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I hinted at this in my bargain week topic. My $400 LM4, that is. I also promised pics when I got it on the engine stand this weekend. So, here we go. As soon as I needed one, the were zero engine stands on Craigslist, so I got one at a store whose name starts with H and ends with arbor freight. The 750lb capacity unit they have is spindly at best, and looks like it would tip over without an engine on it. I opted for the 1000lb capacity one. $64.19 out the door.

 

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While I was out, I stopped by the local home center (thanks for that line, This Old House) and got 4 M10x1.5x100mm class 8.8 bolts, 12 10mm fender washers that come in 3 packs for some reason, and a 100 pack of 3/8 flat washers. Reason for the 100 pack of flat washers and long bolts is that I wanted to space my engine further away from the engine stand bracket, allowing more access to the flexplate and rear cover. I ended up with this combination. Bolt, fender washer, bracket, fender washer, 11 flat washers, fender washer. Fender washers against the block to prevent brinelling the aluminum, as the fender washers are twice the diameter of the flat washers.

 

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On to assembling the stand and the prudent modifications I made in the process. I laugh at the reviews of this engine stand where people gripe about the backbone of it being angled. Its supposed to be that way so it wont sag when you hang an engine on it silly heads. I have 2 legitimate gripes about it myself, but instead of complaining, I made it better. Because I had a box of 3/8 flat washers, I put them on all of the 10mm hardware, as there were none included. Wah wah. I still have almost half of my $3 box of washers leftover after assembling the stand and hanging my engine on it.

 

So here it is with washers on both ends of all of the 10mm hardware, right before I made the more important modification.

 

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There is a nut welded to the bottom of the rear section of the chassis that accommodates using and included bolt like a set screw to "secure" the front half of the chassis, as it merely slides into the back half. A few light taps on the front axle proved that was a death trap. Out came the drill and 1/2" bit. Also, I borrowed some leftover hardware, a 12mm bolt and nut, and some 12mm fender washers. After setting the front axle where I wanted it, I drilled a hole through the whole thing and put a healthy bolt through it. The front axle is not going anywhere now.

 

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Solid.

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On to hanging the engine... everyone has seen an engine on an engine hoist so I will spare you that. I stripped the things that I don't need from the longblock for the sake of tidiness.

 

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Space... the final frontier...lol

 

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And buttoned up until I get back to it...

 

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Forgot to mention, at home I have an oil dipstick and tube, flexplate to replace the bent one, and the coil bracket mounting hardware. Also have a spare steam tube assembly the connects to all 4 locations on the cylinder heads. Going to have to start filling a box with LM4 necessities/odds and ends.

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