Technical Physically lifting a V-8 engine with the proper tool ?

This tool I'm questioning is designed to pull engines,is used with the carb off and then bolted where the carb attaches,the same holes, directly to the intake manifold ( only)The manifold usually being aluminum and the engine being cast iron .The chain is attached to this bracket and then to the engine hoist for pulling. I see these pulling brackets sold all over and people use them on a regular basis.. With the weight of a cast iron engine many times with the transmission attached Is this bracket by itself enough to lift all this weight without pulling the threads in the aluminum intake and everything come crashing down Gene

 

Yes, if you make sure the threads are in good condition, and the bolts have plenty of thread engagement (like over half an inch). I like to use grade 8 bolts but it's not required. Make sure there are tight fitting washers under the bolt heads.

I've been using a lifting plate for decades, no problems.

 

Use it all the time on our circle track engine if we are not pulling the trans. All iron engine 422" SBC. Our dyno guy does the same. Our aluminum intake has studs and large washers and it's tight on the manifold. We bought it for $25.

 

Always respect your knowledge Jim, but your lifting all that weight with bolts attached to (Aluminum) with only 4 small bolts In my case a SBC with a 350 T/H ??

 

Probably done day in and day out, but I'm with you Blazedogs, I wont do it on aluminum intakes.
I'm sure it is just me but I just don't feel right, kind gut feeling you might say.
Remembering that I am no expert is this regard...

 

I've pulled many an engine and trans (several with Al intakes) with just the carb plate.

If you're really concerned about it, make some hooks to bolt to the intake manifold-utilizing the intake bolts..factory does a similar thing (GM), a 5.0 I pulled from a T-Bird had a similar deal on the exhaust.

 

I do it but I run 5/16ths studs all the way down the intake bolt holes and use nuts and washers. Never had a problem.

 

I'm also an engineer, and yes I did the calculations when I made my engine plate.

The aluminum threads will be about as strong as the bolt, if you get enough thread engagement. 1/2" is plenty, more than 3/4" is overkill.

4 bolts, supporting about 800 lbs load.

 

I check the threads in the intake, if they are good I don't hesitate one bit.
If the treads are questionable I won't use the plate.
If I do use the the plate I follow the same procedure and recommendation as Jim said.
I've never had an issue

 

I never was comfortable with using one. $25 would buy beer! I attach a chain to the engine. don't cost me a penny.

 

Neither did the 3 or 4 I've made

 

I have been using a plat for over 30 years.

 

Lots of times I pull engines using the front end loader or the rear bucket on my backhoe. And sometimes it can be quite jerkey. like your pulling a engine out of a junk vehicle and something hangs up. then you cut that offending piece loose with a torch. the engine will fly up and then back down. When you drop something and catch it squirrel's engineering facts become irrevalant.

 

Been using the plate on aluminum intakes attached to big and small Chevies/Oldsmobile’s/ and Mopar’s since the 70’s.
But what do I or any others know.
Bolt on a chain if you feel safer.

 

Yeah, I didn't design it to work with a backhoe.

At the junkyard, we used a really big nylon strap (about 3" wide and 3/4" thick) with a loop on each end, and the forklift. Worked great, especially when we forgot to take off the exhaust or something, it ripped it right out of there.

 

Pulling an engine with an aluminum intake is not the same as hanging it and sleeping under it...

 

I know lifting by an intake is common, but sure makes my butt pucker

 

Must be nice to have your own personal "Superfund Site".

 

What^^^???

 

Damn, chemistry defined at its finest . Sometimes I do have to spend a few minutes defining global warming . The weather records we are breaking were on record books from almost a hundred years ago . So I think our environment is ever changing , and seems to have swing from time to time . If the this rock we call home was never changing I dont think we as human beings would not be here today .

 

The plate is plenty strong and safe use it lots, only thing better but a bit harder to set up is an engine tiller.
To the guys questioning its strength. Ever left a ground wire or fuel line connected when pulling an engine and all movement stops at the end of travel ?

What about aluminum body hydraulic pumps held together with 4 bolts ? What about Forklift masts?
Work on a 65,000 lbs capacity Taylor lift and the mast is held on with 4 bolts .... big ass bolts bit only 4 of em! Hey squirrel your an engineer, what’s the shock load on those bolts at full capacity hitting some 12” pot holes in the yard !!! Remember a lift that can lift 65,000 lbs weighs about double


So yeah I’m definitely no engineer but 2-4 bolts into good threads in aluminum are more then plenary string and safe, pull it hard and fast just like your wire !!!!!

 

Shock loads are a bit more difficult to design around...

 

Thanks Jim

Just ordered one,had a few other things to order at the same time. Will use No. 8 bolts as you suggested ,thread them down tight against the manifold with a flat washer. Always appreciate the tips..... Gene

 

My wife tells me I could tear up steel balls with a rubber band. One time I was operating a big Leiberr track hoe digging sewer line in Little Rock. We where in town so couldn't blast with dynamite. So I beat around on that rock and we used a hyd hammer a lot. We finally got past the rock. So they brought a smaller 690 JD for me to use. and took the leiberr to another job. The first dipper full they attempted to dig the Boom fell off at the center hinge. The big 4 inch pin was cracked and barely holding. On inspection every hinge point had stress damage & hairline cracks. Wouldn't have been so bad but the machine was a rented unit. and was almost new and I broke the heck out of it in twenty days.

 

I've used lift plates on aluminum manifolds since 1974. NEVER had a single failure or anything even remotely close to one. AMC, FE to SBF, SBC, BBC......doesn't matter. Lifts them all just fine. I always use studs in the manifold.
SPark

 

Are you sure it's not Friday night?

 

All the experience of lifting was probably using good old American made aluminum manifolds, lets see how the new era Chinese made ones hold up...

 

I just reach over and grab them and pick them up........... SBC ain't that heavy...................