>-> "gallows" type arrangement out of wood. This will be used
>-> primarily for Spitfire engines, not very heavy (2 people can
>-> easily lift one with a 2X4).
>
> Four 2x4s and a 2x6 crossbeam would probably be plenty. If you're
>working indoors, though, you might consider running a 2x6 or 4x4 in the
>ceiling to hold the load.
Gallows should be properly braced otherwise they'll collapse very easily.
I lay two 4x4 on the roof trusses in my garage to spread the load.
The original question asked what kind of hoist to use. I use TWO
"comealongs" one on the front of the block and one on the rear hanging from
the TWO 4x4s. That way you have the load split over two hoists, but more
importantly you have real good control of the tilt angle as you lift the
engine and transmission out and vice-versa. An MGB engine and trans is
quite a tight fit that needs good tilt control. You can't do that with a
single hoist. However I read in the instructions that comealongs shouldn't
be used for lifting. Maybe the cables are likely to come out as they are
only crimped.
> An interesting alternative, if you have a pickup truck, would be one of
>those "truck hoists", which is basically a shop crane attached to a rear
>corner of the bed. They're intended to lift heavy objects into and out
>of the truck. Most would have enough reach to pluck the engine from a
>Spitfire. Cost ranges from $100 to $200.
Then you're into the kind of money a hydraulic crane costs from Harbor
Frieght. I have used one of those with a leveller and they work well, plus
you can wheel an engine around the shop
Peter Ross
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