brackets to adapt engine cradle to straight 6?

[rexmo]

Picked up a couple of engine cradles at the flea market today, Chinese made, apparently designed for a V8.

Anyone rigged mounting brackets for storing a straight 6 on one of these? Looks like the rear holes come close to lining up with the BH holes in the back of the block. It's the front 45 degree support plates that have me stymied.

Would hanging chains from these for the front of the motor to rest on do the job, d'ya think? My best idea for a bracket so far is a drilled plate that bolts to the block, welded to a short length of square tube, welded at a 45 degree angle at the other end to a drilled plate that mates with the mount plate on the cradle.

Was also eyeing some 3/4" 45* ell black iron pipe fittings leftover from a gas piping job. Is there a simple way to join these to steel plate with a MIG?

Also wondering what purpose the row of bolts on the top of the crossbar serve.

[Masher Mfg]

Would hanging chains from these for the front of the motor to rest on do the job, d'ya think?

The idea of a stand/cradle is to keep pressure off the oil pan, a chain would also dent a steel oil pan.

My best idea for a bracket so far is a drilled plate that bolts to the block, welded to a short length of square tube, welded at a 45 degree angle at the other end to a drilled plate that mates with the mount plate on the cradle.

This would be the best way.

Was also eyeing some 3/4" 45* ell black iron pipe fittings leftover from a gas piping job. Is there a simple way to join these to steel plate with a MIG?

Those fittings ( if threaded ) are cast iron and won't want to weld very well. The bead will tend to tear out of the fitting metal. If non threaded, they are made for welded pipe systems.

Also wondering what purpose the row of bolts on the top of the crossbar serve.

Got a picture?

[rexmo]

It's pictured here . . .

http://www2.northerntool.com/product/406688_406688.htm

[whateg0]

Just guessing, but that could just be a storage location for the bolts.

-- or --

If the sides are able to be slid in/out to fit different engine widths, the bolts could be the set-screws. It doesn't say anything about this feature, so I would go with the bolt storage theory.

Dave

[Masher Mfg]

Looks like bolt storage.

The ad says it fits "most" engines. Well, it will fit most if most of your cars use a Chevy V8. All other motors will need adaptors, the vertical 3 holes at the bellhousing side and 2 angled motor mount plates are a give away. This isn't like a engine stand that bolts to the bellhousing and lets the motor tilt over, these have adjustable arms.

What type of motor are you storing?

[rexmo]

BMW M30 3.5L slant 6.

[TJS]

Why don't you just make one up from scratch and use your engine as the template. This is what I did when I did my engine run in stand. Or try and make a cradle assembly to adapt to the purchased cradle assembly, or just use the rolling base part and fabricate from there.
T.J.
www.tjsperformance.com

[Hotfoot]

If you have an engine hoist, hang and balance your engine, make up plates that bolt to the the mount points. From there it's very simple to fab a cradle to "connect" those plates to the casters at the bottom. Consider making the cradle in two section. The upper part has vertical tubes that "just" fit into tube for the lower, allowing you to have a low, non-tippy "storage" height, that allows you to hoist it up , then slip some pins through the legs for a "working" height.

[Masher Mfg]

BMW M30 3.5L slant 6.

Yea, you are pretty much have to make adaptors to hold that motor. Also consider standing the motor up rather on a slant, the stand might be tippy if the motor is left in stock condition.

[IRON TO ART]

If you have an engine hoist, hang and balance your engine, make up plates that bolt to the the mount points. From there it's very simple to fab a cradle to "connect" those plates to the casters at the bottom. Consider making the cradle in two section. The upper part has vertical tubes that "just" fit into tube for the lower, allowing you to have a low, non-tippy "storage" height, that allows you to hoist it up , then slip some pins through the legs for a "working" height.

This sounds like the best idea going. My 2 cents worth.