I've purchased an engine stand for my 454 but I need to know about the bolts. Previous searches turned up arguements over grades 3,5, or 8 bolts.I know the length will also vary from stand to stand but how much bolt should be in the block? And what about diameter and pitch? Thanks. David.

assuming that you use the bellhousing flange, you're going to use the bolts that fit those holes. Should be 3/8-16. You want at least as much threaded into the block as the bolt is thick. So, at least 3/8 into the block. More is better unless you bottom out in the hole.

Since Grade 8 costs about ten cents per bolt more than grade 5, you'd have to be nuts to use junky bolts.

Thanks for the quick response. I will finally get this block off the garage floor. The question on the grade was really that 8 would be too brittle and 5 would "stretch" some not just snap. I don't mean to ask such small questions, but I do want to be safe. What do you think? Thanks. David.

I used grade 5 with no problems but grade 8 probably gives more piece of mind. The first couple of days I kept waiting for a loud crash and a cracked garage floor.

I used grade 8 and left the motor hanging on the stand for over a year. No problems but did start sagging a little near the end.

I guess I'll just get the 8's and let it hang. Thanks for all the input. David

Read this and you will never worry about 3/8's grade 5 bolts holding a a mear engine block again.

I think everyone should educate them selfs on bolts, I can tell by everyones answers about 5 VS 8 just to hold a block on a stand that everyones just quessing, considering a grade 5 .250 bolt take over 3600 lbs of force to shear it.

http://rockcrawler.com/techreports/fasteners/index.asp


Rocky

Originally posted by Cheap68:
I guess I'll just get the 8's and let it hang. Thanks for all the input. David =

David,
It is really academic, you could pick up the whole engine with the transmission attached with one 3/8" grade 5 bolt if you were so inclined & you are using 4 of them ;)

Actually only the top two are holding the weight, the other two are in compression.

When you bolt a lift plate to the carb flange you are using 5/16" bolts & people use a chain with two 5/16" bolts all the time here too which are larger in diameter than the chain links.

People use chains that have links that are far less then 1/4" all the time & when is the last time you saw or heard of one breaking??

Either grade of bolt will be fine & I would suggest about 1/2 to 3/4" of thread into the back of the block.