I am starting to prepare the 3.4L XK engine from my 1957 MK VIII for
reinstallation in the car and I would like to run it on a test stand
outside the car before installing it. The engine hasn’t run since
1975 however it turns easily with a breaker bar on the crankshaft nut,
and I have cleaned the block, disassembled/cleaned and adjusted the
valves in the cylinder head, and am cleaning up the other components
before reassembly and replacing some things (harmonic balancer) as I
go. This is the first time I have done this level of technical work
on an XK engine.
I was at the Open House event last weekend at XKs Unlimited in San
Luis Obispo, CA and saw an XK engine test stand that they built out
of angle iron that held an XK engine, battery, radiator, exhaust
system and engine instruments to run and monitor the engine before
installation in a car or return to a customer. I would very much
like to have something like that to prepare my 3.4L XK engine before
reinstallation in my MK VIII. I would also like this stand designed
to hold engines from my other Jaguars as I repair and restore them. I
have also seen as similar engine test stand at Classic Showcase in
Oceanside, CA.
The stand should be strong enough to hold everything including the
transmissions and accessories, have wheels so that I can move it
outside when I am ready to test an engine, and adjustable to hold the
XK engines (3.4L, 3.8L 4.2L) and 5.3L V12 Jaguar engines.
Has anyone built such an engine test stand and willing to share ideas,
recommendations and possibly drawings so that I can have it made
locally for my use?–
Regards,
Has anyone built such an engine test stand and willing to share ideas,
recommendations and possibly drawings so that I can have it made
locally for my use?
Has anyone built such an engine test stand and willing to share ideas,
recommendations and possibly drawings so that I can have it made
locally for my use?
In reply to a message from Novak, Paul sent Wed 13 Apr 2011:
For an engine/transmission stand, I built one out of uni-strut or
power-strut at Home Depot. Built original for 5.3L cleaning, could
have added a little broader support and wheels to make it mobile,
the strut connectors make it easy to add items and modify. I found
that the XK engine did fit stand, but not as well, but changing the
top motor mount brackets on stand would make it fit better.
I have since aquired an aluminum radiator/electric fan combo from a
V8 Lincoln Continental to change stand into a running stand, will
just have to add electrics and battery holder.–
Ron R. 1979 XJ6 Series II, 1989 XJS Conv (Marelli)
Scapppoose, OR, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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Thanks. These pictures are very helpful.
I like the bolted approach that you used as compared to a welded
approach. This should allow for more modifications as I go along, and of
course reduce the cost because I would be able to assemble, disassemble,
modify it myself.
I plan to use bits and pieces from a variety of Jaguars for the
radiator, exhaust system and instruments. I may have everything I need
already on hand including some wheels except for the uni-strut/power-strut.
Regards,
Paul M. Novak
1990 XJ-S Classic Collection convertible
1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas (parts)
1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1969 E-Type FHC
1957 MK VIII Saloon
Ramona, CA @Paul_M_Novak1-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk-engine@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk-engine@jag-lovers.org]
On Behalf Of rsquared
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 10:16 PM
To: xk-engine@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xk-engine] XK engine test stand
In reply to a message from Novak, Paul sent Wed 13 Apr 2011:
For an engine/transmission stand, I built one out of uni-strut or
power-strut at Home Depot. Built original for 5.3L cleaning, could
have added a little broader support and wheels to make it mobile,
the strut connectors make it easy to add items and modify. I found
that the XK engine did fit stand, but not as well, but changing the
top motor mount brackets on stand would make it fit better.
I have since aquired an aluminum radiator/electric fan combo from a
V8 Lincoln Continental to change stand into a running stand, will
just have to add electrics and battery holder.
Ron R. 1979 XJ6 Series II, 1989 XJS Conv (Marelli)
Paul,
I hope this finds you well! I have not posted for some time but we have talked in the past about my Mark IX restoration. That is nearly done. Running but awaits windscreen and rear glass fitment and a couple of electrical gremlins.
I am writing today to ask about your motor stand? I found a chap that offers them for sale for $2K. The question is, do you know what angles I should quote for the mounts? Hard to get those from the motor in the car.
Best,
ILOB (Iain Buxton, Reno, NV)
66 S-Type; 60 Mk IX, 2015 F-Type
Here’s what I did for my 3.8 Mk2 engine. I ended up mostly using materials I had around and augmented with angle iron from Home Depot. The base is 2x4 box section which is overkill, but was remnants of a skateboard rail for my son that never came to fruition (and he’s no longer into skateboarding, so win win). The round tube stock is from a disassembled dog run from the house we bought here in Washington. I purchased metal casters from Amazon. With a welder and some basic skills it was easy to build. Rear of bellhousing rests on a pad on the stand…the engine is only bolted at the two motor mounts.
Here’s an engine stand I made for XK engines. It works with a saddle mount at front. I have adapted that mount for 3.4 - 4.2 engines. It’s probably a bad idea to expect one stand to hold v12 engines as well. I have a video of it in use but wasn’t able to load it here.
