ok so its to that point where i need to pull out the old LB9 and put the new one in

my question is WILL A 1 ton crane work, my assumtion is because of how long the nose of our cars is i will have to extend the boom to its farthest point being a 1/4 ton rating, WILL it be good enough and safe to pull the LB9 out
( just block with heads, no trans or intakes or accessories)

 

Shouldn't be a problem.

 

Is it one of those POS fold up hoists? Those things are tiny compared to a standard hoist.

 

I have a 2 ton fold up hoist and it barely reached the motor with the bumper on. SOmething you need to think about when you removing. I have a scratched bottom lip now.

 

I remove the nose off the car. It allows me to get right up to the rad support.

My car however is also a gutted out race car and it only takes me a few minutes to pull the nose.

 

If you get a 1 ton hoist you will have to remove the nose and bumper supports to get to the motor.

A 2 ton should allow you to do everything with the body intact. I was given a 1 ton for free so I was stuck with removing the bumper but in all honesty I'm glad I did. It was sooo much easier to get into the engine bay to do everything.

And to answer your other question: a 1 ton is perfectly safe to remove an entire engine plus transmission plus half of the rest of the car all at the same time.

 

Not if he uses it at the longest setting, which he said is only 500 pounds. But just pulling the engine, he should be fine. What does a small block weigh - about 450 lbs.?

 

I've pulled and re-installed several with the little foldable hoist. You can easily go at it from the side, although I've learned to pull that wheel and drop the body down some. Like this:



Pontiac, off the stand and onto the hoist:



From the front with the tranny hooked up (and by myself, hence all the straps to level it):



When I'm done, it goes back into the box out of the way.

 

Or, drop the engine/tranny/cradle on a dolly and lift the car up. You can use the shorter boom setting that way.

 

i was looking at 2 from HarborFrieght, but me being my cheap self i have a coupon to get the 1 ton for $100

i do have PLENTY of room to pull it from the side that probably would be easiest considering my driveway layout anyway

i definatly DO NOT want to remove any of the exterior body, not only is the bumper cover a real pain to remove, but we just installed the whole front clip after paint not even a year ago

heres the links to both of the cranes,

1 ton : http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-c...ane-93840.html

2 ton : http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-f...ane-69051.html


my main questing is, can i skate by with using a 1 ton SAFELY? reminder i am NOT pulling the trans with the motor, im trying to leave it in the car

 

Can't say for certain YOU can, but I've got no issues with my 99$ HF special.

Going from the side, be sure to protect the fender from the crane. As it drops it likes to bump a little closer. It also helps to have a friend as it won't be quite a straight up pull. Like I said above, removing the wheel and dropping that side down helps pull it upwards without it wanting to swing into the MC. Done most of mine solo without help.

Oh and I don't consider myself 'skating by' with the 1 ton. It's perfectly functional and stores easily.

 

its perfectly safe and will be fine i got that exact hoist with the same coupon out of my super chevy mag...needless to say that was a regrettable decision waste of $100 its a very cheap hoist (and the price shows) if your gonna keep the hoist pick up a decent 1ton or a 2 ton but avoid that harbour freight one

 

I've had years of good service from mine. Several engine pulls, and I dismantle it (except for the base) and store it back in its box after each. There are certainly better ones, but I like mine because it's serviceable and light enough to break down into a small(ish) package.

If I were using one more often AND had the space to store it without breaking it down, I'd probably go for something better though.

 

i must have gotten the lemon of hoists lol it didnt last very long had it one summer and hoist piston started leaking bad...as well as the sleeve where the boom went in cracked ever since that ive just borrowed my buddies 2 ton as i moved and no longer have the space to store it.

But if you want to pick up that hoist its your choice just hopefully you dont get a lemon like i did haha

 

I used a Harbor Freight 1 ton. I did as above mentioned and pulled the wheel and pulled/dropped from the side. Make sure to put something between the cherry picker and the fender. I pulled the motor and trans together as well.

 

i only plan on using it for this one motor swap, old LB9 out new LB9 in and then idc if it breaks, i just need to get my z28 on the road again, shes be down almost 2 years

and me and my fiance are in the process of finishing the house we just bought so we dont have much room just yet, and wont till later this summer

thats why i was thinking gettin that one from HB


and thanks everyone for your input


and just to sum it up, the 1 ton will work fine as long as i go in from the side not the front correct?

 

iv done sbc swaps before, 2 in s10s one in my old 73 nova, but i was using a friends 2 ton that didnt fold up

 

yes if you go from the side thats your best bet thats also what i had to do after i had chained the hoist to my truck bumper so it wouldnt pull into the front of my car! haha

 

If you only plan on using it once, you might be able to borrow/rent one from your local auto parts store.

 

thats what i think im gona do, if i had on the motor woulda been out today, nothing is holding it in....

 

Craigslist for a used on or sell your 'new' one on Craigslist when you're done. No time constraints and you'll likely wind up paying less than a rental.

 

Harbor Freight hoists are a joke - I've seen them break after 2 jobs. Safe yourself the $100 and rent one. They will bend and/or the cylinder will start leaking.

HF engine stands are decent tho.

 

A friend of mine bent up the light duty Harbor freight engine stand with a big block Chrysler motor. I think if you buy the heavy duty engine hoists and stands they should be ok though.

 

ive taken a hand full of engines out from the front using a 1ton folding hoist. granted i got mine from jegs and not hf. but with it at the 1/2 ton setting the cylinder just barely contacts the front bumper. i just stick a shop towel between it and the bumper and havent scratched/damaged one yet.

 

my cars primer and my front valance is warped any way

 

I did my swap from the front with the nose on, I just took the grille off. It just took a little muscle to wiggle it back into place.

Also, take the salad bowl off the crank, makes it much easier.