Ok I need some support here

[Chuck R.]

I was given a lifting plate to hoist my 350 onto the chassis but I have to tell you, I'm more than a little concerned about putting my trust in the aluminum intake manifold carb threads to hold all that weight.

Other than ensuring that it's pulled down nice and snug onto the intake and that the bolts are grade 8, are there any horror stories that could be shared to prevent me from damaging "baby"?

I guess I just need a group hug and to be told it will be Ok..........

Thanks,

Chuck

[Wayne K.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

Chuck,

I know the feeling as I've often thought the same. I've personally never used one but know of others that have without any problems.

Wayne

[Chuck R.]

Re: Oh Oh, one for the negative column *NM*

[Peter K.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

I have lifted 283's, 350's and 427's by a plate connected to the aluminum intake and have never had a problem.

[Chuck R.]

Re: One to One, I'm not smiling yet *NM*

[Mike M.]

Re: One to One, I'm not smiling yet

been lifting sbc and bbc with the manifold plate fastened to Al intakes for 40 years. haven't lost one yet. make sure none of the threads in the Al intake are stripped/semi-stripped. good luck, mike

[Roy B.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

I feel the same way no matter what others say , so I use long left and right corner intake bolts or use the same at the exhaust bolts

[Chuck R.]

Re: 2 to 1.... I've got a small grin going *NM*

[Chuck R.]

Re: 2 to 2 I'm back to concerned *NM*

[Patrick T.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

I would never, ever consider using a manifold plate with grade 8 bolts in the 4 aluminum stud holes to lift a 600 lb. engine. Those tapped holes are most likely worn out, stripped or worse. They are way too small in diameter to offer any significant shear resistance required when the threads are placed under a heavy live load.

You can buy a special lifting chain as shown below at almost any auto parts store for $10 and slip grade 8 bolts through the small plates at the ends and through the manifold and then thread them into the cast iron block. PT

[Wayne W.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

Many times, did one last week.

[Ken Edmunds]

Re: One to One, I'm not smiling yet

I'm with Mike. Many times with full dressed 427s with alternator, a/c compressor and transmission hanging off the back.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Thanks for the responses

I have a better feel for what I'm going to do now.

Thanks again for the time and input.

Chuck

[Joe L.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

Chuck-----

No problem, at all, using the lifting plate with the aluminum manifold. You need to be sure that the threads in the manifold are good and that the studs are threaded in as far as they will go. If not, Heli-coil the tappings and they'll be fine. The other thing that you need to do is to ensure that the nuts are properly torqued to retain the plate. This is very important. They should be torqued to 20 lb/ft.

Still uncomfortable? Obtain GM lift kit GM #12363238. These brackets bolt to the holes in the ends of the cylinder heads (all 350 heads originally had these holes and all aftermarket heads have them, too). If you plan to use a "load leveler" you almost have to use these brackets for lifting since a load leveler won't do you much good with a carb plate type lifting bracket.

So what to do if you're using aluminum heads and still feel uncomfortable with using an engine lift bracket with bolts/studs that thread into aluminum? In that case, you're totally out of luck and you better let someone else who isn't uncomfortable do the job.

[Terry M.]

Re: Ok I need some support here

Chuck,
I once installed a 454 complete with iron intake, heads, exhaust manifolds, and a TH400 into a suburban using a carburetor plate. This was a rebuild of a 100K engine. No incident during the install even though I had to get the assembly nearly vertical in order to get the trans under the rear of the engine compartment.
On starting the engine the intake leaked coolant slightly -- a re-torque of the intake solved that with no further incident.

Would I do that again? Not on your life. I like to think I learn from the near misses in my life.