Break in of my Opel 2.6L CIH Build w/ Motronic injection on Homemade Modular Engine Break In Stand.

Break in of my Opel 2.6L CIH w Motronic injection on a Homemade Modular Engine stand.

Opel CIH 2.6L, is a Opel 1.9L Block, Offset ground Opel 2.3l Turbo diesel crank, 2.4L Opel Rods and custom pistons. Runs on pump gas, and with the stock 2.4L cam it is expected to be about 140 HP / 160 Ft Lbs of torque. Nothing crazy, but about double the stock 1973 Low Compression CIH motor.

I also use a kit bashed 2.4L Motronic injection for timing and fuel.

Makes this setup about perfect for a cruiser Opel GT, that can take on the highways and modern BMWs and Porsches with ease. While at the same time being about as reliable as it can get for a custom motor.

Instead of using a typical engine starting stand. I developed this prototype, it uses 3 of the same square engine stands - $75 ea at Jegs, and a wooden chair I have in my garage. I plan on building a real stand in place of the chair. But for now it worked.

You start by building the standard square engine stand, then you use the "back" of #2 drill some holes and bolt to the front so you now have boxed in the original stand.

Then instead of the cheap wheels, you get larger wheels and bolt them to the chassis with Ubolts.

For the sides, took stand # 2 and stand #3 and positioned one in the front on exhaust side and one in the back on alternator side and I used pancake motor mounts and the spiders to mount to the side of the block for stability.

For the front I used stand #3 back piece and mounted it upside down. This gave me a pedestal to mount a 12x12 piece of 3/4" wood. Now I had a place to mount my gauges Water and Oil from a GT dash, and my trusty old Tachometer and voltage box.

On the chair I used a Honda radiator, used large zip ties and zip tied it and the fan to it. The fuel pump was mounted with some wood screws, and for fuel I used a small Aluminum radiator catch can.

Wiring was pretty straight forward with some relays and in line fuses.

Why call it a Modular Engine stand ? Unlike Other Engine Testing setups, mine can be added or removed to the motor on the engine stand.

I build the motor on the stand, then attach the sides and the service stand. The Fuel Pump and Cooling Fan and Relay center. I connect some wires and fire it up..

Once done I can remove the modules, and address anything I need with the motor ( say a leaky Oil Pan.. ) or pull it off and mount the next motor.