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Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:48 am

I’m getting ready to turn the engine over and install the other cyclinder and head. With the support arms on the bottom and not flush to the case I’m a little concerned about the arms/case handling the weight. Am I over thinking this?

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:52 am

What I am seeing is, exactly why I ditched an EMPI engine yoke years ago.
I currently have a VW Alley Yoke, NLA.

Brian_e makes a fine engine yoke. You'll need a different engine stand to mount it on.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2712920

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:59 am

Get a good one at

www.type-emotorsports.com

.
.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:00 pm

IMO you are not overthinking it. The lack of contact area being spread out over the case, caused by the bent ears on the stand yoke is concerning. I've never liked the thin metal they make the ears out of.

Another thing to be careful of is the 3 legged stand itself. While you may be fine to build out the valve cover to valve cover long block on that stand (assuming the ears don't harm the engine case attachment points) I would be especially cautious about putting a fully assembled engine with heater boxes, alternator, manifold, carb, exhaust, etc.) on it.

The problem comes when you try to rotate the engine. The 3 legged stand may want to tip over, especially with a 200+ lb fully assembled engine on it.

Good luck,

Ted

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:25 pm

Go for it, just be careful. Thousands of those crappy stands are still in use. Upgrade later if you want.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:44 pm

Wow, that one is really tweaked. Its only going to get worse the more parts you add to the engine.

Brian

Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:01 pm

I would not feel comfortable with that entire setup. Those 3 legged stands are notorious for tipping over.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:04 pm

Cheap yoke, toss it in the trash.

A good one will easily hold a fully dressed Type 1 engine.

https://type-emotorsports.com/collections/engine-tools-1/products/engine-stand-yoke

Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:13 pm

I’ve had this stand for about 45 years, cost me $80 back then which was a lot of money at the time. Has a built-in reversible 6 and 12 volt flywheel lock, a very nice feature that I use all the time without mounting the engine on the stand.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:27 pm

Brian_e's yokes are very nice, id recommend one of his too.

ive seen SBC's on 3 leg stands, not sure id be too concerned about that, and your yoke is janky but the engine's already on there, only one way to know if it'll hold or not!
you gotta ask yourself one question ( punk ) , do ya feel lucky? well! do ya??

Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:26 pm

b-man wrote: I’ve had this stand for about 45 years, cost me $80 back then which was a lot of money at the time. Has a built-in reversible 6 and 12 volt flywheel lock, a very nice feature that I use all the time without mounting the engine on the stand.

The fella that was camped next to me at the NW Bug Run this year.
Found one of those bench stands like this one in the swaps.
Mike paid $175 for it and, I thought that was a hell of a deal in today's market.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:47 pm

I have a bench mount VW engine stand I purchased 50 years ago, works fine for me, believe it was about $25. However, I haven't used it/rebuilt an engine since 2017.