how to lift an engine with aluminum heads

[87-t-top-gt]

As the post implies I've got an engine, M6007X302 to be exact, going into my 87 gt. Now, I've done a couple swaps (one 350 chevy s10 and one 2.8-4.3 s10 and hepled with my dad's 460 into a 82 f250). However, none of them had aluminum heads. With the sling I bought from summit I lifted my stock 302(by the stock irons), bell housing, and tranny with no second thoughts...I'm having second thoughts on putting the new engine in. This sling has 2 plates not hooks. Long story short, where should I bolt the plates to? Should I also plan on doing the tranny seperately? Thanks guys in advance.
-Dave

 

[txstang84]

Do you not have an intake lift plate? If it has little tabs with bolt holes in it, I suppose you could put them in the accessory bolt holes in the front and rear of the heads-or am I not correctly visualizing something?

edit: I dropped mine in and pulled it out with Edelbrock aluminums using an intake lift plate...intake was aluminum too, and it had no problems heaving out the engine and transmission.

 

[txstang84]

 

[larrym1961]

Like txstang84, I also used an intake lift plate on my motor too when I intalled it and I have TFS Twisted Wedge heads on mine and it lifted in with no problem.

 

[87-t-top-gt]

Thanks for the replies guys. Guess I'm gonna go see if I cant find me an intake plate

 

[txstang84]

...got mine from Summit...they're about $40 last time I checked, but it made lifting out the near-complete engine removal much easier.

 

[jrichker]

The stock engine had a pair of lift plates that were bolted to the exhaust flanges on cylinders 4 and 5 or maybe they are on 1 & 8. If you haven't pitched them long ago, they are perfect for the job: the had a large hole in them that served as a place to put the chain hooks..

 

[Jason 302]

+1 for the intake plate. Very simple and easy. I was a little worried about it handling the weight being bolted to aluminum intake and heads, but even with a steel blowproof bellhousing and a TKO 500 hanging behind it, it held with no problems.

 

[Chuckman]

ive always just bolted the chain plates to the heads, one in front, one on back in the opposite head. id be more worried of the bolt breaking than the head doing anything weird. a pair of grade 8 bolts will remedy that.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I used to just use ratcheting tie downs to each corner of the heads. It worked:

Now, I have a lift plate and a load leveler. I'll never be going back to the tie downs ever again.

 

[Jason 302]

I could see where the ratchet ties would make it difficult to angle it down in if you had to...like if there's a tranny going in with it. Otherwise it looks like it would be nice and stable.

 

[87-t-top-gt]

Thanks again everyone, The headers I have did have new bolts but I dont know man I just didnt want to do it to the new heads. I ended up ordering a manifold lift plate from jegs. $21.95 shipped to my door, should be here tomorrow...now once tmoss sends my manifold back I'll be in business.

 

[NIKwoaC]

I used one of these... Works very well.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

^ I use one of those now on my intake plate. They are the best thing ever.

 

[srtthis]

i made this one for a carb intake...

i plan to make one like it for my EFI set up

 

[87-t-top-gt]

Speaking of carbs...Jegs sent me the wrong manifold plate- it clearly said EFI on the page right under the order button . So the heck with it, just going to bolt my plates to the accessory bolts in front/back of the heads and be done. I dont have time to mess with sending back/waiting for correct plate. Oh and if anyone was curious tmoss did an awesome job on my lower, guess that was the one bright side of yesterday.

 

[87-t-top-gt]

Speaking of carbs...Jegs sent me the wrong manifold plate- it clearly said EFI on the page right under the order button . So the heck with it, just going to bolt my plates to the accessory bolts in front/back of the heads and be done. I dont have time to mess with sending back/waiting for correct plate. Oh and if anyone was curious tmoss did an awesome job on my lower, guess that was the one bright side of yesterday.

Actually, my dodge 2.4L DOHC engine fired in my engines class too, that was pretty cool.