Hey gang -

Yanking the engine tomorrow after work. I purchased the obligatory Harbor Freight 1k engine stand and have been reading that having the adaptor makes it much easier.

The question is, do I NEED the adaptor? What happens if I don't have it?

I'd like to pull the engine tomorrow and I won't get the adaptor in time - so I'd love some help figuring this out.

I searched, but only found that most people prefer to use it, not the consequences of not using it.

Thanks!

Steve

 

To pull the engine, you don't need the engine stand. You can pull the engine out of the car, then remove the oil pan and oil pickup so the bottom of the engine is flat and set it on the ground.

For working on the engine, it's the only way to go. It bolts to the front iron housing so you can totally break the engine down on the stand and build it up again. I've built many engines before I got the adapter, and it's a night and day difference having the right tool for the job.

You could in theory bolt the engine stand to the rear of the engine, but you can't take the engine apart like that.

Just set it on the floor until you get the adapter, then bolt the adapter on and use the engine hoist to lift the motor up to get the engine stand on.

Dale

 

The engine stand adapter makes it much easier. I put the pineapple racing adapter on my motor while it was on jack stands and then got my engine lift and lifted it and slid it into the engine stand and I was done. I bought the 2k engine stand for whatever reason but Its the same as the 1k except the additional supports on the leg.

 

As stated, you can remove the oil pan and pick-up, but put it on a piece of wood or a wooden bench-top with rags or something else to minimize the oil spill. Just don't sit it on concrete or anything harder than the aluminum housings. You want be careful of those surfaces.
I can't imagine doing a rebuild w/o the adaptor though.

 

you DON'T need the adaptor. but the adaptor makes it easier to rotate a complete engine cause it places the engine's center of gravity closer to the stand's rotating axis.

i currently have my front iron bolted directly to the engine stand's mounting plate (the adjustable arms removed). however, i was down to just the short block before installing the plate. i can post a picture this evening if u want.

here's a post from RotaryEvolution w/engine attached to the adjustable arms.:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati.../#post11107521

 

The adapter makes the job easier.

 

My stand has the ability to hold the engine without an adapter. I use three arms, one of which uses a smaller bolt that is for the AC compressor. It functionally is the same strength, and puts the center of mass of the engine very close to the center of the stand.

My stand is very close to this stand, but has slightly different looking arms (they are square tube vs. flat bar). 1000 Lb. Engine Stand

You do need to make sure your bolts are long enough. If they are not long enough, the engine falls on the floor.......My buddy made that mistake.

 

 

Here is a comparison of how the adapter centers everything compared to the video above:

 

Just use a round paint bucket. Thats what I did. I also used a Charcoal plastic box holder thing..

 

Adapter isn't a must, like shown in the video. Myself and others have assembled their blocks that way without issues. Having everything centered would be nice but just assemble with everything being vertical.

 

Adapter isn't needed. I broke the engine down on a milk crate. For re assembly we just bolted from iron to my friends engine stand.