How to pick up assembled powertrain?

[Chris H.]

I am picking up my rebuilt 327 Monday. The rebuilder uses a bracket that is bolted to the intake where the carb would be attached.

I want to assemble as much of the powertrain as possible which includes trans., exhaust manifolds, carb. and dist, etc. and install using the tilt fixture I have. It attaches at the front and rear of the engine.

What am I supposed to attach to? When I removed it I took off the valve covers and exhaust manifolds and installed four longer bolts through a link in the chain at 4 exhaust manifold bolt holes.

thanks again

[Jack H.]

You aren't going to believe this....

At our shop, we too use a custom plate with hook-eye that bolts in place of the carb to the intake combined with a cherry picker and an adjustable leveling tool. BUT, a member of our chapter who's a retired master mechanic (Navy, Chief Petty Officer, Machinest, Submarines) once looked and laughed saying that was overkill.... He had a MUCH simpler method that he swore by and laid it on the table.

It sounded ludicrous and downright dangerous. BUT, I've watched him pull over a dozen engines (in and out) including my the SB on my '71 convertible as well as factory concours MY and Shark BB engines and it WORKS LIKE A HOSE!

He buys a pair of the longest V-belts NAPA has in stock. He snakes a belt around the center section of the engine's exhaust manifold and runs a chain-hook through the two ends of the loop. This is repeated on the opposite side of the engine with the chain-hooks connecting to a load leveler.

BINGO, the enormous weight of the engine and/or tranny comes up & out without a hiccup, no special bolts, no scratches to engine or manifold paint and there's NEVER been a v-belt failure. Incredible, but true....

[Patrick H.]

Re: You aren't going to believe this....

So how many times does he use the same set of belts? If it was me, only one...or I'd use two per side.

You're right - it sounds scary.

Patrick

[Kelly Burnside]

Re: You aren't going to believe this....

I used the same setup with a completed engine with the transmission installed. Just hooked up the carb bracket to the intake manifold and did not have any problems. The body was off the frame so it was a lot easier then trying to get the enigine in with the body on the frame. I bought the carb bracket from Jegs for around 20 bucks... Did the job just fine!!!

[Chris H.]

Pulling engine brackets?

I have not seen the bracket yet. Is it long enough to attach both ends of the levelor chains to so that it can be angled?

I guess every one is confident the aluminum intake threaads are strong enough?

[Kelly Burnside]

Re: Pulling engine brackets?

I just hooked the engine lift straight to the bracket. I didn't use a chain just the hook and chain that was attached to the engine lift. I do remember that it rubbed against the A.I.R pulley but didn't hurt it at all. The chain on the motor lift was a little shorter that I reallly wanted as the chain could have been lengthened a little more. But all in all, had no probelms. Like I said before, I did have the body off so I would say that if you have the body on the frame you may want to bolt on a chain to the bracket to give you more clearance. When I pulled the motor out, I did hook it up to the end intake manifold bolt and had to use the extra chain to clear everything. And I did pull the engine with the transmission attached. When I put it back in, everything but the carb was on the engine (including the transmission) I do have an cast iron intake manifold but I have heard lots of people use the bracket on aluminum intakes with no problems.

[Kelly Burnside]

Re: Pulling engine brackets? - apend

I would highly recommend using the carb bracket as the carb is really easy to install after the engine is in the car. I pulled and placed the enging back into the car and I forgot to mention that it is an automatic. Made the back end heavy. The bracket from Jegs has three hole in the lifting plate and I end up usingt he back on to do the lifting with. I like everyone else was worried if the darned thing would hold. But I was able to lift the engine onto the back of my ranger pickup, take it to the shop where the car was being restored and in one clean sweep took it off the truck an onto the frame. Lot easier I thought using the carb bracket than to use the end bolts on the intake. Everything was on the engine including all of the shielding, A.I.R pump, power steering pump, alternator.... everything but the carb (even had the fan on!!). After the engine was installed, I put the carb on, hooked up the wiring, hooked up the exhaust (exhaust manifolds were on as well when I put the motor on the frame) and started the car. Only thing I had to install beside the wiring was the carb, air cleaner and the back ignition shielding for the distributor as I left it off to time it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Pulling engine brackets? - apend

I used a carb bracket (shop made) to install the BB in my Suburban. Complete engine, with exhaust manifolds and TH 400, full of fluids. Engine has an iron manifold though.
There was some coolant seepage at the manifold gasket on start-up, but a retorque stopped that. That was 120K ago.
I like the fan belt idea, and would try that in a heartbeat.

[John H.]

Re: How to pick up assembled powertrain?

When I lift dressed engines off the stand, I use a leveler with four chains, and replace the four extreme corner intake bolts with longer Grade 8 bolts and hardened washers to lift the engine off the stand and place it on my pallet, which allows me to fully dress out the powertrain with bellhousing, clutch and transmission, linkage, etc. before installing it in the car. The details on the pallet are fabricated from 1"x 1" tubing and 1/4" plate stock, and the pallet is on casters so I can move it around the garage and park it out of the way when I'm not working on it. Eastwood also now has a steel pallet on casters that supports the engine under the pan rail so the bellhousing attachments are clear that looks like a ready-made solution for fully dressing-out a powertrain.

[Larry P.]

Re: You aren't going to believe this....

Is there anybody else out there that wouldn't do this? I have high regard for you guys, but, the bolts that hold a carburator on and fan belts? If it works, I guess it works. Any emgineers with comments?
Larry

[John H.]

Re: How to pick up assembled powertrain?

Oops - should have said 1"x 2" tubing (CRS)

[frank mccracken]

Re: How to pick up assembled powertrain?

I have seen it done many times and have never seen a failure but I would still never pick up an engine by the carb mount plate, especially an aluminum manifold. 4 little 5/16 bolts! Sheesh! You engineers can jump all over me, I'll still never do it. I have seen and like the belt idea tho.

[Dave F.]

Re: You aren't going to believe this....

Jack,
I was going to use a carb plate until I read your post. Now I can't wait to try the belts, although I just may double up on each side and take an extra beta-blocker for peace of mind! Thanks for the tip.