Lifting engines from boat
 

After some unfortunat problems with my SBC's in my 1979 formula 233 twin, I've decided to pull them and rebuild. What do you guys use to lift the motors out? I don't think a engine hoist will be enough because the ack of my boat is about 5.5 feet from the ground. I would have to rent something.

On another note, I got a quote for 6200$ for complete rebuilds With installing an uninstalling the motors and replacing both gimbals.

I was able to get a BBC out of my Corsa with a shop crane, but I had to deflate the tires to get the oil pan over the gunwale. It was close.

If you are just doing it once, you can make yourself a decent A-frame gantry. A pair of 2x8's or a 4x8 spanning over top, and make legs with a pair of 4x4's at either end. Install diagonal braces in the upper corners made of mitered 4x4 or 2x4. Make it high enough to get enough headroom to get a chainhoist, slings or leveler, etc. Lift it up, drive the boat away, lower it down.

You should be able to do it for under $100 plus the chainhoist. I have a 3 ton from Harbor Freight. It works fine. It is slow, but I figure it has to be good for at least a ton and a half...

P.S. I forgot, get a 18" or so web sling to put over the top beam and hang your chain hoist from. You can easily adjust the position from side to side, and you won't be reliant on questionable eye hooks, etc.

I have a local tow truck guy come over and for $75 they are out in no time.

Use a backhoe:whistle:

I built a gantry crane, best $800 ever spent. I have had the motors in and out of my boat a half a dozen times and this thing helps emesnly! Might not be an option for you but figured I would share anyway!

You can see it in the background in this photo

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i4...b/be3c11c9.jpg

fork truck

Here is one in action

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i4...b/a2a17634.jpg

Gantry cranes are nice, but they take up a hell of a lot of room and really don't work for anything else. We have a really nice one, but generally use a 5,000 lb capacity propane powered fork truck - which comes in handy for many other things too.

Find a friend with a forklift...pull the engines...put them in the back of a pickup and deliver to the engine shop. This will save you thousands.

Also...check your local rental places for a Tilt and Tow....they work well also.

My brother built an A Frame Gantry for $100 bucks and moves the boat around to get his engine in ad out...but you can't beat a fork lift...unless you have access to an overhead bay crane!!

If you have a garage that the boat can be backed in to, you can lay a 16' 4x4 across (perpendicular) the trusses (provided the trusses are spaced on 2' centers - i dont know what load capacity 4' centers would handle).

When I was a kid, I stuck a 6" steel pipe between two trees with Y's in them and yanked and put back all kinds of car engines (that pipe is still in the trees, and that was almost 30 years ago!).

I've friends that use 3pieces of 2" pipe and make a teepee like structure out of it. Its held together with a piece pf log chain at the top. Then simply hanf your sling and chain fall off the chain - this actually works really well, as you can take it apart and store it behind the garage for next time.

Good luck!

There's always the "redneck" method: A good tree in the back yard with a chain hoist.

Thanks for the replies guys, I forklift would be real nice but currently I don't have access to one, shoot I don't even have a tree in my back yard. I think I'm going to make one. From what I've found sbc weigh around 600-700 lbs.

A 4x8 perpendicular to the boat, with 4x4 posts sitting on 2x4's with 2x4, or 4x4's as lateral support. Think this will work??

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...nne/gantry.jpg

You need bracing going the other way too, so when you pull the boat out from under it, it wont fall over.

Yeah if you are going to use wood, you are going to need support for the verticals towards the internal section of the rig as well. You will not have enough rigidity in that to hold the entire thing from moving side to side, only front to back.

That's a Gantry...as Shag said...support it from both ends to keep it fro racking and you are good to go. I'll try to get a pic of my brother's and post it. He used it to put a 454 in his 22' Formula F3.

The other thing... Plate the 4x4's with your 2x's. All pole barns I've ever seen are built this way (for strength).

Go to harbor freight and buy their gantry crane - for under 500 bucks you'll be up and running.

I was planning on using plates screwed in for some extra strength. I checked on the harbor freight gantry, they want $699 for it....I'll pass.

Sprink go work on your boat....that thing needs to get done already. Where did you end up getting the small blocks? does 4k, sound right for full rebuilds and another 2k for removal and install?

So something like this?
http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/...ne/gantry2.jpg

You are right...it needs to be finished...I worked on it 4; days last week and put about 4: hours in it yesterday. The little things are slowing me down..like all of the cooling hoses are different on center riser exhaust vs. the log style that I had. The entire cooling system set up is different because mine never had raw water pumps with the pre Alphas and I am going to Bravo's that has to have them. I spent 4: hours recently sandblasting and painting pulleys and brackets...time consuming. Had I decided to stay Alpha I would be on the water already...I don't regret the extra time/$ to upgrade to Bravo.

The $6K is reasonable all things considered. I would seriously consider going with Vortec heads and roller cams if you can squeeze it in the budget....it's 50~60 HP in bolt on power real quick and easy.

Mine are built from L31 Vortec Blocks by a performance engine builder in Pompano Beach. They were built for a lawyer re-powering a 27' Sea Ray Pachanga. The total of his deal was $10K to build the engines from the ground up...all new everything. He gave the builder a $5000 deposit and never came back. I bought them for $4000 cash:evilb: Builder was happy and so am I.

Your going to make a tree??!!??!! :cartman:

Are you pulling them inside or outside? If you have a tall garage, there is a pretty easy setup with a chain fall. Nothing for you if you are outside. I use a fork lift with a boom extension, real nice and easy.

And we still hate you for this one man! Still rubbing it in, still rubbing it in..... :thankyouthankyou: Ha ha.

Brian

I built a wood gantry. $120 worth of lumber and a 1 ton chain fall. I needed a lot of height so garage, tow truck etc. would not work. Don't underestimate the lifting height you may need. I used two 12' 4x4 for the vertical posts gusseted by 3/4" plywood and the header was two 12' - 2x8's bolted together with 3/4 plywood gussets as well. Worked like a champ and I could disassemble it when done. No stability issues.

Where the heck were you when I rebuilt my motor, could have saved myself a ton of money. Next time I'll know.

Thats what I did. I have to lift a complete motor and trans 12' in the air for the race boat. Best 500 I ever spent.

I have a I beam in my building with a trolley and chain hoist. Dont go cheap on this deal, if it fails you could damage your boat or die. Find somone local that has the right setup.

+1 works great just pulled mine,and dropped in a new one.