moving a engine from a trailer? No Engine hoist!

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myasylum

myasylum

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I don't have an engine hoist and I have to pick up two small blocks on two different days. Is there any other way to get a engine off the trailer without a hoist? Has anyone tried this?

Thanks!
 
J/K! What kind of trailer? Is it a snowmobile trailer with tilt? That would be easier. Maybe get some heavy wood planks and make a ramp and slide them off. Need to make sure the ramps don't slide out causing the engine to fall.
 
Got a good strong tree limb and some rope ?
 
I move my blocks around with an appliance dolly when I need to move em... mind you they are bare blocks.

Perhaps if you have a couple people, a dolly and a VERY solid ramp.

But whatever you do DONT GET YOURSELF HURT! if something starts falling DONT try catching it! been there done that... not good!

...perhaps an old style wood post tripod and a block and tackle...
 
I suppose the beams in the garage wouldn't work either. Just something I thought of... I don't think that would work though... :cheers: That could suck.
 
If the engine is placed on a good pallet in the trailer you could tie off the pallet and drive the trailer out from under it.
 
If you have a few big friends, and some beer, you might be able to lift the block without a crane. I myself have a hand truck that has been modified to move the blocks around, and a hoist to lift them up.
 
in my younger days me and my brothers would just pick it up and go, got a broken down old body now so I go with technology. look in the yellow pages for a tool rental place. they have engine hoists for rent.
 
Ooooo tried that once... took a 318 from the back of a full size pickup..thought enough to put a tire on top of a piece of plywood on the front lawn....damn thing tried to dig a hole to china when it hit....had a GOOD laugh about that one

You COULD take them apart on the trailer and move them piece by piece...but sometimes it's not could you but should you....
 
I've used a hand cart type dolly and ramps. I actually got a 400 block off the sidewalk into the back of my Cherokee this way.

I have small equipment ramps that are aluminum and are like 8' long. They're not smooth, they look almost like a ladder but obviously anything of this nature would work, like lumber.

Balancing and securing the block on the dolly is the key. I used large, ratcheting tie-downs to secure it to the dolly. The block should be sitting on the ground flexplate side down. Put the dolly platform underneath and you should be able to move it around pretty easy.

I've done 4 engines this way. Leverage is your friend.
 
Man. You ask a relevant question huh?

SB's weigh (at my best memory) 650lbs fully dressed.
If you are alone....meaning no other man power available........I would strip them down ON the trailer and move them piece by piece.

Valve Covers, Oil pan, Rockers/Shafts, Pullies, Brackets, Distrib: 50lbs
Cast Iron Intake and Carb: 35lbs
Cylinder Heads: 45lbs EACH
Crankshaft: 65lbs
Rods and Pistons: 45lbs
=285 lbs roughly

Then you just gotta wrestle a Block onto a dolly and wheel it away!

What ever you do, BE CAREFUL!

Cast Iron shows no mercy to fingers and toes!
 
What ever you do be as safe as possible!!!

I have unloaded motors in this mannor.

A large piece or carpet or canvas is layed in the trailer upon this a wooden pallet is layed. You do not need a pallet if your carefull. Then lay a old tire on the trailer. The motor is placed on the old tire, use two if they are narrow.

When you get to the location, tye the canvas off. The slowly pull out from the motor.

The best thing would be to ask for help from this group. Some one here must live close to you.

Whip
 
buy a 40.00 engine stand,,,slide the motor to the side of the trailer, tip the engine stand forward enough until you can bolt it up,,,you and a buddy,,one pulls back on the stand,, the other helps lift the engine,,,roll it away,thats how I got my 383 outa the back of my truck by myself.
 
I always keep a couple of old tires around for this. Muscle it to the edge, and flop it on the old tire. Its a pain to move afterwards, but it gets it off the trailer.
 
Too bad your so far away. I have a good engine stand that I will give you for free. The just wheel it up to the rear of the trailer or whatever and bolt it on. Rel simple. Hey, I've been there with no money. I rented an engine hoist from a local rental place. Real cheap. Dont just roll it off the trailer. Unless you just dont give a crap. I wouls buy an engine stand before I did that. You should be able to get one for cheap enough.
 
Well this is what I did. The trailer I got was from Uhaul, and the gate actually came down as a ramp, so we just slid the motor off the ramp. It did tilt off the the side, then when we tired to get it upright, it fell the the other side (Dough!) but I should be all right, I think? After all the bouncing around it did on the trailer to get it here, I'd hope it's alright! EEK!!
 
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