Engine Cradle : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

Engine Cradle #1
melbaver Chris Howells Carrington, NSW, Australia Sign in to contact 1968 MG MGB "Moneypit" 2012 Dodge Journey "Another Shopping Trolley"	Topic Creator (OP) Aug 28, 2015 07:36 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 15,309 Posts

I'm after an engine cradle for my MGB 1800 Engine, it's on an engine stand at the moment but now I need to work on the flywheel end. The most prolifically available engine cradles all advertise themselves as being suitable for a small block chevy V8. Can these be modified for our engines? If not, are there any recommendations out there that will allow me to finish rear end and attach gear box and test, prior to installation. Mainly intending to test O/D after rebuild.

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.

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Re: Engine Cradle #2
Aridgerunner Bill Bussler Montoursville, PA, USA Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1500 "The A" 1959 Triumph TR3A "The Mistress" 1977 MG MGB "Sweet B"	Aug 28, 2015 08:29 PM Top Contributor Joined 10 years ago 5,727 Posts

Go to the mgaguru.com website. Look for Engine stands, side mount ts-102A.

Compliments of Hap Waldrop. I made one like this and it works great.

Bill

Si Vis pacem, para bellum

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Re: Engine Cradle #3
mike.l mike l tillsonburg, Canada Sign in to contact 1952 MG TD 1954 IHC L-Series 1954 Nuffield PM-4 Tractor 1957 Morris Tractor (Nuffield) "Little Brother" & more	Aug 28, 2015 08:37 PM Joined 11 years ago 602 Posts

Hi look under engine test stand in the archives there were several pictures of them. if not i think i have a picture of mine if i can find it in the old computer mine was used to test engine and gearbox not hard to build mike

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Re: Engine Cradle #4
ErnieY Ernie Y Albatera, Alicante, Spain Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB GT	Aug 29, 2015 05:09 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 19,528 Posts

I don't need no stinkin engine stands !

IMG_4237.JPG 56.4 KB

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Re: Engine Cradle #5
Gerry Gerry Masterman Prairieville, LA, USA Sign in to contact	Aug 29, 2015 09:18 AM Top Contributor Joined 24 years ago 25,964 Posts

Several years ago I bought a pair of engine cradles from Clark & Clark. Moss sells the same thing. I have been rather disappointed with the quality and function of them. One was for a CB engine. It's usable, but is not as mobile as I would like it to be. The one for the RB engine was totally unusable. Holes/bracketry was not even close to the standard RB motor mount and rear engine plate locations. I think one would be better off building one from scratch IF they had the capabilities to do so. Barring this, one may get by building a box with wheels that just fits the oilpan sump exterior.

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Re: Engine Cradle #6
mike.l mike l tillsonburg, Canada Sign in to contact 1952 MG TD 1954 IHC L-Series 1954 Nuffield PM-4 Tractor 1957 Morris Tractor (Nuffield) "Little Brother" & more	Aug 29, 2015 07:11 PM Joined 11 years ago 602 Posts

found the picture of my engine test stand might work a little better than ernies as you can turn the exhaust to face the door hope it helps mike

100_4561.jpg 45.1 KB

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Re: Engine Cradle #7
JoeReed Joe Reed Cordova, TN, USA Sign in to contact 1978 MG MGB "Kermit"	Aug 29, 2015 07:48 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 14,044 Posts

In reply to # 3072266 by Gerry Several years ago I bought a pair of engine cradles from Clark & Clark. Moss sells the same thing. I have been rather disappointed with the quality and function of them. One was for a CB engine. It's usable, but is not as mobile as I would like it to be. The one for the RB engine was totally unusable. Holes/bracketry was not even close to the standard RB motor mount and rear engine plate locations. I think one would be better off building one from scratch IF they had the capabilities to do so. Barring this, one may get by building a box with wheels that just fits the oilpan sump exterior.

I have a short block sitting on one of those $9 Harbor Freight furniture dollies with a box added to the top to support the engine like you suggest. Works like a champ...

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Re: Engine Cradle #8
mac townsend Fairfield, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Aug 29, 2015 09:14 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 24,294 Posts

Look at adcomgraphics.com, #17 in the list. The site will be gone real soon, so look now. cost $15.l

1973 Pale Primrose Roadster. A nice 10-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed

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Re: Engine Cradle #9
melbaver Chris Howells Carrington, NSW, Australia Sign in to contact 1968 MG MGB "Moneypit" 2012 Dodge Journey "Another Shopping Trolley"	Topic Creator (OP) Aug 29, 2015 10:08 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 15,309 Posts

Thanks Mac, looks like a possibility. Mike I your set up looks like it's been designed around the gearbox crossmember, with all other dimensions naturally occurring after that. Is that the case? Hanging the exhaust out the door is definitely a bonus.

Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled but which is largely back together so I'm a lot less ignorant.

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Re: Engine Cradle #10
mg1340 Steve Lenz Ingleside, IL, USA Sign in to contact 1977 MG MGB	Aug 29, 2015 10:22 PM Joined 18 years ago 526 Posts

Saw a picture of one of these and decided to make one out of the sort of crap one finds laying about in the garage.

Peter Burgess Fast Road Head; Piper 285 Cam; Dizzy by Advanced; Peco Header/Exhaust; Aluminum Flywheel; Custom lever arms by Worldwide; Sorted Suspension

Fun to Drive!

image.jpg 38.6 KB

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Re: Engine Cradle #11
Flint Richard Conroy Tucson, AZ, USA Sign in to contact 1971 MG MGB "Maggie" 1978 MG MGB MkIV	Aug 30, 2015 12:53 AM Joined 13 years ago 1,128 Posts

Once I was done with the engine stand (Harbor Freight) I used furniture dollies, also Harbor Freight, $30), for each, the engine and gearbox, and managed to mate the two with some alignment tweaking from the hoist.

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Re: Engine Cradle #12
mike.l mike l tillsonburg, Canada Sign in to contact 1952 MG TD 1954 IHC L-Series 1954 Nuffield PM-4 Tractor 1957 Morris Tractor (Nuffield) "Little Brother" & more	Aug 30, 2015 09:08 AM Joined 11 years ago 602 Posts

Hi chris the frame and wheels were what i used to move the car around the shop also sat on that to go to shop for primer.
so it fit the purpose very well the frame was the correct width for the rear gearbox mount and it all started from there made small frame for the rad and supported the engine with shop crane to make up the engine mounts just used what i had around the shop.
put a small switch pannel for ign fuel and starter button then added the overdrive switch and overdrive pressure gauge also the speedo to tell for sure the overdrive was working. the oil pressure was added to make sure that worked .
used the fuel pump from the car that also told me that would work when installed in the car mike

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