[sbubby]

guys i purchased one of the engine lift manifold plates that bolts on as does a carb as i look at it im not sure if it will lift my 396 saftely is does say it will lift over 1000lbs as you all know has anyone used this plate without the engine crashing to the ground

 

[EddieC67ss]

Use one all the time, in fact just pulled a 454 with trans this afternoon. In fact it's still hanging in the air.

 

[haughty]

iwas a little leery about using mine too (the plate) and i even measured the distortion as i was picking it off the stand..... dang! it did move about .025-.035" of an inch but the big block acted as if a super magnet was attached...


im a believer now

 

[Finally]

Used one to lift and install my 396.

 

[Bow_Tied]

Are these safe to use with aluminum intakes? I am not worried about the bolts, but the threaded holes.

 

[jtm60]

Are these safe to use with aluminum intakes? I am not worried about the bolts, but the threaded holes.

I lifted my 396 w/ aluminum intake out of my truck using one of these..but i was afraid to install motor/trans using the same setup..i went with chains..

Nothing against the plate or chain..I just worry about pulling threads out of the aluminum intake..i know "technically" it shouldn't or couldn't happen..but I didnt want to find out the hard way.

I know its been done by others, I just wanted to err on the side of caution I guess.

 

[mr 4 speed]

Thats all I use is a lift plate

 

[Trooper]

I've used one to lift my 396 w/ 400 turbo and aluminum intake 4-5 times. Works like a charm. I was very leary the first time but my machinist went over bolt and thread tolerances with me and you are well within your limits if your using all four bolts on the plate/intake.

Trooper

 

[Surfin' 66]

I think we were all wary of using one of these the first time. Then, when nothing bad happened, it just becomes another tool that works well.

Think about those threads: add up all the surface area of all the threads in all 4 holes, and you have a pretty stout connection from plate to engine.

You won't pull the threads if you use bolts that engage them to a decent depth, increasing the surface area.

Or, think about it this way: the traditional engine pull w/chains uses brackets attached to the engine with a total of 4 bolts, same as the lift plate. Nobody sweats that.
Even worse: bolting the chains directly to the engine, front of one head and the back of another, only uses 2 bolts, and those are loaded in shear. People do that all the time and never give it a thought.

The carb pad bolts tend to give you the image of light duty, since they "only" hold a carb down, not a hard job to do.

Aluminum is a lot stronger than most people think. Sure you can strip the threads, but that is from major torque, not from a stretch/pull, like the bolts see when a lift plate is used.

I pulled my brand-new ZZ454 and Super T-10 as a unit from my Camaro using a lift plate. I also pulled my all-steel 454/trans using the same lift plate.
I was more concerned about the crummy chinese cylinder gushing hydraulic oil all over the ground under the hoist.

My motto: No Chinese Parts on my American Car.

 

[Bow_Tied]

THanks for the comments. I assume no issues, even for install / remove with trans then, great.

Got a suggested torque value for the lifting pad bolts with alum intake?

 

[YenkoChevelle69]

THanks for the comments. I assume no issues, even for install / remove with trans then, great.

Got a suggested torque value for the lifting pad bolts with alum intake?

"Snug"

 

[Steve S]

Just for grins I always run a sfety chain from the head through the plate to back of the head. I will always use the plate, seems much easier to install an engine when the tranny is already installed.

 

[Bomber '67]

I'll let the pic do the talking.

Thomas