Engine Lift...

[yorkiepap]

Hey guys,
My brother builds race engines & had a mishap removing a GM454 with the engine lift breaking. He borrowed this one from a friend as it is the same as the one he had to use for a pattern. He asked me to make a much heavier one & he only needed one hole in the center as he never used the additional holes. Also wanted it welded completely around instead of the skip welds like on the Moroso. I found a piece of 5/16" plate to use & I made a 1/8" template plate with the hole pattern(GM) so I could make others if wanted by any of his buddies. I plasma cut the pieces, drilled & milled the pattern holes, & welded. Here's some pics.

Denny

[Tom37]

Nice work Denny. Man, the thought of dropping a 454 about the time it clears the grill would be a complete and total disaster.

[sc3013]

Well I have had one of these lift plates for years. Never could talk myself in to trying to lift any compleat engine with four 5/16 bolts screwed into an alum. intake. Just no confidense in it holding.

[Thurman]

I've had one of those "Moroso" type plates for years. I've lifted 454's on down to 4-cylinder engines and thankfully mine has not given me a problem. I did make one years ago dedicated to 454's we were using in dirt track racing. It had dedicated bolt holes for our manifold, and had a swivel on top to rotate the engine a little as was always needed. On something like that I still prefer chain-stitch welding though just to prevent a running crack,if it happens. David

[SidecarFlip]

One has to be trusting.

More than once I've lifted a complete Series 2 Bridgeport Miller with the single 1/2" forged eye bolt that all Bridgeports come with and I use an engine gantry hoist. Best thing ever made for positioning machinery. A Bridgeport wieighs around 1500 pounds, appreciably more than a big block.

[Tony D]

I always go the hard way and use front bolt holes for mounts, or head bolts and junk up the valve train opening the valve covers... never could trust the lil bity bolts ...especially when I forgot the third motor mount bolt in the 400 ford and lifted the whole truck LOL

[mustang0]

One grade 5 5/16" bolt has a tensile strength of 6,440 lbs. So if you have enough threads in the aluminum intake, those bolts will work just fine as long as they are also tight. In shear they are 5750 lbs. still more than enough for your big block. I don't have the spec. for lower grades, I would try to use the higher grade for cheap insurance.

[Dan Timberlake]

Where did the lift plate break? Got a picture ?