How to Lift An Engine
Most street rodders know that from time to time you will have to lift the engine out of your car, whether it is for mock up or for final installation. There are several ways this can be accomplished.
One way is to use an Engine Leveler, part number 910-89445, or a chain from corner to corner of the engine. The most common way is by using an old chain and a couple of bolts from the front accessories like an alternator bracket bolt or water pump bolt. You can also purchase some Hex Bolts from Speedway, part number 926-14379. However, I have found this way to be more of a hassle than it is worth.
One of the issues you could run into using an old chain and bolts is that the chain could break and drop your engine on the ground or on your nicely painted chassis. Second, if the engine is a tight fit to the firewall or needs to be shoehorned into a recessed firewall, the chain can get in the way. Then, after you do get the engine installed it will be difficult getting the bolts out the engine to remove the chain. That’s why I have found an engine lift plate to be the most reliable source of pulling and installing an engine.
We offer an Engine Lift Plate, part number 910-89430, which is both simple to use and cost efficient. It has multiple bolt patterns for many applications and uses the existing carb studs that are already in you intake.
The below picture shows an example of the engine lift plate properly installed on my engine, ready to lift the engine out of the car. It also has four lifting holes for controlling your engine tilt to get that precise fitment of your engine. The use of an engine lift plate can make the install of your engine a hassle free process.
