Help. I need some good ideas to keep me from doing something too complicated. I can solve this problem, but tend to do a Rolls-Royce kind of job and I shouldn't spend that much time or money on it right now.
Because of some complicated, interrelated issues (list below), I'm doing a mock-up in wood of my chassis design, so I can verify all major components are placed effectively and what positions/angles are necessary for the driveline. I need a simple, roll-around engine cradle that will allow me to adjust the height of the engine in the cradle and also the angle of inclination front to back, but will hold the engine and transmission very steadily and accurately.
I set up an area for the mock-up today. I'm just using a sheet of MDF with 2x4s underneath it. My plan is to use something like an automotive scissors jack on each corner. That will allow me to adjust the whole platform up and down to simulate ride heights between 5"-6" which is where I think I'll need to be. The top surface of the MDF will represent the point where the undertray will connect. The bottom chassis rails will rest on that surface.
I have 4 strong castors and some steel, but cant think of something ready made that will give me 3-4 inches of adjustability vertically. I'd like to use the stock engine mounts and then some kind of curved rest under the very front of the bell housing, so that the transmission would hang off in space and go right over the top of my MDF at the various ride heights and I can figure out what my rear transmission mount should look like.
Any good ideas or know of a reasonable ready made item that will do the job? I know I could just hang it off my shop crane, but that won't give the kind of control and accuracy I need.
Issue list:
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1) The donor differential is offset, so I know I'll have to offset the engine/transmission, but don't know how much yet. See the thread
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12125 if you're interested.
2) The engine is a fairly wide, 90 degree V6. I'm sure it would fit between tha Haynes upper rails if centered, but not if it's offset.
3) The oil pan on the donor V6 is deep and I'm prepared to let it hang 1" beneath the undertray. I'll provide a skid plate with roller just ahead of it to prevent it from bottoming out first.
4) Because the oil pan is deep and reworking it is impractical (it's fabricated from aluminum sheet and an aluminum casting) the engine will be mounted a little high and I'll need a significant angle downward at back, but don't know how much. However, I've found out that it should be a maximum of 5 degrees with 3-4 being better. That's why I want the accurate angles.
5) I'm pretty sure the rear axle drive pinon will need to be slanted upwards, but don't know how far yet. However, I know I need to be at 2 degrees or less yet keep the angle of the driveshaft at 3 degrees of less.
It's a fairly complicated situation, but solvable if I do my homework now.