Preparing to design an engine build station, anyone have any pointers?

[havi]

Been awhile since I've been on. Did a search on engine build stations, and not much popped up. I'm looking for some ideas for setting up a portion of my garage for engine, trans, and rear axle builds/repair. Some thoughts already are an overhead 1/4 ton jib hoist, engine stand (of course), test station (like that seen in the Auto Restorer mag.), and differential stand. I'm trying to keep this seperate from where I would be doing frame and bodywork (welding, grinding, sanding), and painting area (til I get a booth made). All in the planning stages now, but would like to hear ideas. Thanks in advance.

Scott

 

[Dragster Racer]

I was thinking of building a roll around rack with sections for pistons, a place to hang the crank, valve trane etc'. It would make a nice practice piece for welding aluminum. Nice to have a coated floor in just that area.

 

[evildky]

get a teardon table, it's very handy for teardown and clean up of just about everyhting, you can set jackstands on it to support an axle, Ive seen special teardoen tables for rebuilding transmissions tha are lowerwith a reinfirced drain hole so the trans can be stood up on end and drain right into the hole while being low enough to pull the plantaries and packs out the top

a local high volume machine shop, has multiple stations each staffed by a different builder, sort of liek cubicles, in the center of each station was a teardown table, it was surrounded on 3 sides by steel work tables

 

[havi]

Working at a machine shop myself, we have been going ballistic with this LEAN stuff, and though I thought it as overkill, it has pointed out my old garage is a mess, and when I'm building my new garage, I wanted to keep everything separate and organized. I know about paint shops, and weld shops, but setting up a rebuilding area is an entirely different kind of mess. A teardown table with a drain hole ( I s'pose w/bucket underneath) makes sense. More ideas welcome, and thanks so far!

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

I would build a clean room. Just a few walls and cabinets with stainless bench's for working on. Put in a couple windows just so you don't go nuts working in a small room. Maybe a small AC unit to keep clean air flowing threw. Keep your manuals, mics, small tool in there.
I would leave the tear down table out in the shop by the parts cleaner.
Just bring in clean parts and then you can leave them organized on the tables with out fear of dust, dirt, grinding sparks etc getting on them.

 

[HI!]

Make it a dedicated room. Lots of counter top space and lighting. Make a big doorway for moving engine in and out or shop crane. A dry erase grease board. Do not grind anything in the room. Tile the floor with a light colored tile ( easier to spot dropped items and background light). The most important is a radio

 

[rsanter]

I have always wanted a seperate work/clean room that I can heat and cool. something that has a stainless topped workbench, sink, toolbox, press, vise, solvent tank and such

bob

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I would also suggest getting some parts bins of different sizes as well to keep parts organized as you're disassembling and inspecting. You also might look into tool balancers, used to suspend your air tools from the ceiling or a wall on a retractable cord for easy access.

 

[FunfDreisig]

... I'm looking for some ideas for setting up a portion of my garage for engine, trans, and rear axle builds/repair. .... All in the planning stages now, but would like to hear ideas. Thanks in advance.

Scott

Being a cheapskate, I use a lot of plastic for walls and the cardboard FRUIT boxes for organizing parts.

it's pretty easy/cheap to hang clear plastic to "wall off" a clean room area without reducing light, etc. And you can get very strong shallow fruit boxes at Sams/Costco that work like "drawers" for organizing parts. My favorites are the large shallow tomato boxes. I currently have a BMW 530i engine disassembled into these boxes -- one box has the rods, another the pistons, another the fuel injection bits, etc. The neat thing about these boxes is that they stack well with interlocking tabs. So they can be placed on most simple free standing shelfing. And if you mess one up there are always more available for FREE on your next trip to Costco/Sam's

Funf Dreisig

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Not bad funf!! Not bad at all.Do you have any pics of those parts in the fruit bins?

 

[FunfDreisig]

Not bad funf!! Not bad at all.Do you have any pics of those parts in the fruit bins?

The 530i and it's disassembled engine are in a 10x20 storage bin awaiting the completion of the 3 bay I'm building so they can get a little TLC You can see the head, valve cover, generator, etc. many of the other parts are not as easily recognized because they were oiled and bagged for protection while I build the garage.

FWIW I use these boxes as work trays while cleaning parts, etc. I just grab a box and carry it over to to a work table, parts washer, etc. And put it back on the shelf when I'm done. If I get too much solvent on the box or it's gets a little weak at the seams, I swap it out for a 'new' one from a stack of empties I keep handy. My wife knows exactly which boxes work best and will go around looking for those specific boxes when checking out.

Funf Dreisig

 

[ddrewyor]

That is awesome! My local fruit stand has tons of these.

Dave
________
Ford ****** (north america) history

 

[havi]

wow!, great ideas! Appreciate it. Any more out there, keep'em coming.

 

[Dragster Racer]

The dedicated room is the best way, but I couldn't justify it. so I buy the heavy clear engine bags. I cover it up when I am not working on it. They make them for heads and cranks too. Rubbermaid totes work well for pistons. I still want to do a rack for holding everything. I just have to make sure I can cover it.