Morris Minor Owners Club

3/8 UNF Correction -edited to change my stupid mistake - they are of course 5/16" UNF as others have pointed out.

Sorry to be a pain but the bolts that hold the gearbox to the engine are 5/16" UNF.
I have just taken one out and checked against a 5/16" UNF die nut.
The bolts that hold the starter in place are 3/8" UNF.
To hold my engine to the engine stand I use qty 4 lengths of 5/16" UNF rodding.
With the rodding you can be sure that the whole of the thread in the block is used. Screw the rodding fully into the block, fit the mounting adapter and fit and tighten the qty 4 - 5/16" UNF nuts to hold the mounting adapter to the block.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-16-UNF-thre ... 233e67c4d8

If you are going to leave the engine on the stand for some time you should support the engine as left unsupported the rear of the block can distort and that is why I made up an extra support to go under the sump. As the engine is a spare it will be a long time overhaul.


Phil[frame][/frame]

Ooops yes sorry - starter is the larger size - silly me....

Sorry mate - they will be handy... Personally - I think an engine stand is a waste of money/space/time - a work bench is much easier and more flexible - you can turn the engine any which way to get at everything very easily... And if something drops - easy to find - no grubbing about on the floor.

Just noticed your bar, thanks Phil.

If you are going to leave the engine on the stand for some time you should support the engine as left unsupported the rear of the block can distort and that is why I made up an extra support to go under the sump. As the engine is a spare it will be a long time overhaul.

Noted, thanks Phil, I will take it off between jobs on it.

You also need to have the backplate on....not much good for working on the crank/oil pump etc. The more I think about it - the more pointless it seems !

Personally I would not be without an engine stand.
The engine can be worked on or pushed out of the way between jobs and therefore not cluttering up the work bench.
You do not need the engine back plate on to mount on the stand but with some jobs it can be left in place.
There is enough articulation in the mounting arms to clear the oil pump and mounted correctly you can remove the crankshaft without any difficulty[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Using the alternator/generator mounting points for mounting the engine on a stand should be resisted as there is a good chance that the block will distort or the mounting could even breakaway from the block.

Old desk works well for me - and no struggle to mount the heavy engine on the stand..... Oh and it didn't cost anything.....

That is why I have a hydraulic engine crane to do the heavy lifting - so no struggling or heavy lifting.

And whilst it did come at some expense it has earned its keep several times over.

Oh I have a child's swing frame and a pull hoist for that! All packs away easily - can be assembled in minutes anywhere, and works a treat! The frame was FREE - the pull hoist 5 Canadian Dollars. My holiday treat a few years ago.....

Tune in folks for more thrilling instalments to establish which will reign supreme, the humble bench come kiddies swing/cheapo hoist, (possibly not to British standard) or the upmarket royal hydraulic crane with hernia reducing features!

Been trying to attach the engine to the stand without removing the flywheel, did not work. Does not work very well on the side valve either, all the weight is off center