using engine lift plate, bolted to intake, to lift engine
I bought one of these lift plates and want to use it to install my SBC, with aluminum heads, water pump and intake.to me this seems scarry as only 4 little bolts are holding my engine in the air. could one of you guys out there in chevy land tell me this is ok way to lift engine. thanks chevy art
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I have used those on engines with CAST IRON intakes.Use a good bolt and thread it down as far as possible,and tighten it.The threads will engage more and hold stronger if you tighten them,instead of just firnger-tightening.But in MY OWN persoanl opinion,there is NO WAY that I would use a lift plate on an aluminum intake,especially a big block.6-700 pounds is really not that much weight.Spread the load out over 4 bolts,that's only a little over 150 pounds per bolt.And what are they,5/16" bolts?You could probably do it and be okay,but I wouldn't with an aluminum intake.Cast iron,wouldn't scare me.Just my $0.02
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Re: using engine lift plate, bolted to intake, to lift engi
Originally Posted by chevyart
I bought one of these lift plates and want to use it to install my SBC, with aluminum heads, water pump and intake.to me this seems scarry as only 4 little bolts are holding my engine in the air. could one of you guys out there in chevy land tell me this is ok way to lift engine. thanks chevy art
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I have also used them to pull out motors and trannies with the plate bolted to a aluminum intake. It looks scary, but i have never had or heard of one having a problem.
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I read a thing in a magazine years ago about this...don't remember the numbers but it talked about how much weight the 4 5/16 bolts could support and what not...it was a bunch.
.I have lifted BBC with trans up and my old heads had most of the intake bolts helicoiled and jury rigged...old 074 alum.heads |
Yep i question that too. although i wouldn't do it i often use a 2 bolt lift using the intake manifold bolts, probably weaker than the intake bolts. i don't know which is better, but every time i install an engine i'm scared of dropping it, especially when nothing lines up as it should. What i changed to is a rope that wraps around the front and back of the engine. I know it sounds stupid, but that's the way i do it. I did have a friend who dropped an engine with the carb plate lift and it broke the front crank jurnal, that's what changed my thinking.
I swore it would never hapen to me. JMO Zip. |
A 2 bolt lifting against the shoulders of the bolts is alot stronger than a straight pull against aluminum threads.Just my opinoin.And like I have said before...my opinion and $0.50 will get you a cheap cup of coffee :D
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lifting engine with carb bolts
thanks guys for the input. i think i will go with the general opinion(olds 48) and make my own lift plates , 4 separate pieces of metal bolted to back and fronts of heads. Im scarred of that plate and im a firm believer taking a real prudent, safe way to install my baby(engine) the safest way thanks alot chevy art
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I couldn't count the number of engines and engine/trans assemblys I've pulled and installed with a carb. plate and never had a problem, aluminum intakes and all. Think about this, would you trust one bolt that was 1 1/4" diameter because that's what four 5/16" bolts are equal to. I bet your chain isn't that big.
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lift plate
a single grade 5 5/16 bolt has 6300 lbs tensile strength use it and dont worry
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It's not the strength of the bolts that concern me,but the strength of the aluminum intake threads that I don't like.JMO.
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I use a strap through the valley under the carb pad. Like one of those axle straps. Need one long enough. I've used that for years on my BBC even with sheetmetal intakes. With all acc. on the front of the motor its a perfect balance.
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engine lift plates
hey olds 48. i like the way you think. infeel the same way as you. its the threads i dont trust not the bolts. good looking out chevy art
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engine leveler for me...i had a speacial plate made to cover exhaust port on both sides of the head...Plus this hoist set up is a must for blower and tunnel ram engines.
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I use an engine plate with a alum intake on my iron block alum head 496 with the trans atached. No problems I use the ARP carb studs to hols the plate to the intake.
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Personally I'd never use one even though I've seen people put allot of weight on them but it would be my luck that the one time it failed it would be on me.
I built a load leveler and use grade 8 3/8 bolts, bolted directly to the back and front of the heads, using the intake bolt holes is another no-no in my book too. JMO, Charles |
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