Engine stand upright deformed... Still usable?

[Ravenbar]

I picked up an engine stand used a couple year ago(marked $50 at a garage sale and I was considering it. The owner walked up and said he'd take $35 , just to not put it back aways) It sat outside disassembled last winter. The upright upside down with the bottom open to accumulate water. it froze and ever side of the ~3"x~3" box tube is bulged out about 1/4".

Eventually I plan on using it for a Jeep 4.0l engine, possible modifying it for an outboard support, as 4.0l I6 engines are very long and can bend engine stands over.

To my eye, the deformation should have little effect, of a slight boost to the strength of the stand, as it increased the depth of the upright.

I've got a spare WJ 4.0l in the garage, but no engine hoist around at the moment, and no need for the engine so it's tucked in a corner. My plan is to come up of the front of the bottom leg and connect another pivot point off the front of the crankshaft.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Probably fine. Clean the inside and lubricate so that it doesn't continue to rust/rot.

 

[Ravenbar]

rust/rot isn't the problem. it filled with water and the expansion when it froze deformed the tube. I've already repainted the outside. I'll see what I can do for the inside.

 

[billybob_81067]

Post up a picture of it, but yeah it's probably fine still. I hate it when square tube does that. Makes it ugly as all hell.

 

[TTMotorsports]

one of my engine stands had a nice crack on it so I assembled it and put a long piece of pipe in it and sat on the pipe, 250lbs on a pipe 6ft out is much more force than even a 500lb motor maybe 2ft out if that.

 

[Ravenbar]

one of my engine stands had a nice crack on it so I assembled it and put a long piece of pipe in it and sat on the pipe, 250lbs on a pipe 6ft out is much more force than even a 500lb motor maybe 2ft out if that.

Jeep 4.0l is 483Lbs, and it's about 32" long.

 

[Crankylove]

Neighbor has one he bent and bulged the upright from too much weight. He put it through his vice to flatten the tube walls out a bit, then took some 2x2x3/16” angle and welded it on opposing corners, from top to bottom of the stand. Ugly, and still bent a bit, but he’s been using it for 10 years like that.

 

[Ravenbar]

mNeighbor has one he bent and bulged the upright from too much weight. He put it through his vice to flatten the tube walls out a bit, then took some 2x2x3/16” angle and welded it on opposing corners, from top to bottom of the stand. Ugly, and still bent a bit, but he’s been using it for 10 years like that.

Mine as bulged from water freezing in the tube. I've been scrapping a 4.7l from a Jeep commander lately( had a rattle, so got replaced and the removed engine sat outside under a tarp for a years then in the garage for a few. Completely seized up and couldn't find anyone that wanted it). If I had an engine hoist, I would have put it on the stand before tearing it down, but my brother took his hoist home, I've had a engine hoist on my wish list for years, but I never find them on the used market

I haven' been hitting garage sales this year like I used to. The only things on my list are a Blacksmiths post vise and an engine hoist. I've never even seen either.