Equipment for lifting a Bongo?

[harpo42]

Not sure exactly where you are in city or rural. If I were you I would speak to a local farmer. We are fairly rural here in Devon so plenty around. Farmers have lots of lifting equipment. For a very small fee a friendly farmer will bring his Matbro (a large forklift) and put the forks under the rear axel and lift it as high as you require.
If you have no farmers then a builder with a JCB which has pallet forks or similar will not be far away I'm sure.
If none of those are any good what about a recovery truck like used in London for wheel clamped vehicles (not sure of the proper name). These lift the entire vehicle in a harness onto the back of a lorry using a Hiab.
Or you could ask a local builders merchant if they could lift it with the hiab on the back of the delivery lorry. Slinging may be difficult.
Finally skip lorries have a large lifting device fitted. Again if you can come up with a slinging method this could work.
Where theres a will theres a way.

[RobnKathryn]

Thanks guys

Big Daddy, I did consider that method, but I decided against it for logistic reasons. Also, it would put pressure on me! I just want to take my time in releasing and dropping the old engine, whilst the van is on axle stands, then do the big lift....pull the old one out.....push the new one in and then drop it again...I can then take my time in lifting the new engine and attaching it. If I'm under pressure to do a job quickly I don't enjoy it and screw it up! I prefer the 'look at what needs doing/have a fag and a coffee while thinking about how to do it/then do it' then repeat the proces for the next bit! When I put the coin in the egr, I left out the fag and coffee stage with disastrous results!

Vanman, I don't have to work under the van while it's lifted (except when on 4 axle stands) so I don't feel the need for pro's!

Harpo - yes I like this route....I'm sure I can find an appropriate vehicle/machine, so like you say the method of attaching to Bongo will be the most difficult aspect.

Incidently, I miscalculated the lift measurement, it is actually more like 600mm, as I forgot to deduct the gap between ground and sill. Also my preferred engine swap method maybe changed! I originally wanted to lift the whole engine up and out of the doors (with door removed) but was advised against it. However, now having removed my new engine from it's original van. I think that if I remove the gearbox which is pretty easy, although the previous van was 2wd and mine is 4wd so will be a bit more complicated, then work out how to get the torque converter off the flywheel asssembly..........I think the engine will then crane in and out through the doors, so I may go ths way.

Thanks for your input, oh and bdc, I always leave a sheep in the van overnight for security...strangely the van has been stolen 12 times...and has been recovered in Wales each time. Ought to use a cow really but then I guess it'd mean going up to Scotland each time to collect it!!!!!


Rob

[mikeonb4c]

I thought I'd posted this already, but how about phoning that friendly Bongo Garage in Newbury (Discount Trucks?) who have done engine changes on Bongos and might - if you ask them nicely, they were very helpful when I had occasion to phone them - have some useful tips.

Mike

[RobnKathryn]

Yes Mike, you did post that, and I sort of forgot about it............I will have a chat with them.....can't hurt. Thank you for reminding me!

[harpo42]

Just thinking this over.
If you only have to lift it by 600mm then get some lorry or tractor axle stands. Im sure that you could hire them reasonably.

These will give you more than enough clearance.

[motorwizard]

I am all for doing work yourself. Dont forget that you have to have some way of lowering the engine either a crane from above or a lift underneath. If you have a lift underneath then you will have to take into account its closed height. I generally underestimate the ht needed and leave myself in a fix. From your note I dont know if you have already removed the engine and it is underneath the van. My solution would be to get some high density building blocks and gradually lift the van putting blocks under each wheel in turn make a wide base so the van will not slip. 600 mm is about 3 blocks high if it was not enough it would be easy to install another block. You can also walk away if there is a problem or rain.
Take care and take time.

[RobnKathryn]

Thanks again guys for your continued input.

Harpo....My 1st thought was higher than standard axle stands.....can't seem to find them anywhere though...would also need a higher than standard jack to raise the vehicle onto the stands.

Motorwizard....Yes the blocks idea may be the simplest.....I think I'd put them under the jacking points though rather than the wheels.....next door neighbours are doing an extension so there's a few blocks lying around

I don't have a problem with lowering the old engine or lifting the new one into place....I'm just going to hire an engine crane from HSS for a day (£25+VAT).......I used one to get the new engine out of the doner van and it worked a treat.

Cheers...Rob

[smartmonkey]

Jeez everyone is making this sound hard. How about sticking it on a couple of wheel ramps and then just tipping the engine on its side onto a sheet of steel and just sliding it out. It doesn't have to come out upright. You can winch it onto some ramps by putting a plank across the front of them and using that to secure a block and tackle to the back axle.

If you want more hight just borrow an engine crane and lift the front of the bongo up with some good straps around the cross member. Without the engine in you will be looking at 600 or 700kg at the most. Engine cranes are normally rated at 1 tonne on the closest setting. Dead easy to get the front over 1m.

Or a high lift jack (about 900mm lift) and onto axle stands. If you dont have axle stands high enough then you can put the front wheels on car rims stacked two high. Make sure they are firmly locked together and the back wheels are well secured.