Anyone know the weight of a 2L engine?

[focodave]

I'm preparing to pull my engine using my garage trusses as the support for a hoist.
I don't want my garage to come crashing down on me and, most importantly, my car!
Does anyone know what a 2-litre engine weighs (no tranny attached) with the head and cam towers attached?
Basically I want to drop in the engine, completely assembled.

[fiat218]

I would but a beam of some sort across 2 of them or 3 rafters just to make it stronger
Be safe

[narfire]

I'm going to guess 350 pounds??? with everything on. I'd put the intake and exhaust on once the engine is in though.
If you can, perhaps take a couple of 2 X 4's and jamb them up either side of the car in line of the support rafter you are going to use. Less deflection from the edges of the walls. If you don't want to mark any ceiling, place a bit of plywood up first.
Chris

[focodave]

narfire,
I am going to be removing the old engine in pieces, but the new engine I am putting in will be fully assembled.
I am basically buying a Fiat "crate" motor.
So I am looking for an accurate estimate of the weight so I can properly design my hoist support.
Dave

[focodave]

fiat218,
That's exactly what I am planning on doing -- putting in a cross beam spanning a couple of the roof trusses and hanging my hoist from the cross beam.
Still looking for a good estimate of the weight so I can feel better about what I am doing -- or modify my plan.
Dave

[narfire]

I have a 2L sans intake and exhaust on an engine stand. If I can find a scale of sorts I'll suspend from my fork lift. Just have to find a scale.
I can pick up a short block without the crank...perhaps that is 120-140 pounds or so.

[manoa matt]

I'm guessing you have open web engineered wood trusses that have 2x4 members with pressed on gusset plates like this: http://evstudio.info/wp-content/uploads ... iption.JPG

The 2x4 bottom cords are in tension and are not intended to be loaded. The trusses are designed to take loads from the roof and transfer them to the supporting walls. If you place loads on the bottom cords the only things holding the 2x4 bottom cord will be the pressed on gusset plates. They are sometimes damaged in transit or installation and don't penetrate into the wood all that much, maybe 3/4" to 1".

Although I have quite a bit of fiat parts stored in my garage of similar construction. The stuff I place up there is relatively light interior components, seat foams, etc.

If your garage has trusses that have splices in the bottom cord, then I would not put any type of weight up there.

While it may possible to place a beam of some sort up there that spans over several trusses, I would not rely on it. At minimum place posts under the beam as close as possible ( in this case would be on each side of the fenders)

The main problem with this set up is maneuverability. If you choose a stationary object to hoist the engine you must move the car around to shoehorn it in the engine bay. With everything attached to the engine the car must be raised up to get it in. If the car is raised up on blocks, how does it move to accommodate the engine?

It's in yours, your car, and your garage's best interests to rent, borrow, or buy an engine crane. (check craigslist for used ones) It will make the job 10X easier and safer. Take it from the most frugal/spendthrift/garbage picker on the site who looks to save a buck where ever he can. ( When I was faced with this same challenge, I ended up building an engine crane from a weight bench I found on the side of the road.) Also I'm a forensic architect who specializes in investigating these types of structural failures.

[fiat218]

I took a Alfa engine out ,I got rafters like you showed, I place a angle iron up and across 2 of them
Worked perfect, you ain't pulling a d9 cat engine out

Common sense will tell you what is best
Like matt said .try get a cherry picker

[focodave]

manoa matt,
I found a place that rents the engine-crane for $137/week.
I'm going to go that route, rather than bring my roof down.
By the time I try to add fishplates to my bottom cords, and try to strengthen and connect all of the truss components to be able to handle a hanging load, I might have just as well rented the proper engine-crane.
Thanks for helping me get my head back on straight.
Depression, desperation, and other emotions tied to one's engine blowing up can cause one to make some stupid mistakes.
Dave

[seabeelt]

I bet you can rent a hoist for a day for a lot less than that. If you are going fully assembled, a day should be more than adequate.
R/

[RRoller123]

I wonder how much HF charges for a new one? Just check the visual quality of the welds first.

[hayesbd]

Looks like $185 (before the normal 20% off coupon)!

http://www.harborfreight.com/shop-crane ... 69512.html


Brian

[RRoller123]

If my engine needs to come out, I think that is the way I will go.

[seabeelt]

Pete, PM me if you ever get to that point, I have a hoist

[manoa matt]

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/pts/3623553250.html

With a brand new hydraulic ram! Asking $100 means he will take $80/$75 in cash if you wave it in his face and tell him its missing a bolt and 3-4 chain links at the boom end.

When you are done, re-paint it and sell it for the same price. It's better than renting one because you can keep it as long as you want (there is always something you forgot which precludes you from re-installing the engine on time) and if you re-sell, it basically cost you nothing except gas money to go pick it up.

There are other deals, search "Cherry Picker" "Shop Crane" "Engine Crane" "Engine Hoist"