Rotisserie with engine in situ

[fuff66uk]

I saw a rotisserie for sale on ebay a few weeks ago that the guy had used to restore his jaguar on.He said in the advert that it was a very solid piece of kit and it held his car with the engine,gearbox & axle still in the car,i have seen a fancy hydraulic one for about £700 but his was just a normal A frame type.

The point of my rambling is to ask opinions as to how safe you think it would be,i know all liquids would need to be drained but i'm thinking about the weight issue

[Bob the Fish]

Pics? Can't begin to guess without seeing design etc.

[chairchild]

As long as it's man enough to support the weight of a fully-laden car (usually about a ton per side for a good one) Then I'd have no problems with it supporting the weight of the car+engine....

But you're expecting the engine mounts to not just be squished by the engine, and give some lateral location.... but also to have the engine then hang off the same small bits of rubber...


It's possible, but I personally would never even consider it

[ejenner]

Surely the sort of work being done on one of those would have the engine out anyway?

[waveman1500]

I agree with chairchild. I wouldn't be worried about the rotisserie, I'd be worried about your engine falling out of the inverted car and smashing on the ground. Just take it out, it'll be much easier and safer!

[fuff66uk]

I think you guys are right,i guess the stresses on the mountings would be massive,i suppose I was just being lazy really.I will get an engine crane when I can afford it and do the job right from the start.
Thanks guys

[ejenner]

You don't have to have an engine crane for every engine removal. It completely depends on the car. Unless the front end is very high and can't be removed then it can come out the front. If you can't do that then sometimes it will come out from below. If you are rebuilding or refurbishing the engine you can sepearate it in the car so it is split down in to more managable chunks. i.e. take the head off, separate it from the gearbox, take the ancilierys off so you are left with just the block and then use a bit of rope or something to lift the block out. If you are only doing it once then save yourself the cost of the engine hoist.

You can hire engine hoists as well. HSS lend them out.

[Bob the Fish]

Could do like I did and go halfies on a crane with a mate? Not like you need them every day so it works out well. Plus you share giving it garage space.
So long as the structure of the rotisserie looks good. Seen some dodgy things about.

[chairchild]

If it's a not-too heavy car, unbolt the engine/subframe assembly, and with the help of a couple of mates, lift the car up over the engine, and wheel it backwards

[fuff66uk]

It's a pretty hefty car, in old money it weighs 22.25 cwt which i think is just over 1100 kg

[DavidB]

I thought this was going to be about an engine powered rotisserie (for sausages, chickens, etc).

I think you'd be safe if he used it on a Jag.

[fuff66uk]

I was thinking pretty much the same David,a Jag must weigh more than a Consul,but now it's been pointed out to me the strain on the engine mounts would be horrendous

[fatbaldbloke]

I'd be buying an engine crane before a rotisserie. Far more useful.

I've only ever needed a rotisserie once and then I made one with the frame in timber and a scaffold pole as the main beam through the car, clamped on to a frame bolted acroiss the rear shock towers. That was only a Mini van though. We used an old garden swing with a worm and wheel winch slung over it for years as an engine crane, though the top bar had to be replaced with a scaffold pole when we tried to lift a Triumph straight 6. The folding crane I bought a few years ago has seen plenty of action, collecting engines, doing swaps, lifting motorbikes into trailers...

[fuff66uk]

Yes i'm on the lookout for an engine crane