Question about using an engine stand for inline six

[gryphonclan]

So now that I have this 250 block laying here, I'm kinda leery about putting it on the engine stand. I bought a 1 ton stand with 4 wheels and I'm sure it's stable enough. My main concern is the depth of threads where the block bolts up to the bellhousing.

The bolts are 7/16 and I went out and grabbed 4 new "grade8" along with some hardened washers for the spider. Are 4 of these in the shallow thread depth enough to keep them from just stripping out and falling on the floor? I'm guessing each bolt will only be in about 1/2".

The length of the block just seems like that will be a lot of force pulling on 4 bolts, whereas the engine and tranny would normally have supports and not suspended in mid air.

 

[bubba22349]

a compete 250 engine is about 20 pound lighter than a 302 V8, yes I think a 1/2 inch of bolt engagement should hold it fine. But if your unsure and want to do it so it's bolted on in an even better way you can measure how far the threads go into the block with a bolt bottoming it out and that way probably you can use some 1/2 inch longer bolts and maybe another washer or two to adjust the depth with. You should be able to get close to about 3/4 inch depth or maybe a little more into the block to get its full thread engagement. The bigger and heavier Ford 390 FE's and 460's also use the same bolt size, on my engine stand I have had them all bolted up on it numerous times. Standard washers and grade 5 bolts should also be fine for this type of use too. Good luck

 

[gryphonclan]

3 of the 4 bolts on the engine stand spider were able to bolt up. I left it up over night with the hoist still attached but slack (just in case). All looks good. I've got it stripped down to just having the internals left to pull out.

 

[chad]

slack is less safe than up right. also find the 4th for good measure.
it only weighs 450 lbs (or so) no big deal, doesn't need grade 8s.
Commonly, there are 750 & 1,000 lb stands.
U can lookk up the shear strength of bolts, nails etc. if concerned…

Whaja doin w/the engine?

 

[SuperKONR]

I've had my fully assembled 200 on one of those crappy 750lb 3 legged stands with no problems, it was even bouncing around a bit when I was working on it and it was fine. That was with 3/8" grade 8 bolts holding the block to the arms, about 1/2" of threads going into the block.
Also FWIW, I've seen a SBC on a stand with only about 1/4" of threads going into the block and it didn't fall off. I would definitely never do that, but it held it.

 

[gryphonclan]

slack is less safe than up right. also find the 4th for good measure.
it only weighs 450 lbs (or so) no big deal, doesn't need grade 8s.
Commonly, there are 750 & 1,000 lb stands.
U can lookk up the shear strength of bolts, nails etc. if concerned…

Whaja doin w/the engine?

I have 2 on the right rear attached and 1 on the left. The 4th just won't attach. The angle refuses to meet up with the block. Even if I take the spider off, the angle it's cut at just won't match up to the block. 3 bolts with 1/2 bite each, grade 8 and some hardened grade 8 washers to take up just a bit of slack that was there. I think it's good. The stand is a 1 ton stand too.

As far as the engine, I've got a head that should show up tomorrow from Australia. Xflow that has already been worked a bit. HF1 52CC. I've not decided if I'm going supercharger or turbo route yet or not. I just got a lead on a straight axle from a guy, and I'm considering sharking it out and going the gasser route.

 

[chad]

R U here or Down Under?