Engine hoist and leveler options

[Bill Elliott]

Hey all , just wanted to know opinions on hoist and levelers. Are the Harbor Freight ones good enough that I could trust my thousands of dollars worth of engine and transmission hanging from? Also notice the leveler looks just like the one from Summit for less money.
P.S. I need to learn how to resize images.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178146&d=1673795691
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178145&d=1673795657
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178144&d=1673795549

[JohnK]

I haven't used that leveler, but will say - do not buy this leveler (https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-load-leveler-60659.html?_br_psugg_q=leveler). It's a POS. That little red handle will break off nearly immediately and cause immense heartache.

Also consider the 2 ton lift instead of the 1 ton for the added reach and height it gives you.

[slarson]

I purchased a used 2 ton hoist locally and this Big Red Leveler from Amazon. Both had no problem with my Coyote and T-56. Dropped the engine in the chassis for the first time last weekend.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PX4YCI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

178147

[egchewy79]

HF 1 ton was BARELY enough to get my SBF in. I had to lengthen the chains and swing the block in place. Get/rent/borrow a 2t one. I used the leveler shown with little problems. Lube up the threads first.

[Jeff Kleiner]

As mentioned you'll need bigger hoist than the 1 ton to reach comfortably. The HF leveler will work but as Chewy said liberally coat the threads and rollers with white grease and rather than using the sheet metal handle put a wrench or ratchet on the hex end.

Jeff

[Papa]

I haven't used that leveler, but will say - do not buy this leveler (https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-load-leveler-60659.html?_br_psugg_q=leveler). It's a POS. That little red handle will break off nearly immediately and cause immense heartache.

Also consider the 2 ton lift instead of the 1 ton for the added reach and height it gives you.

Same experience here. The 2 Ton hoist will do the job, but the leveler was a pain. I changed out the handle on mine, but beyond the junk handle, the leveler was nearly impossible to crank beyond a couple of degrees from center. I've seen several better quality levelers discussed in this forum. Try to find one that you can use an impact driver on. The HF one doesn't. Also, check Craigslist in your area as the HF hoists are frequently available for sale there.

[RJD]

Buy the Harbor Freight 2 ton shop crane for the longer reach. I used the POS leveler John K alluded to - it worked fine with the threads greased, but the ones you have listed look more robust.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86886&d=1528412869

Also, if you jack-up the car's rear end during engine installation, you'll reduce the amount of engine tilt needed. See below:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?albumid=1224&attachmentid=86358

[BradCraig]

Do the 2 Ton HF, it's a good hoist. I did not use a leveler and was able to find a good balance by positioning on the chain. Honestly, best to find one you can borrow since you'll likely never use it again. I got mine from another builder locally and loan it out as much as possible so folks don't have to buy one.

[Mike.Bray]

I used the 2T HF hoist and it worked fine. Bought it off of FB Marketplace for $100.

The leveler is a different story! The first time I used a cheap one from Northern Tool that is very similar to the HF one. Complete crap, 142 times worse than regular crap. We literally spent more time fighting the leveler than we did installing the engine/trans. I had to pull the engine back out so I bought the one from Summit that you show. 1000 times better, so much I was able to pull and reinstall by myself. You can even remove the handle and drive it with a socket connected to a drill or a speedhandle.

You truly get what you pay for.

I use an old Microsoft Powertool called Image Resizer to resize images. Super easy to use and fast. Just search for Image Resizer, should be easy to find.

[Bill Elliott]

Thanks for all the replies. 2 ton it is. I have a lift in my garage, can I achieve desired angles by lifting entire vehicle versus just the rear end?

178149

[JohnK]

Honestly, best to find one you can borrow since you'll likely never use it again.

This is honestly the best suggestion. I have a 2 ton hoist and I've used it a couple of other times to move heavy and awkward items around but most of the time it just sits around taking up space. I love it when someone wants to borrow it, as it's out of the way for a bit.

[RJD]

Regarding lifting the entire car, I think it'll defeat the purpose - with the rear end up, you'll need less of an angle on the engine to stuff it in.

