tersian

Hey guys, I bought one of these, it didn't come with 2 1/2"(?) bolts needed to hook the supports to the bellhousing bolts, can someone give me a bolt spec so I can go out and get these at lunch/after work?

bobs77vet

you know i'm at work now but its nothing fancy like 3/8 regular corse thread from memory i want to 3/8 x16 and they need to be long....i think mine were 3-4 inches, and i used threaded rod with nuts/washers on the end. this let me fully seat the threaded rod in all of the block threads and then tighten it down with the nuts..and then i trimmed the excess off.

tersian

Thanks Bob, I measured the length of the round stock that is attached to the mounting arm and it's 2", so I figure a 3" bolt/threaded rod should be sufficient. I just want to make sure it is 3/8 regular coarse. I am going to Google for it as well. I'll report back.

tersian

Okay, I've found 3 engine stand bolt kits:


Mr. Gasket:
3/8” - 16 X 3-1/4” grade 5 bolts

Summit:
Our engine stand bolt kits include the following Grade 8 fasteners: Four 3/8 in.-16 x 4 1/2 in. long bolts, four 7/16 in.-14 x 4 1/2 in. long bolts, and eight flat washers. They're designed to fit most General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler engines.

Jegs:
Includes 4 each 3/8''-16 x 3-1/2'' and 4 each 3/8''-16 x 4'' bolts for most stands.


Looks like 3/8 - 16 by say 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 are what I'm looking for.

Jughead

I bought a bolt kit when I bought my engine stand. When I finally went to use them I found that they were the wrong size. I took a bellhousing bolt to the store and matched the thread. I had to guess at the length, 4" I think but they only had 5" bolts. I think I used gade 5 with a bunch of washers. I had that BB on the stand for about 18 months before lowering it to a rolling floor stand.

tersian

I made the mistake of buying a Chinese rolling floor stand that "one size fits all." Well, one size may fit all 4-6 cyl engines but the stand I bought is completely useless for the 350. When I thought I had it right where it almost looked like it fit, it slipped and broke the insulator right off a spark plug. Grrrr. It only cost me like 20 bucks, so I am going to turn it into a tool cart or something.

bobs77vet

make sure if you buy the bolts locally that they are threaded the whole way up so you can use a nut on it if necessary....seems to me that two of those bolt holes go through the block flanges and two of them terminate in the block. so you need maximum flexibility to be able to tighten them down.

tersian

I don't quite know where I can get a threaded rod like that tho? I wonder if any of the home centers have them.

bobs77vet

absolutely they have them....you can also go to where the post hardware is for decks and get the 6" carraige bolts and just cut off the carriage bolt head....

GTR1999

Use gr 8 bolts..... just because. 3/8-16 x 5" with washers to get the right fit. Chase the holes with a tap or thread chaser so you don't roll them. Don't use gr 5 these are the only things holding your block up and off your feet!
Gary

tersian

I will venture out to the store of hardware this evening and see what I can find, the engine has been kinda dangling for over 24 hours now, makes me nervous.

tersian

Just as a follow up to this to make it complete. It took multiple trips to the hardware store and I now have a nice collection of grade 8 bolts in 5", 4", 3" and 2 1/2" lengths. The winner of the Harbor Freight engine stand bolt contest is:

2 1/2" bolts! However, the 3" can fit with some washers taking up the slack. Congrats to the hardware stores for all the money I wasted buying the wrong bolts