Thread: Engine Test Stand

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A buddy of mine called me up one day and told me his Brother in Law was building an engine break in stand to test fire a 350 they had just built. They had no welding equipment so they built it out of wood! My initial impression was "Oh Boy, this is gonna be good! "

Couple of days later I went to visit them and it was done. The thing was amazing. He built the main frame out of 2 x 6 lumber and had used those plates they make for attics to reinforce the joints. He put casters on it, a "dash" with some instruments, a boat gas tank, a battery tray, and he used engine plates from Jegs as motor mounts. The biggest tool they had used was a 3/8 drill, because that was about the extent of their tool collection. They even painted the whole thing black and I had to admit to them I was skeptical but it had turned out great.

They later swapped the 350 into a '49 Lincoln Cosmopolitan, also using the same 3/8 drill and no welding equipment. It also turned out ok...........these guys were just very resourceful. Wish I had taken pictures of that engine stand.

Don

Oh, and they also "machined" the 350 at home for the rebuild using a hone and the same 3/8 drill. Last I saw, it was still running fine.