Anybody built an engine test stand?
 

Has anybody built a engine test stand? I am thinking about it for a project this summer. How hard was it? How much did it cost? I was thinkign about using a K-member as part of the stand. Anybody have any pics? Thanks

Yeah, My friend built one to "break in " Stock eliminator cam shafts . He took an old well worn 440 mounted it in on a heavy duty wooden pallet hooked up to a stick shift bellhousing w/ just a flywheel bolted up (no Trans) a crude Dash board w/ oil pressure, temp & a tach. running it w. a b-body radiator in front of it it works pretty well. for it's intended purpose (to break in cam shafts W/O heavy duty valve springs) or trying to break in a new expensive NHRA stock eliminator engine at the same time. I will try to dig up a picture of it for you. ( I don't think a k-member would be neccessary to do this)

we built one in my engines class in college for our ford 3.0's we were rebuilding. just made a stand out of 2x4 rectangular tubing, and mounted a transaxle to it with all the mounts. used a radiator/fan from a taurus, a little box with a toggle and pushbutton switch, then a hand held pressure guage for oil pressure, and an infared temp gun for water temp... :D worked great!

if it's possible (i'm sure it is) make that K-member removable and get 2 of em, a small block and a big block K member so you can change em out for different motors. if you have a P.A.W book, look in there, theres a test engine stand for sale for $600 :eek: you could look at the pic and get an idea...

good luck! let us know how it comes out if you do it!

Thanks guys. How long do you think an engine would run, on a fully charged battery, ya know without an alternator?

Just keep a charger hooked up to the batt

depends if it's fuel injected or not (runnin the computer/sensors), but i agree with 23T, just keep a charger on it.

We ran dirt cars all night long with only two batteries installed and never charged, so you wont have a problem. Besides, it's not hard to wire up an alt to it. :D

Your right about the hook-up but I tend to be a little no a lot lazy when putting a motor on the run in stand and do not bolt on any un-necessary parts that will just have to come off before install :D