Engine Lift Tabs?
Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,888
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From: Spokane, WA
Engine Lift Tabs?
My '71 350/270 coupe had engine lift tabs on it (2 bolts on drivers front corrner of intake & passenger side upper bell housing bolt) when I took everything apart but, now in the reassembly phase, I see nothing about them in the AIM. Did C3s of that time come from the factory with the tabs or were mine added sometime later?
The tabs themselves are 3/16" thick - do I need to use longer bolts with them and, if so, would 1/2" or even 1/4", be too long?
Thanks for any insight...
Paul
The tabs themselves are 3/16" thick - do I need to use longer bolts with them and, if so, would 1/2" or even 1/4", be too long?
Thanks for any insight...
Paul
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: US-PNW
I suspect the lift brackets were part of the assembled engine from Flint -- therefore not installed by St. Louis, so not called out in the assembly manual. As far as I know, what you describe sounds like they are proper but a pic would help.
Race Director
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
My 77 definitely came factory with these lift lugs. Although I removed them for cosmetic reasons. I still have them and they may come in handy if ever the need to pull the engine arises. But of course it's a small block Chevy so it never needs to be repaired.
Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,888
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From: Spokane, WA
Thanks guys - I thought that might be the case. I do still have the brackets (called them tabs because I brain farted and couldn't get the right terminology to save my life - doh 
)
As for reinstalling them, CALWLDLFE said stock bolts so I assume that means the ones going thru the brackets don't need to be any longer than the others mounting the intake manifold and the bell housing - correct?
)As for reinstalling them, CALWLDLFE said stock bolts so I assume that means the ones going thru the brackets don't need to be any longer than the others mounting the intake manifold and the bell housing - correct?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,321
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From: Marietta GA
The lift brackets were gone from my 73 SB. I ordered the brackets from Paragon and they showed longer bolts (than the ones for intake manifold bolts). Don’t know if it matters, but since I was ordering a bunch of parts, I purchased the longer ones.
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Thread Starter
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Spokane, WA
I don't know why you think I'm convinced I need longer bolts. I just want to find out if GM originally used longer bolts, or if bolts the same length as the rest of the intake manifold are sufficient in their eyes as well as the thoughts of others on the forum.
If the intake bolts my builder used won't have enough threads into the block to properly secure that front corner of the intake after passing through the bracket, I'd want to use longer bolts to prevent any leaks. But then again, not so long that they'd bottom out before achieving the proper torque.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
That's the problem. I had a different intake manifold put on when the engine was rebuilt, so new bolts were used, not the original bolts.
I don't know why you think I'm convinced I need longer bolts. I just want to find out if GM originally used longer bolts, or if bolts the same length as the rest of the intake manifold are sufficient in their eyes as well as the thoughts of others on the forum.
If the intake bolts my builder used won't have enough threads into the block to properly secure that front corner of the intake after passing through the bracket, I'd want to use longer bolts to prevent any leaks. But then again, not so long that they'd bottom out before achieving the proper torque.
I don't know why you think I'm convinced I need longer bolts. I just want to find out if GM originally used longer bolts, or if bolts the same length as the rest of the intake manifold are sufficient in their eyes as well as the thoughts of others on the forum.
If the intake bolts my builder used won't have enough threads into the block to properly secure that front corner of the intake after passing through the bracket, I'd want to use longer bolts to prevent any leaks. But then again, not so long that they'd bottom out before achieving the proper torque.
yes gm had different length and some bolts had shoulders where threads did not go to the heads.
since you nnow dislosed a third party got rid of the bolts then you should know.
geez
Race Director
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Been a long while since I removed lifting lugs. But I do remember that I had to fit somewhat shorter bolts in the intake manifold when I removed the lift lug as the lug is about a quarter inch thick. I had to use 2 replacement bolts that were 1/4 inch shorter.
later, down the line I replaced the intake manifold and installed ARP bolts. And those of course were all of the same length as they didn't accommodate the lift lug.
later, down the line I replaced the intake manifold and installed ARP bolts. And those of course were all of the same length as they didn't accommodate the lift lug.
