Engine Test Stand

Hey Guys!

Anyone seen, or have a set of plans for an engine test stand?
While I'm working on the rest of my "ground-up" restoral on my 1970 CJ-5, I'd like to be able to exercise the engine periodically while she is waiting for the rest of the project and finances to come together.

Like the rest of us, I understand the basic requirements (fuel, electrical, cooling, etc).....just looking for some tips on making the test stand adaptable to other engine configurations and any other useful thoughts.

Thanks!

 

Excercise?

Just fog it and put a dust cover over it. It will store for a long time

Pretty in depth task there. Alot of expensive steel to make a cradle. Then bolting it down to something solid.

 

Yeah, not to poo-poo your idea, but just storage prep it and leave it alone. Any moisture in the air can condense in any warm cylinders that happen to have a valve open when the engine is shut down. If left long enough that can be bad for rings and bores. Living here in Maine and having been a motorcycle guy for 20 years you learn that after a while. And if you do not run the engine long enough the get the oil hot enough to cook off any condensation in the crankcase that forms each run time you'll harm the bearings too. And getting the fuel system safely rigged up takes serious precautions. More than one guy has been badly burned and shops or garages burned down by accidents in dyno rooms running engines on test stands. Pops Yoshimura of Suzuki tuning fame comes immediately to mind.
It's a neat idea and I've contemplated it many times for tuning bike engines but caution has always kept me from trying it. Besides, standing two feet from a running race bike strapped to a rearwheel dyno reading gauges was scary enough and I knew there was no way for it to bust loose but your brain says Eek!

 

More power to ya if you can do it! I'd like to see it when done, but have no advice to offer

 

Jeez, I dunno, not long after I got out of the service, I was visiting my bro-in-law, who was still in. We went to a shipmate's rented house and had a few beers. Somebody in the crowd thought we ought to see if that Ford 352 in the dining room really ran. (you know how it is when a bunch of guys live together at that age...carbureutors in the cupboard, a back seat for a couch.... etc.) Well, you know how when you pour a little gas down the carb, and drag in a battery from the bedroom, and hook up some jumper cables???? Know what happens? It runs. Know how long it takes to run all that gas out? Long time. Don't do this at your house. Wish I had a picture of that guy's face!! I don't think they got their cleaning deposit back either.

 

R) R) R)

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll keep you posted on my progress, whichever way I decide to go.

 

Had a friend in NOLA who used to carry a 350 SBC in the back of his van for ballast???? any way, he used to back her into the parking lot at the Bachas and fire up the 350 right there in the back of the van for the gathering croud of onlookers..... good cheap entertainment

 

Hey Pismo, I know I'm a little late here but I'll post a picture of one of my test stands later today. They're a waste of space for what I do. I've got 3 of them in my shop but I'm going to cut 'em up for the steel since they're not really useful for me. I'd tell you to come pick one of them up but considering the price of steel these days, I'm going to take the cheapskate route...

 

What I did was take an old jeep that was ready for the boneyard and install a T-90 with no guts in it. Removed the fenders and hood and voila!

Test stand.

Now I can drop an engine in that jeep in an hour and have it running. No spline to worry about, the exhaust and fuel are already there. I didn't do it, but I was going to install oil press gauge, temp gauge and ammeter in the cowl of the body.

Plus I can roll it around .

 

Better late than never.....Thanks! I'd like to see the pics.

 

Pictures?

 

Pretty eloborate stand there. I made 2 for 2 502 chevy engines I rebuilt for a 38 foot silverton boat. I made them to test the engines prior to installing them at the drydock. Very simple actually just 1.5 inch square tubing in a u shape under the front of the engine going from motor mount to motor mount and crossing under the oil pan. I think I used the same design aft just used flat plate to make it bolt up to the cylinder heads. It worked great and it only took about an hour to make both. Very sturdy and I left the engines very close to the ground just in case. If it could handle a 502 cubic inch motor it will suffice for anything here.I ran both motors quite a bit for break in and tuning on these stands without a problem.The best part is when we were done we unbolted them and they stored easily without taking up space. I left them with my employer when I left Lousiana so I do not have then anymore for pictures. Sorry

 

Thanks for the info on your test stand.
As I've robbed parts & pieces (cranks, harmonic dampeners, etc) from multiple 225 V-6 engines, I'd thought I would like to test it before I put her to rest in the frame and newly painted body.

On the other hand.....maybe anticipation will prompt me to get a second job so that I can finish the rebuilding project sooner than later.

I've appreciated everyones input.

Thanks again.

 

I was actualy considering this idea recently. I have been doing battle with a Dodge engine enough in the last few months to actually have wanted something like this! I have already seen a engine go over the grill six times in the last 3 months.... Some of that could have been saved by a stand.

I may yet build this...... Try to make it a "universal" setup so I can hook anything to it.

-H