Engine test stand

[dp213]

I am thinking about building a engine stand to test engines. I like to replace 2.5 dbl cam motors with 2.2 motors and putting a motor in a car without hearing it run isn't good. Hence my 98 Gt woes.

 

I have a wrecked 97 legacy and the thought is to cut it up and use the pertinent things, like the wiring and subframe and gas tank. Build a steel stand on wheels to attach the sub frame to and fuel tank, shorten the fuel lines and coil up excess wiring, and mount a battery.

 

Would this work as easily as it sounds in my head????, or am I missing something?

[montana tom]

If you have room to store your "test" stand out of the weather I see no reason it couldn't work . You could have issues with the computer on your stand not matching the cam & crank signals from the motor. Of course it's mighty easy to just bolt it up in the car you want it in and see how it sounds. You'll be bolting and connecting to your test stand then unbolting and doing it all over to install anyway. 

[idosubaru]

for that matter - just drop it in the vehicle you're going to install it in and "test" run it with the bare miminums hooked up?

And don't buy craigslist, cheap specials. every EJ engine i've bought from a junk yard or helped someone with has been great. the cheap craigslist specials that i've seen other people buy....knock, don't run, melted inner timing covers...surprise, surprise. i know it's not that simple but with yards it's sometimes possible to tell the car was rear ended, has a blown trans, tested by the yard, etc - things that nearly guarantee the engine was fine.

Edited November 19, 2016 by grossgary

[Crazyeights]

Engines run fine on the shop floor if you don't get too crazy. I test ran my last EJ22/5MT conversion before I installed it in the car. I wanted to check the wiring harness before I pulled the EA82 out of my Wagon. I have a 5 gallon Jerry can that I fitted with an Acura fuel pump module for a fuel supply, even switched by the ECM.

 

You can see the EJ22 and EJ 5MT under the green tarp in the corner with the fuel supply can. It sure was loud

 

 

IF you want to get fancy you could make a frame with some casters and an old EA82 front cross-member to mount the engine on.

 

[EDIT] That Brat isn't mine. It belonged to a customer, I was doing a 5 speed D/R swap for him. The EJ went in to my '92 Loyale.

Edited November 20, 2016 by Crazyeights