Transporting engine on trailer

Anybody have any sugestions on the best way for me to transport my rebuilt engine from the shop? I have a flat trailer and the engine will have the intake, carb, and oil pan on. How do you support the engine without damaging the oil pan? Thanks

 

If your towing with a pickup, i'd say stick it in the bed. But i have no suggestions on how to support it. Sorry.

Goodluck. :TU:

 

You could try setting it on an old tire and chaining it in place or use cables. :bglasses:

 

I've seen 'em on several or more unmounted tires with oil pan in the hole. Better tie it down good.

Let me know what you do. I'll be doing the same soon....I hope.

Rick

 

I built a box from 2x10 lumber that you set the motor on. Make the box so that the rails of the oil pan sit on the edges of the box then just use 4 straps to hold the engine on the trailer

 

I have access to a welder, so I just built engine dollies to fit Buick, Pontiac, Chevy and Olds. Now I wheel 'em around.

Lumber or old tires work fine, too, if you aren't looking for mobility once it's offloaded from the trailer.

 

Old tires (without rims), and a couple ratchet straps have always done the trick for us. We've probably only ever moved 15 or so engines in the last 15 years, but we've never had a problem doing it that way.
:TU:

I've never liked putting anything "solid" (like 2x4's) under the oil pan lip. I think it would/could warp the flange, or at least stress the gasket and give you a potential leak.
o No:

 

If you go by your local gm dealer....the guys in the service department usually have the crates that replacment engines come on. They usually give them away because they keep the old engines. You just need to walk around the shop and ask the heavyline techs.

 

What about this home made support ?

 

We brought this puppy home from Hickory N.C. a few months back
it never moved.period.

 

other side

 

The easiest/cheapest way is: At least 2 old tires stacked, without rims, and several tie down straps.

Best way is: engine dolly (that bolts to motor mount locations) and several tie down straps.

I certainly would NOT put one of the tie downs over the carburetor like in the pictures. That is a good way to ruin a perfectly good King Demon. (No offense meant)

 

AM&P sells engine stands for about 50.00. They are custom made for Buicks and make it easy to transport the engine.

I would NOT rest it on the pan.

 

With that beefy oil pan...you probably don't even need the straps!!

 

On the contrary....transporting an engine with it's weight supported only by the pan is a FANTASTIC way to loose all of your pick-up to pan clearance! Couldn't begin to count the number of times I've seen that happen and cost someone their engine due to the pan being so close to the pick-up and literally cutting off it's own oil supply as the RPM rises and the sump bottom is sealed flat against the pick-up. But get out of it or let off and the pressure & volume will come back.:Smarty:

Now Paul's 440(+/- ?)ci Mopar there has an external mounted pick-up so as the pan would "bow" in the center of the sump it could just as likely do the same as above. The only exception would be IF the side of the sump where the pick-up is mounted to also "moves" inward and keeps the clearance. I, personally would not trust it to chance myself.

I agree with David...AM&P, Mike Phillips (888)624-3848, sells a nice one that is specifically made as a transport/storage stand. I welded "pads" to mine then added castors for mobility.:TU:


Hope this helps...

 

Thanks for all the advise, the tires sound the easiest but I was worried about the weight on the shallow (front) part of the pan being pushed up. The reason the engine is out of the car in the first place is because there was a loud noise in the engine, turns out my old pan got pushed up about a 1/4 of an inch and was hitting the crank.

 

I was making a joke about the oil pan, wasn't serious..

nice looking motor

 

I have moved several engines the way I described and have never had a problem. The sump is held up off the ground and I have never had the lip of the pan bend. o No: I agree that a fab'ed engine stand would be best tho.

 

Hi Tim....I thought so but without any usage of the "Smilies" I couldn't be sure!:grin: And didn't want some of the maybe other "inexperienced" or "new-to-the-game" guys to think that was Ok.:TU:

Hi Jay....I just like to follow the "better safe than sorry" ideology.:grin: The old saying of "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!", I believe has great merit in situations such as this.:Smarty:

Good luck!:TU:

 

drove 13 hours home put it in the truck 7.70's @ 190+ no worries, no damage