Transporting an engine

[1971ford]

What is the best way to go about transporting an engine (complete FE or alike, if it matters) in the back of a pickup or Chevy Tahoe? Just curious what you guys do. Say you needed to drive it a few hundred miles. Create some type of base structure out of 2x4's to stabilize, then 4 ratceht straps, one on each corner? Obviously the more secure the better.

Let's see/hear some ideas.

[papabug71]

I have always used an old tire to rest the engine on, & secured it with a couple of rachet straps. It sounds ghetto, I know. But it is probably the most used method of transporting a engine. At lest around here it is.

FWIW, I have used a base made of 2x12's & it worked flawless. You just have to make one that will accomidate your engine.

[two-bit]

I hauled a 244 Mercury flathead V-8 in my Plymouth mini-van 300+ miles with no glitches.
I placed the engine where the middle seat would have been. Cut two 2X4's to length to wedge under the exhaust manifolds, and used the seat anchor loops to tie down the ratchet straps.
I also hauled a 455 Olds the same way.
You get some weird looks when you push an engine on a cherry picker thru the side door on a mini-van

Two-bit

[89ford]

Ive always set it on a tire then put a carb lift plate on top then ratchet it down with a strap to each side to hold it centered. this works well unless the city cop makes u take the ditch in a turn then my straps werent right at the time so it spun

[1971ford]

okay good input. Sounds like there isn't much to it.

[BobbyFord]

If transporting in a pick-up, put the engine up as close to the back of the cab as possible. You never know when someone may pull out in front of you.

[1971ford]

True. It would be in a chevy tahoe. Before i'd be able to tow an engine in the '71 I'd have to brace the bed floor A LOT. I swiss cheesed all the floor's supports.

[BiggDogg]

Sounds like someone might be making a trip to SoCal

[1971ford]

Good guess
Yeah there is the biggest offroad swap meet ever, on feb. 28th. Called the leduc swapmeet. I'll be making the trip in the Tahoe most likely all the way down to so-cal.. a little ways above san diego. I'd LOVE to take the racer, and i can make it happen but I'd probably have to get a hitch on the truck and borrow my boss's trailer to put the engine in. And i'd be paying more for gas. But tons of guys know my truck on the offraod forums so it would be cool to have it down there. But it would also be way too tempting to "explore" the desert and break the truck, making no way home
And now that Lance has the 390 back up for sale, and he just so happens to live right next to the swapmeet area... I'm looking at picking up an engine

[BiggDogg]

Not to stray too far off topic, but are you just getting the engine?

[1971ford]

Well I'm bringing down almost all the money i've got. Half will go into the engine if i were to get it, and the other would go to parts at the swap meet. There are always crazy deals!

[basketcase0302]

Ryan,
One of the best investments you'll ever make:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... 688_406688
I made one out of 1" square tubing specifically for the SBF engine bout' 20 years ago, still holding up fine.
Hmmm, you work for a welding shop...

[fordman]

a tire and soem tie downs would be good to use. but to make a professional look for a sale you could build a half craddle for it to sit in. so the buyer would think it may be a better deal. because it looks like you paid more attention to protecting it.