Topic: Engine hoists
Considering the speed at which I am blowing engines in our Saturn, I have a decided I need a better way to drop the engine than a borrowed hoist or a 4' x 4' across the shock towers.
Used hoists are not expensive but I am thinking outside the box. I want to build a gantry type crane with a platform at the base for the motor/tranny/subframe to sit on. The gantry would unbolt from the base and our spare "loaded" subframe would be stored and moved around on the base.
Two of the issues I found when either working alone or in the grass at the track:
The design of normal cherry picker engine hoist make them hard to roll...especially on grass...once loaded.
The amount of lift required is often stretching the headroom I have in my garage (lift car a little with jacks, drop subframe down, lift car body a lot more with hoist).
I will have multiple mounting points for the gantry and make it wide enough to accommodate my other potential Lemons car. The plan is to use 1500 # winch 1/4" lifting cable with a load leveler.
OK, tell me what I am missing. I am sure it is whole host of issues I am not thinking of.