I'm planning to sort out an engine hoist, but I don't know what I need. With my limited knowledge, the donor engine is going to be the heaviest part. A quick search suggests an MX5 engine is <100Kg, so that means would I be ok with a half tonne capacity? Is there any need to go larger?

0.5 tonne = 500kg, so your good to lift pretty much any engine. In fact most hoists will lift the whole front of the car.


[Edited on 13-1-13 by loggyboy]

That's pretty much what I thought, thanks. (And thanks for the GIF! )

1 ton is likely to be the smallest you will find there used to be some 3/4 ton ones but they seem to have disappeared from the market.

keep an eye out on the bay for a bath lift. picked one up a few years back rated to 175KG, brilliant piece of kit, and folds up nice and compact. had quite a few boat anchors swinging off the end of it......
mine similar to this, might keep it when I get old