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Budget friendly engine support bar

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Ohmthis

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Outside of Louisville KY
I’m going to be replacing the transmission on my GMC Acadia very soon. I need to support the engine from the top while I remove the subframe. I have a lift so the vehicle will be moving and an engine hoist won’t do. I did a quick search, but the vevor option didn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Is there another option that is recommended? I don’t have particular price in mind, but I will be getting under this car and don’t want to be a story. Thanks all!
 
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bwringer

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Agreed -- the Harbor Freight version is well-built and quite strong. It's not a space shuttle or a Rolex.

However, get out there with a tape measure, ponder where the "feet" will need to land, and make sure it will be wide enough. The HF bar is 58 inches long, and I learned the hard way that it wasn't long enough for my minivan. YMMV.
 
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N8sToolz

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Have definitely made my own before out of squared tubing and angle iron before.

Sunex has a pretty affordable one too that I use.

Edit Sunex 5207
 
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Ohmthis

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bwringer said:
Agreed -- the Harbor Freight version is well-built and quite strong. It's not a space shuttle or a Rolex.

However, get out there with a tape measure, ponder where the "feet" will need to land, and make sure it will be wide enough. The HF bar is 58 inches long, and I learned the hard way that it wasn't long enough for my minivan. YMMV.
Click to expand...
I have thought about that. I’ll need to measure the dimensions and make sure they will work for me. Thanks!
 
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dogdog

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paulsomlo said:
I have this one: https://www.zoro.com/otc-engine-support-bar-steel-700-lb-1725/i/G3963009/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping feed&utm_content=free google shopping clicks&campaignid=21159050528&productid=G3963009&v=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2Je1BhAgEiwAp3KY70VmMYCjY8AZ9zXXRvm4sQxCxtRCqukWpTJVGZCxA9jlRiGbnrcp3xoCptwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

And although it's made in China, it puts the Harbor Freight version to shame, in terms of beef and the weld quality.
Click to expand...


other than three point support vs two point support........ assuming no body lies, how do you determine beef?

Engine Support Bar, Steel, 700 lb.​

  • Lifting Capacity 700 lb

PITTSBURGH AUTOMOTIVE 1000 lb. Capacity Engine Support Bar​

Support bar with a 1000 lb. capacity
 
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Firebrick43

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West central Indiana
Its a 4 banger or light V6. A pair of scrap 2x6 glued together with some 1/2" ply blocks between them at the ends and middle will allow some all thread rod to slide to a position where you need them to lift the engine.

They would support 1300 pounds conservatively with a L/240 deflection of 0.25" @ 60 inches.
 
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paulsomlo

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Northern Colorado
dogdog said:
other than three point support vs two point support........ assuming no body lies, how do you determine beef?

Engine Support Bar, Steel, 700 lb.​

  • Lifting Capacity 700 lb

PITTSBURGH AUTOMOTIVE 1000 lb. Capacity Engine Support Bar​

Support bar with a 1000 lb. capacity
Click to expand...
Visual inspection - and I trust OTC's capacity claims over those of Harbor Freight.
 
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dogdog

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paulsomlo said:
Visual inspection - and I trust OTC's capacity claims over those of Harbor Freight.
Click to expand...
It’s not just hf even the otc straight bar style support that looks exactly like the hf unit have the same or similar capacity of 1000 lbs as oppose to these tri finger ones that only claims 700lbs

Anyways thought there is an insight to the differences.

***Btw there is no Welding on these two bar supports, maybe other than the end caps which doesn’t technically count.


Oemtools 1,100 Lb. Engine Support 24950 | Zoro

Order Oemtools 1,100 Lb. Engine Support, 24950 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
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Otc Support Bar, 2 Pc (4324) | Zoro

Order Otc Support Bar, 2 Pc, 4324 at Zoro.com. Spend less, save more with competitive pricing on Drivetrain Tools at Zoro.com.
www.zoro.com www.zoro.com
 
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paulsomlo

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Northern Colorado
dogdog said:
It’s not just hf even the otc straight bar style support that looks exactly like the hf unit have the same or similar capacity of 1000 lbs as oppose to these tri finger ones that only claims 700lbs

Anyways thought there is an insight to the differences.

***Btw there is no Welding on these two bar supports, maybe other than the end caps which doesn’t technically count.


Oemtools 1,100 Lb. Engine Support 24950 | Zoro

Order Oemtools 1,100 Lb. Engine Support, 24950 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
www.zoro.com www.zoro.com

www.zoro.com

Otc Support Bar, 2 Pc (4324) | Zoro

Order Otc Support Bar, 2 Pc, 4324 at Zoro.com. Spend less, save more with competitive pricing on Drivetrain Tools at Zoro.com.
www.zoro.com www.zoro.com
Click to expand...
You got me - at any rate, I'm glad I bought the one I did when I did; because I think I paid about half that.
 
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will335i

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IL
Another vote for the HF one. I used mine when I was doing some work on my BMW. As long as the length is good it should do what you need it to do.
 

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BikeRider

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Jul 31, 2018
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Queens, NYC
Does anyone know where or how to get spare parts for these? I bought a used one from Amazon that was missing one of the hook screws and both chains. I was going to return it but they told me to keep it for free. Alternately, what could I get to jerry-rig the equivalent that could support a comparable weight?
 
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nicks78camaro

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Dec 15, 2011
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Pittsburgh, PA
BikeRider said:
Does anyone know where or how to get spare parts for these? I bought a used one from Amazon that was missing one of the hook screws and both chains. I was going to return it but they told me to keep it for free. Alternately, what could I get to jerry-rig the equivalent that could support a comparable weight?
Click to expand...

Rural King or a local hardware store
 
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BikeRider

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Queens, NYC
mike93lx said:
If it is identical, look up the harbor freight manual and see if their parts website has them available
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I checked, not available. And even if it was, experience tells me that it would near the cost of a new support bar. I'm just looking to find a functionally equivalent DIY solution that would be safe and not too expensive. Are there relatively thick threaded rods than end in a pair of strong hooks, or perhaps hooks that you can thread onto a threaded rod, with a matching threaded handle for the top part?

I'll probably end up doing what I usually do, walk through a local HD or Lowes until I find parts that look like they'd work, even if they're not necessarily intended for this application.
 
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joshmodelskidoo

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mid western michigan
Pulled the trans on our 2012 traverse and started with a cherry picker but it was a pain to work around and very discouraging. I ended up with a 4x4 and 2 ratchet straps.
 
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nicks78camaro

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Pittsburgh, PA
5/16" grade 30 chain has a working load limit of 1900lb, more than enough for your application.

As far as the hooks, something like this with a high working load limit. Normal j bolts you get from the hardware store may have a much lower rating.

ProSource LR320 J-Bolt, 3 in L, 722 lbs Working Load, Zinc

ProSource J-Bolt, Working Load Limit: 722 lbs, Zinc, 3 in L, Includes: Hex Nut
www.milton-hardware.com www.milton-hardware.com



Or maybe just loop the chain over and bolt it straight to the bar itself.
 
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