-Jeg's Engine Storage Stand-

How does this guy hold up to a 6.5L diesel?

Here's a typical situation:

Guy finds engine. Guy needs to go pick up engine. Guy doesn't have time to build an engine stand, but luckily finds one in a catalog. Guy orders engine stand. Adventure ensues...

We found ourselves short on time, but in need of something to get a used 6.5L in the back of the Suburban and keep it stable on the long ride home. Enter the Jegster line of engine storage stands. We picked up a low profile one rated for a big block Chevy knowing that one weighs nearly the same as a 6.2L or 6.5L diesel.

The part arrives, and we are...less than impressed. On the up side, it has good welds, the metal is plenty thick, and it comes with a nice paint job. The down side is that the castors look somewhat light, and there's no additional bracing among the members. We are skeptical, but reserve judgement.

Fast forward a few days, and we arrive to pick up the engine. Once the stand has the weight of the big diesel on it, it begins to show signs of strain. The front castors, which are meant to swivel, bend and the ball bearings are ready to fall out. About one-half of the top plate of the castor isn't supported by the stand frame, and the top plate on the castor is particularly thin. But the stand just wouldn't die. It carried the engine on its back the whole way through the 500 mile road trip, and through the removal of the engine from the Suburban. Then, with the engine and stand on the shop floor, it rolled around just fine. If the stand were to be personified, it would be a trooper.

Since this engine was fully loaded with accessories, there was cantilevered weight that was unsupported since the stand did not extend past the front motor mounts. The whole stand and engine package was tipsy. Another 12" of stand base would have made this stand much more stable, and it is this 70/30 weight bias that probably overloaded the front castors.

That's a lot of engine to fit it the back of the suburban, but there's just enough room. The stand attaches at two bellhousing points and two motor mount points.

Under-built and apparently overstressed, the stand did its advertised job and did not fail on its maiden voyage. It's doubtful that it would survive another trip, or support an engine on the magnitude of a BBC or 6.2/6.5 diesel for very long.

Here you can see where the castor plate is unsupported.	This is what happens when the thin top plate sees the weight of the mighty 6.5L.	The bearings were almost ready to fall out.	The rear castors had simple vertical ears, which made them better suited to supporting the heavy diesel.

At a sale price of $63 plus shipping, the Jeg's engine storage stand fills the bill for those short on time and in need of a stand for a single trip or a short time, but it loses major value points when long-term use is considered.