Well, last night I decided to pull the engine and trans from my 64. It's a SB 350 with iron heads and an aluminum ST-10. I decided to try the engine lift bracket that bolts to the intake manifiold, so I went out and got 4 Grade 8, 1 inch bolts for the job, figuring I'd have strength and enough thread into the manifold, which by the way is an Edlebrock Performer Aluminum manifold.

Well, got the engine at eye height and realized that I didn't put the Grade 8 bolts in. :eek: Instead there were the grade 5 bolts... and only 3 of them. :clonk: You can imagine the haste taking off the bellhousing, then the clutch, then the flywheel to bolt it up to the stand. Was no more than a couple of minutes, but felt longer. After it was bolted up to the engine stand :beers:

Bottom line, no bent plate, no broken bolts, no stripped threads, no problem. :thumbsup: So, for all of you that wonder if the plate, bolts, and manifold can handle the weight, for a small block with a trans the answer is defintalely, yes.

I've pulled many engines over the years and have always used whatever bolts I had around without paying any attention to the grade and have never had a problem.

Why did you only put three in?

Glad everything came out all right. With a minimum yield strength of 92,000 psi each, I think you were OK with the Grade 5's ;) . They are far stronger than the threads of that aluminum manifold!

Well, engines aren't really that heavy when you think about it. I just slid mine across the garage floor by myself (on a pallet). Four of us lifted it off the truck and put it in the garage with one hand each. Not that I'd want one to fall on me....

Andy

I lift mine(big block) with a carb plate. 4 5/16 regular bolts that hold carb on. Never a problem.