I would be careful if you do the job with one of those Harbor Freight
floor jacks that are so inexpensive and light.  I have one that I like, but
the release/lowering function is not very precise.  It often sticks as you
turn the handle to release the hydraulic pressure and lower the jack.  Other
than that minor fault, which you can work around, those aluminum floor
jacks, China copies of $1000k racetrack jacks, are really great..lift an end
of my van with no problem and you can carry the whole jack with one hand,
easily.
  Don Hanson

Date:    Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:53:33 -0700
From:    Brendan Slevin <totorovan@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: I used a similar set up, with out the bricks though. I took out
Totoro's
engine with a floor jack underneath and a 4x4 wooden beam with a ratchet
strap up top.  the ratchet strap/4x4 were really more for "safety"  if you
can call it that, I just didn't want the engine to fall off the jack.   Put
it in the same way nice and easy. A little finesse lowering the jack, then
the ratchet, then the jack etc.

Brendan