The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest opinion on engine stand for 235

I just looked at the engine stand I have and it says it's good for 1000 pounds, looks light to me, but I build hell for stout. Should it hold the 235 without problems. I'm going to try it with the head off first. Dave

It should hold it easily. But, be careful on its balance,especially if it is a 3 point stand.

I wouldn't put a six on a three point stand.

Listen to Cletis. The 235 will be unstable on a 3-point/wheel stand (if it is like the one on this page). The 2,000 lb stands on that page are the ones I prefer to use.

Be sure the stand is long enough to support the front of the engine. I've seen stands designed for small block V-8's tip over toward the front when the weight of a stovebolt engine is on them. If the bellhousing is installed, that makes the length of the assembly particularly hazardous. I extended a 4-point stand with an extra caster wheel on a piece of 2" pipe that reaches beyond the front of the engine on the stand I use for 216/235/261 buildup.
Jerry

Hotrod you are right. I had my 3 point engine stand fall over with a GMC 248 on it, but it also fell over with a V-8,3 point stands are not good for any engine!!!

I have heard that the length and weight of the "6" should never be supported by light duty or three-legged stands. I have heard of others who in moving them on uneven or cracked concrete have had them tip bad for the engine worse for your leg!

HERE'S the one I bought at Northern Tool and Supply. It was the only one I found that wasn't designed primarily for a SBC.

Weight should be fine......just rebuilt my 235 on a 3 point stand, gotta be careful with any engine on a stand. You should have no problem, move it slowly and carefully. If you are like me, it did not stay on the stand for more than a couple of weeks anyway. Don't buy a new one, mine was used and cost $20.00 put the $$ in your truck.

Hank

Its not so much the weight,but the lenght of an inline six,compared to a smallblock V/8.I have an engine stand out in my shop,that has held many Chevy smallblocks,but I would be hesitant to bolt up a inline six to it.I would bolt it up and check things out very carefully before I disconnected the chainfalls.

How about this one. I have one and it is plenty sturdy and fold up.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-foldable-engine-stand-67015.html

That's the same as mine, just a different color. Highly recommended.

Used a H-F 1K unit for mine and had no problems but dales937 is right about the length. I wouldn't want to try it with a longer GMC engine. You can see a picture of it with the engine on it in my Picturetrail below under the truck photos. Seeing is believing.

I like the four point stands .Bumps in the garage are no problem had many inlines and big blocks with no problem ever on it .A drip pan fits on the stand very nice during engine tear down.

i rebuilt mine on a 3 point that i borrowed. it was a bit precarious when i went to bolt on the bell housing so i used the borrowed engine hoist to keep it from tipping.

ideal no. did it work without hurting anyone/anything, yes.

That's also the one I bought. Took me forever to figure out how to bolt up the block to it though... my first time.
I ended up bolting directly to the stand plate (removed from the stand), using the tubes of the four swivel arms as spacers. Then I hoisted up the block with the mounted plate and stabbed the plate support into the stand. I just couldn't find a combination to use the swivel arms!
What am I missing with the use of that tool? It just didn't seem as universal as I would have imagined and I always seem to make simple things difficult.

Jerry

I keep this photo in mind whenever I have to put a 235/216 on that Harbor-Freight engine stand. The bolts are oddly placed through the "wrong" end of the top two fingers.

That set-up/stand also allows safe and easy rotation of the engine.

Thanks for the pic, Tim.
Yep, the "wrong end" is how I managed mine... only I used all four that way. It did bolt up to the faceplate, but you had to hold your head and stick out your tongue a certain way to do it... ha.
I'm thinking of modifying my faceplate a tad to fit this type engine... maybe make some 1/2" pipe spacers for it. After much time wrestling, it was easier to remove the faceplate from the stand and mount it to the block first. That might not be the correct method but it sure worked best for me.

Jerry

Bolting it to the faceplate and then sliding it into the stand is the correct method, I've done it that way for years.
On a side note, my stand faceplate attached fine once turned upwards so the long way was vertical instead of horizontal like you would use it on a V8
And as an added feature don't buy the 2000lb stand from Maxtool in California, unless you just want it for garage art with a plastic dummy block, because thats about all that pile of junk will hold up!