOWEfr

I built a simple bracket for the upright to mount to the
bumper, and some simple angle irons bolted to the bed, through
a cross member to hold the back braces. Those were the
only 2 holes I need to drill into the truck. I didn't need
to alter the hoist. We used it today to lift a 500lb
Mack transmission onto the trailer, and it worked great.

The boom telescopes, so to travel, I collapse it, lower
the boom, and chain it down. Then put a little pressure on
the cylinder to take up the slack, and away I go.

If I had a receiver hitch, I could make an adapter to mount
in there also.

BTW, before you make fun of my Dodge pickup, I have replaced
the engine with a 292 Chevy, and 3-speed overdrive. So its
a 'bolt at heart.

-Brian

Make sure to chock the wheels before getting in between the two vehicles. I've seen engines jerk and fall or whatever and it could pull the two together,
Scott

First off heed Scotts warning. Safety first.
Second, Neat Ideal,I think thats using the ole noodle and as my pal would say "darn if that don't beat a hog a flying"

Back when I did it in the dirt I usually found an old piece of plywood around a building site and borrowed it but the engine would probably be to heavy for that?

Keep us posted on the progess.

Definitely! Will just leave truck in gear when lifting.
The other vehicle will be blocked.
When moving the transmission today, I just parked, and
backed the trailer under it with another pickup, then
lowered it down. I don't want to move the pickup with
any heavy items lifted any more than necessary. And even
then, just idle away with them very slowly.

borrowd out my hiost to a buddy,he pulled an engine in the dirt,sprung my hiost,nnow it's junk.I'm really ticked.he said he had a shop to use it in too!

Sounds like he just bought a hoist!
Jerry

I have used plywood placed on the ground to pull an engine on my tractor. Worked just fine. I even had to move an engine on a stand across my yard by using two pieces of plywood and leap frogging them. Seemed very safe to me. It just takes a long time moving less than eight feet at a time. Of course there were no hills to deal with. That would have been a disaster.

Thats a good idea.I did one on dirt with plywood and it was easier to move the cars around to and from the hoist than to try to walk the hoist around.Now it's easier but a bit more expensive New hoist

Had the first real trial today with the truck-mounted hoist.
It worked great, pulled a Mopar 383 v8 out of a car perfectly.
Made the truck squat a bit, but not bad.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2390902160102828028NbvEYr

Then got brave, and tackled a huge Mack engine that
needed to go to the scrap yard. Lifted it and pulled it
out to the yard, then removed the flywheel and clutch
to help the balance. It was really making the truck drop, so
to help out I put some blocks under the bumper. Lifted it up
and then backed a trailer under it. Worked great!

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2892713810102828028JFpBPS

Wish I had this years ago!

-Brian

I love ingenuity! Thats using the old Dodge correctly.
Personally I'm a little more addicted to my truck crane as seen here. Besides size the big advantage over yours are the proportional hydraulics and radio controls but otherwise the same deal. Use what ya' got and dance with the one you brung.

http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL366/751691/3291620/258345292.jpg