My 750lb engine stand seems ok for a sbc, but what would you recommend for a 454 that is very stable? Four wheel type? Its a complete engine with the heads, intake etc.

Yes, get a 4 wheel one. I think the U shaped base ones are better then the H shaped. Get at least a 1000lb rated stand. I put my complete 454 on my H shaped 1000lb stand and after a week the stand was drooping pretty bad. It's a cheap Wilmar stand. It is fairly stable but you can see the mounting brackets bending. I took the motor off the stand as soon as I could.

DO NOT put that BB on that stand! It will be inviting disaster, along with personal injury! Buy the heaviest duty stand you can afford. Yeah, I know, lotsa guys use those stands for BB's. That doesn't make it a good idea. ask anyone who has had one of those stands tip on them! This style
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?Ntt=engine+stand&N=0&part=SUM%2DG1010&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch
is the minimum you should get. They are stable and able to support the weight of your motor.
This is better if you can afford the $ difference.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?Ntt=engine+stand&N=0&part=SUM%2DG1014&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch
I would always advise overbuying on stuff like this. They are available from many vendors. The thickness of the plate which supports the engine is usually less in cheaper versions of the same design. Beware of that issue. Tools like this and jack stands are areas I won't cut corners. It just isn't woth the risk for $20 or so. You can't spend enuff when it comes to personal safety!
John

I have NO intention of placing the bb on that 750lb stand. Now that 2000 lb stand looks stable and reliable. I would feel safe with that one. Now, what grade bolts to attach, at least grade8?

1000lb stands work good. I had a 396 on a 1000 lbs. stand fully complete with cast iron intake, for a year rolling it around the garage several times even loaded it onto a truck, transported it and it never stretched, or showed any signs of failing. No matter how much it shook moving around.

Mine is a Black hawk rated at 1/2 ton. It handle my BB 454 great. I could even rotate the engine over without having it spin upside down real fast like the cheap ones do. Many come over and admire it and state its a really nice stand. 4 wheels and very heavy duty! If your gonna buy a tool buy the best you can and you'll never be sorry and it will probably ALWAYS be worth what you paid for it, if nothing else to you!

LOL I remember mine cheap stand that held my 396. I had a 2x4 wedged underneath the timing chain lip. It looked like a big floppy motor.

Get a heavy duty one, don't skimp

I bought a used Chinese junk engine stand from a guy I worked with who needed cash. I think it's a 1000 lb rated stand, I paid $40 for it.

It's been holding a 427 talldeck COMPLETE engine (Ok, no starter or carb/air cleaner) for about six or eight months. The water pump alone has more iron in it than an entire late model Toyota. I rolled the whole works across my driveway, one of the front wheels hit a crack in the concrete, and the back wheels left the ground for a moment. No damage, no problem. Could have been terrible, but not the fault of the engine stand except that the wheels are too small. Larger wheels would roll easier.

I don't recommend Chinese crap tools or parts because I see no reason to build the economy of a primary enemy of our way of life, but in this case I have to admit the tool worked as well as could be expected.