Taking the whole engine and front subframe out of your Moke is a great way to get access to everything - but they are very top heavy and awkward to shift. Usually they are propped precariously on car stands or bits of wood while you get your mates to help wheel the body back! I figured there had to be a better and safer way, so this is what I came up with...


Just a simple frame made of scrap 50 X 50 tube, an old scissor jack and some wheels. It is strong enough to take the weight of the engine, and just high enough to leave the wheels on if you want.


Made to fit mokes from 1979 on, it uses the front bumper mounts for support - but with a bit of thought it shouldn't be too hard to modify it to fit earlier mokes.


The idea of the jack is so you can adjust the cradle to fit any Moke, and support the subframe front and back while undoing the mounting bolts.


Every Moke is different, and to be honest I couldn't be bothered measuring the height of all the pickup points - so this takes care of all possibilities.

The Plans



The only critical dimension is 2'7"between the mounting bolts at the front. The rest you could change to suit the materials you have on hand.

Materials List

2 x 50 x 50 x 2mm SHS x 2' 9"
2 x 50 x 50 x 2mm SHS x 2' 5"
2 x 50 x 50 x 2mm SHS x 12"
2 x 50 x 50 x 5mm flat
1 x 40 x 40 x 3.2mm SHS x 20"
2 x 1 1/2 x 5/16 bolts
2 x 2 1/2 x 5/16 bolts & nylock nuts
1 x old scissor jack
4 x castor wheels
Plates, bolts and nuts to attach wheels
4 x 50 x 50 End caps (optional)
Nylon pads (optional)

Tips

To use the cradle, wind the jack right down and push it underneath. Drop the body down until it rests on the front mounts, and put a nut on the locating bolts. Now wind the jack up to take the weight of the back. Remove all the subframe bolts, and lift the body a bit. You will probably need to get a bar in somewhere to make the two let go of each other. This is where the nuts come in handy, the cradle can't fall off! As you lift the body, you can adjust the jack so the tower studs clear the holes.