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engine mules - would ut be a good idea?
02GF74 - 12/3/09 at 12:44 PM

Would it be not a good idea for someone to make a mule for the more popular engines e.g. rover v8, 4age, ford crosslow, ponto, zetec and duratec?

I think I am using the right term - a mule being a block of lightweight material e.g. foam or grp the same size and shape as the original item. This would allow items around the engine such as mounts, radiator, chassis struts to be fitted without having to lift and support the weight of the engine?

Or do such things exists?

I am sure someone with GRP skills could make these and then sell or hire out to builders.

This could be extended to the more popular RWD gearboxes too.

Good business opporutnituy for someone or not?

speedyxjs - 12/3/09 at 12:47 PM

Thats a really good idea imo

Paul TigerB6 - 12/3/09 at 12:50 PM

If SpeedyXJS was to make one up out of foam for his engine, he'd still need a crane to lift it!!

chrisg - 12/3/09 at 12:50 PM

I know US hotrod builders use these dummy engines which are cast in resin with a foam core.

It's a good idea but I can't see there being enough business to justify the prodution but, hey, I've been wrong before!

Cheers

Chris

mangogrooveworkshop - 12/3/09 at 12:51 PM

what about using a hollow block and g/box from a blown rig

speedyxjs - 12/3/09 at 12:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Paul TigerB6
If SpeedyXJS was to make one up out of foam for his engine, he'd still need a crane to lift it!!


02GF74 - 12/3/09 at 01:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
what about using a hollow block and g/box from a blown rig


have you tried to hold a crossflow block up with one arm?


For someone who does GRP, then it shold be a no brainer to make a mould then use that squirty expadning foam to fill it; to save money and weight, a couple of ballons would be put into the void first.

tendoshingan - 12/3/09 at 01:07 PM

How about making a rough engine out of cardboard box then using some squirty foam on the inside to bulk it uo. When foam has set remove outside cardboard and bodyfiller the foam to get a better shape.

Not that difficult to do and you could use hard foam blocks inside the box to reduce the amount of squirty foam.

[Edited on 12/3/09 by tendoshingan]

dinosaurjuice - 12/3/09 at 01:17 PM

a big block of polystyrene carved with a hot wire would be easy and light.

02GF74 - 12/3/09 at 01:23 PM

^^^ but it still won't be as accurate, well, not without a load of measuring that a mould surely?

and take much longer to make or carve than one already made.

BenB - 12/3/09 at 04:05 PM

Corky Bell describes doing exactly that for superchargers when working on an installation. Makes much more sense that trying to hold a 10kg mini blower in place!!