Engine Test Stand advice

[R2.0]

I'm going to be building a 2270 Type 4 for my Karmann Ghia, and want to build a test/run-in stand. My plan is to use the following:

• American style engine stand, minus the brackets (Harbor freight or used off CL)
• Bellhousing from a Bus transmission - $85 shipped
• Adapter Plate - $85 shipped
  
• Control Box - $109+shipping
  
• Jump pack
• Fuel can with pickup (type TBD)

Any thoughts or tips? I could probably save some some money on the control box, but the convenience is awfully attractive.

[Kafer_Mike]

The Control Box is convenient (and I'm not trying to kill a sale), but it's not that difficult or expensive to make. Also, I would suggest an oil pressure sender with a gauge and a tach.

[R2.0]

I was thinking about what to do about a tachometer. My plan is to go with fuel injection, in which case I either need to make sure there is a "tach out" terminal available, or use a laptop with the tuning software open.

On the other hand, if I go with carbs and a distributor, I have an ancient dwell-tach that I could use.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

I posted pix of the one I built but can't find it here now. Also, the pix from that time frame and earlier are now gone off my computer.

It was built to break in the engine and store it w/a trans.

If you want i can move things tomorrow and take some pix of what you can see which might give you some advice. Took a pix but update to computer won't let me deal with it GRRRRR!

Lee

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Got this but having problems with my computer.

IMG_2764 - Copy.JPG

Lee

[V8Nate]

Here's what I built, I took a type 1 trans and tore it down. Made some simple brackets to attach it to a heavy duty engine stand and it works great. I like that it's low vs everyone else has the engine 3 feet off the ground. I do a lot of the stuff myself so not having to hoist it up is a big plus. I was going to use a bus bell housing but I couldn't find them

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[V8Nate]

Here's a couple videos that show it in action

https://youtu.be/g31m1uGB2UQ

https://youtu.be/2HPq1fSAnv4

I would suggest a digital tach or some kind of isolators due to the vibration of the gauge

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[Ol'fogasaurus]

Most of the additional stuff is in the toolbox. The valves in the engine have never been set so the engine has not been run. It rotates a smidge every so often just for a check.

I didn't finish the dash for several reasons, mostly to keep it small and not affect storage so for now it holds the engine and trans so I can easily access them and place it in the buggy when I need to for design reasons.

buggy4.jpg

It's a slightly modified Mercury Bobcat 2.8 (or 2.9, I forget which) V6 tied to a 6-rib bus trans and a 4-puck disc.

Lee

[R2.0]

Here's a couple videos that show it in action

https://youtu.be/g31m1uGB2UQ

https://youtu.be/2HPq1fSAnv4

I would suggest a digital tach or some kind of isolators due to the vibration of the gauge

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I'm liking that setup. I could build the engine on the stand in it's regular configuration, then do something similar to what you have using unistrut for the mount and cross bracing.

[R2.0]

It's a slightly modified Mercury Bobcat 2.8 (or 2.9, I forget which) V6 tied to a 6-rib bus trans and a 4-puck disc.

Lee

I wondered what engine that was.

[V8Nate]

Here's a couple videos that show it in action

https://youtu.be/g31m1uGB2UQ

https://youtu.be/2HPq1fSAnv4

I would suggest a digital tach or some kind of isolators due to the vibration of the gauge

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

I'm liking that setup. I could build the engine on the stand in it's regular configuration, then do something similar to what you have using unistrut for the mount and cross bracing.

Glad I could help!