Bowtie_Bob
Active member
Anyone here use a powertrain lift to remove engines from front wheel drive cars? If so did you buy one or make your own?
Powertrain lift
- Thread starter Bowtie_Bob
- Start date
matt_i
Well-known member
Seems like if you want to drop the powertrain cradle a scissor lift cart is your best bet in addition to classic vehicle lift, there's a big center of gravity shift when that happens though...
I removed a FWD transmission by supporting engine + trans from the shock towers, remove the powertrain cradle by itself, then use my engine hoist to lower the transmission alone down to the floor. I had blocked the car high enough the trans could slide out on a piece of plywood underneath the lower rad support. It was not fast but its been good enough for another 75k miles afterward. I don't think most people would go that route but its definitely a possibility.
I removed a FWD transmission by supporting engine + trans from the shock towers, remove the powertrain cradle by itself, then use my engine hoist to lower the transmission alone down to the floor. I had blocked the car high enough the trans could slide out on a piece of plywood underneath the lower rad support. It was not fast but its been good enough for another 75k miles afterward. I don't think most people would go that route but its definitely a possibility.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I've used this OTC model for years. nothing fancy but, it works well. OTC has a few other models.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GEARWRE...ickid=S-yRS83VgxyLWg4wUx0Mo36dUkERK4zkEzs8zY0
I think this might be the best one though if you work on European models.
https://agatools.com/products/lift-table-by-aga
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GEARWRE...ickid=S-yRS83VgxyLWg4wUx0Mo36dUkERK4zkEzs8zY0
I think this might be the best one though if you work on European models.
https://agatools.com/products/lift-table-by-aga
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I work pretty much exclusively on classic Minis, so the $200 hydraulic lift table I got from harbor freight works perfectly for me. My engines weigh about 350lbs, so there's plenty of capacity left over on a 1,000 lb rated table, plus it makes it pretty easy to get them out. Once the subframe is sitting on the table, I can lower the table and/or raise the lift and out she comes.
If you're working on a variety of cars/engine-transmission combos you might need to make an adjustable cradle like in the OTC ad
If you're working on a variety of cars/engine-transmission combos you might need to make an adjustable cradle like in the OTC ad
Ign
Well-known member
HF used to sell a version. I never used it for FWD engines but it was a nightmare for tx's in trucks. It was way too big and you were always tripping over it in use. The HF version was air-over only ...try feathering air-over to gain 1/4". The legs didn't fold and storage was a nightmare, too.
By the time I unloaded at a local pawn who was actually known to pay well for used tools, the HF had been discontinued and so they couldn't reference it off the website.. they wound up comparing to OTC prices and I got more than I paid for it. I always wondered if someone actually bought it from the pawn shop....
Depending upon how often you really need to do this and just how large these engines are, I'd buy the biggest, baddest 2 stage tx jack (talk to the bro dozer shops) and build it wider legs/outriggers for when needed. Then it could be a standard under-hoist trans jack and you could attach wider legs for more stability when needed, and storage would be a breeze relatively speaking
By the time I unloaded at a local pawn who was actually known to pay well for used tools, the HF had been discontinued and so they couldn't reference it off the website.. they wound up comparing to OTC prices and I got more than I paid for it. I always wondered if someone actually bought it from the pawn shop....
Depending upon how often you really need to do this and just how large these engines are, I'd buy the biggest, baddest 2 stage tx jack (talk to the bro dozer shops) and build it wider legs/outriggers for when needed. Then it could be a standard under-hoist trans jack and you could attach wider legs for more stability when needed, and storage would be a breeze relatively speaking
Ign
Well-known member
I've also got the HF high lift hydraulic table, goes to 52" and rated for 880#. At the time it was a blatant rip off of the Vestil with identical specs. I use it all the time for oil changes and supporting rear axles during leaf spring swaps or entire axle swaps. It'll support a fully dressed 14b with steel wheels AND one ton leaf packs still attached.
Here's a much nicer Vestil with 24x40" table surface. Start with this, build your own standoffs and be less than half of the $5k price tag of the AGA Fedwrench posted (which looks sweet but damn not cheap!)
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37855129
Here's a much nicer Vestil with 24x40" table surface. Start with this, build your own standoffs and be less than half of the $5k price tag of the AGA Fedwrench posted (which looks sweet but damn not cheap!)
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37855129
OP
Bowtie_Bob
Active member
Thanks for the replies. I found this Redline lift and I think OTC has a similar version. https://www.redlinestands.com/catal..._328_244/redline-reptl-powertrain-lift-p-1833