[Wayne r mckee]

178152 hF 2 ton worked for me !

[jrcuz]

I used the 1 ton HF crane to install my 347 and trans. I only had a lifting plate bolted to the intake manifold. We were able to get the crane in close from the front. 1 guy in the car to push down on the trans tail. A 2 ton crane would have been preferred but the 1 ton did fine. We had the eng/trans in in less than 30 mins.

JR

[TTimmy]

I used the 2 Ton HF combo to get a Gen3 Coyote into my coupe. As others have said, the handle on the HF Leveler is crap. I re-engineered the crank the moment I pulled it from the box.

Others have suggested renting a unit as an option. For me it was more economical to buy something given the amount of time my engine was hanging from the lift.

[drewr]

I used the HF 2 ton lift. Great value. You will use more than once. Just used a chain from Jegs and 3 people. Got a SBF in no problem in 15-20 mins.

[edwardb]

X whatever on the 2 ton HF crane. It has the necessary reach where the 1 ton version can be a little marginal. Of course depends on the engine/trans you're lifting, but I've seen some pictures and videos on here of guys standing on the 1 ton to keep it from tipping because it has to be all the way out. I get the one time usage makes the purchase a little painful. If you can find one to borrow, that's a good thing. They are a little clumsy to move from place to place though. After I borrowed one for my first build I took the plunge and bought the 2 ton HF version. Used for several builds plus I've used it for other things. Like picking heavy items out of my trailer, etc. It sits in the corner most of the time. But handy to have when I need it. I agree the HF leveler is marginal and not particularly easy to use. I've used mine a couple times. But I've also found if you adjust the chain pickups on the engine (if possible) and the length of the front and back chains attached to the lift, you can find an angle that with a little pushing and lifting allows you to get the engine in pretty easily without the leveler.

[Hoooper]

The HF leveler works fine. Do yourself a favor, ignore the handle it comes with, weld the nut on the end to the rod, and just use an impact to run the screw back and forth. Its not a very smooth screw (its cheap) so using the handle really sucks when there is load on it but a little battery powered impact runs it through nicely

[Sarcasticshrub]

Hindsight speaking here...

Unless you are expecting to use any combo of lift/leveler for more than your kit, borrow/rent them. Buy the combo if you have plenty of storage and foresee needing them more often.

I've had the 2-ton crane and a similar leveler now for 10+ years and only used them 2x. Once for a previous project car, and another for putting the top portion of my tool chest together. I'll use it again for the roadster when the time comes.

[Mike.Bray]

Hindsight speaking here...

Unless you are expecting to use any combo of lift/leveler for more than your kit, borrow/rent them. Buy the combo if you have plenty of storage and foresee needing them more often.

I've had the 2-ton crane and a similar leveler now for 10+ years and only used them 2x. Once for a previous project car, and another for putting the top portion of my tool chest together. I'll use it again for the roadster when the time comes.

I bought mine for this project, my old shop had a jib crane so it stayed. So far I've used it to unload the rear end from my truck, the engine block from my truck, and installed/removed/installed the engine & trans in the MKIV. Mostly it stays folded up in the corner not taking up much space so I'm fine with it for now. To me it's kind of like a pocket on a shirt, I don't always use it but it sure is handy when I need it:)

[Ted G]

Best engine hoist is a good borrowed one..... Thanks FMAN!

[CraigS]

I agree you need a levelor and it should be a reasonably good one. But the hoist? Naw. I bought a come-a-long, a really long 1/2" diameter eyebolt, nuts and washers, and a 6ft 4x4. Laid the 4x4 across 3 trusses, drilled through the ceiling drywall and the middle of the 4x4. Now I had an eye at the ceiling to hook the come-a-long cable to.

[myjones]

Regarding lifting the entire car, I think it'll defeat the purpose - with the rear end up, you'll need less of an angle on the engine to stuff it in.

Amen
Once you have done this or seen it done it's a real DUH moment that it isn't standard procedure

Dale

[Papa]

Like this...

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84623&d=1524424148

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=84627&d=1524424309