Thread: Project Special K

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Good progress, Steve!!!!! I've been trying to teach my dog how to help do things like bleed brakes, etc... So far all he wants to do is just lay down on your lap when you're sitting on the floor working on stuff.... He's really fun when you have to do something on the creeper....

On the front caliper leak, sometimes it helps to scuff up the copper washers with a piece of 220 grit paper... They're not always real flat as they should be either... I've had to sand them down on many cars to get a leak free fitting... Sometimes even a bit of time with a very fine file before sanding if they're real nasty.

Thanks Dave, this will be my Easter day project!
I know what you mean about the dog. He always drops a tennis ball on me when I'm under the truck!

So I thought I'd move on to the wiring harness today, only to do some stop and think stuff. I really should pull the engine and clean out the engine bay, paint it and put the motor mounts in the right way, do all the engine stuff while it's out of the car, and then remove the dash sand , rust stabilize and paint tthe inside of the cab, before the wiring gets done, otherwise I'll have to remove it and do it again, later!, I hate it when the brain red flags the work before I've even started! So now I'm looking at engine stands to hold the 460 while it's out of the truck. I't cheaper to rent a cherry picker to pull the engine one day and to put it back another day when I'm done than to buy a cheap one and have another tool lying around that won't get much use. The stand is probablya necessary buy item. Any idea how much a 71 ford 460 weighs so I know what size stand to buy?

Them 460's will make a believer out of you weight-wise........when I started building my 460 I realized why I played with 302's all my life! The crank alone will give you a hernia.

My advice is to not only buy a good engine stand, but also to invest in your own engine lift. You will be amazed at how many times you use it once you own one. Harbor Freight runs sales on them and engine stands all the time, and they really aren't too bad. I can take mine apart and stand it in a corner in about 10 minutes, but we use it so often I just keep it together.

You will be also be amazed how many times your engine will be in and out again, and if you rent one you have to run to the rental place each time and give them money you could be spending toward owning your own.

Just my opinion.

Don

I'll think about it Don. I like the foldable one. I'm just not sure if I can clear the engine out of the truck with it. The front of the truck is 40 inches tall, the engine is about 24-26 inches tall. I bought a stand from Napa that looks pretty stable, can pivot the engine 360 degrees and hold 750lbs, I figure I'll take the intake off and the fan and water pump. That should take 60-80 lbs off the 720lbs weight. It does make sense having a picker, just starting to get tight in the shop again with the stuff I have. Plus the front hood will need a place to live as well. Maybe it'll live outside this summer so that will make some space!
Denny, I hope the 750 stand will do it, if not, I'll have to look elsewhere.Thanks.

Question to the masses. I got my engine stand, and now I am biding time to get a cherry picker. Don mentioned one from Harbor Frieght that folds up, which is the best option for my space. I've looked on line and come across quite a few, all seem to have a 8 ton hydrolic pump, with a 2 ton max lift, and 1000lbs minimum. Has anyone pulled an engine out of a truck with one of these? Where did you attach the hoist. I've seen plates they sell that mount to the intake where the carb sits, and I've seen photos of people pulling an engine from the vehicle with a chain set up that seems to attach to the exhast bolts on the heads. Any info on the above? I'm worried about this big block 720lbs engine getting stuck coming out because the picker might not clear the grill, or a bolt snapping and dropping 720lbs of heave steel!
What do you guys, use?

I have one of those engine hoists I got at Pep Boys. Pretty much the same as Harbor Freight. You can lift an engine - even a heavy one - with the plate that bolts to the intake. Don't worry about the 1/4 or 5/16 carb bolts being strong enough. They are more than safe. I lifted a 454, complete with accessories, scattershield and top-loader that way.

The other option is a chain bolted to front and rear accessory bolt holes in the head. You can go from right front to left rear, for example with one chain and have plenty of strength.

Henry
In highschool, we used a chain that way on my old 302, stuffed a 2x4 thru the chain and muscled it out. I was a lot younger, and the engine was a lot lighter, back then. Ste ve

I have one like this, that denny posted its a great lift, its pulled motors out of cars, trucks, and boats. i ve pulled a 454 with the longest extension, (500lbs), but had an extra set of hands/eyes to help, and definetly needed them.

We used the longest extension because of height issues.....dont forget you can alway let the air out of the tires for a couple more inches of clearance, nothing like getting it all bolted up and in the air, then realise your a couple inches short from clearing front end or back of boat.....

One of my friends reminded me, I could take the wheels off and put it on jack stands at the lowest setting. That seemed slightly dangerous!
Not to mention, making it difficult to get the lift over the engine!

I cleaned up my yard, fertilized it, and then hit the truck project with the time I had left! Pretzel fertilized the yard too!
So I was able to clear up some space in the Garage aka shop! I built the engine stand, very easy and now I have room for a foldable 2 ton shop crane, once Harbor Freight discounts the red one for me!
Here are some shots of the finished project.

Hey guys looks like he has some room for us to store some . How about it Steve .

Bobby once the truck is back in there it gets pretty tight!

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Them 460's will make a believer out of you weight-wise........when I started building my 460 I realized why I played with 302's all my life! The crank alone will give you a hernia.

My advice is to not only buy a good engine stand, but also to invest in your own engine lift. You will be amazed at how many times you use it once you own one. Harbor Freight runs sales on them and engine stands all the time, and they really aren't too bad. I can take mine apart and stand it in a corner in about 10 minutes, but we use it so often I just keep it together.

You will be also be amazed how many times your engine will be in and out again, and if you rent one you have to run to the rental place each time and give them money you could be spending toward owning your own.

Just my opinion.

Don

Ok so I was watching the harbor freight sight for a foldable 2 ton engine crane, and they weren't going on sale, so I figured suck it up and buy one for 209.00. So I called the Santa Rosa store nearest me to see if they had any in stock. Turns out they had four, all on special in store sale for 149.00. Well that clinched it so I hustled up there this afternoon and got one, as well as a load leveler that the guy who helped me swore would pay for itself when it came time to dropping the engine in an d out to make it easy to angle it. It was twentynine bucks, so I got it. Also a cheap detail/spot sprayer for 19 dollars, which will be great for sraying the interior as well as the frame and engine bay. I hate to say it but you can't beat their prices for the seldom used tools that normally cost a fortune. The lift is very nice, looks just like the one Denny posted a picture of, only it folds up. Pretty easy assembly too.
Now I just have to pull the beast, and get someone to help during that process! Life is good!

Should work out fine, Steve!!! You will like the engine tilter, can't imagine even hooking on to an engine anymore without one!!!! Makes everything so much easier, especially for some of us "high mileage" Hot Rod builders!!!!!!