Any of you sages have some tips on the best way to safely sling/attach an engine for picking? I have a "cherry picker" and would like to keep the rigging as short as possible, since I'm limited to working in my 8' garage ceiling and am not stripped down to the frame...Larry
8 foot garage ceiling??? Remove grill, radiator and core support. Make your life easy. Otherwise, it is going to be very difficult if not impossible. Three speed or four speed tranny? If four speed, you must take engine out separately. I think three speed can come out with the engine, but not sure. Andy
This may not appeal to everyone, but I retired the chains years ago, and now use a 2" nylon tow strap with a couple wraps from front to back, around the engine, catching both loops in the hook of the engine hoist. Add a rope tie just below the loops to control any spin. Also can use the same system with a leveling block for the installation if necessary. By using the soft strap I can have the engine entirely buttoned up and ready to go. No scratches on fresh paint and the average tow strap is rated to handle shock weights far in excess of the 620 pounds of a GM 6 cylinder. Low ceilings can be overcome by removing the front wheels from the vehicle and dropping it down onto the drums. Combine this with the tow strap snugged down tight and rarely does the bottom of the block have to be more that 36" above floor level. This eliminates the need to remove the front sheetmetal and core support if they are already in place. "Necessity is the Mother of invention." Dave
Cool. Never thought of lowering the truck that way to clear a low ceiling. Great idea. don't know if I would rest it on the drums, though. Maybe just above the floor to keep the weight off the drums. Andy
Will this work? Will the truck roll? Will the "cherry picker"? If so, why not roll the truck outside, pull the engine, roll it back inside out of the way, then roll the truck back inside? I'm sure it's pretty cold where you are, but if you had everything disconnected and someone to help guide it up out of the engine compartment, you should be able to get it out fairly quick. Just a thought.....
Just to clarify....you can't go all the way down to the ground on the brake drums as you've got to leave space under the frame for the legs of the hoist. I just block under the drums to give me enough spread for the legs to clear. Dave
