I'm going to rebuild my engine, and I'd like to drop it in fully assembled... TPI and everything. The rear attachment hook (on the passenger-side head) looks like it might interfere with the overhang in front of the windshield. How safe is it to use exhaust manifold bolts to lift an engine? I wouldn't use the stock bolts for this; I'd buy some Grade 8 fasteners or something... two on each side, so the weight is equally distributed.

I'm asking because Summit sells a hoist/chain that bolts to the exhaust bolts, but I didn't know if they'd be too small for a fully-assembled engine.

I would only do it that way, with REAL SHORT bolts that could be tightened down all the way against the head.

That should work fine. The factory lifting loops are generally bolted to the intake with the same 3/8" or smaller 5/16" bolts.

Like the Master said, use short bolts and snug them against your chain/hooks/lifting eyes.

like stated before it should work fine. i used the accessory holes on the front and rear of the heads when i lifted my engines.

Great, I'm glad to hear that this'll work. One less thing to worry about...

it'll work..

but just FYI, when i do it, i put one in the passenger side rear of the head, and the other on on the drivers side front of the head.

it'll clear.. the whole motor is clear of the firewall.. you can even get the upper bellhousing bolts from the top.

I use the accessory bolt holes in the front/rear of the head, totalling two bolts as there are only holes in one end of each head (stock heads anyway). I was always afriad of those "plates" that are like a 4bbl block off, that your supposed to use to lift an engine. The thought of four 5/16 bolts into an aluminum manifold scares me. The 3/8 bolt into a, iron head seems very secure. Maybe for aluminum heads I would do four bolts.

I'd use the one at the back of course and the loop on the front of the manifold that attaches to the AC bracketry personally. Ive never had a problem droping in a TPI that way.

Lots more information... very good. I think I might actually try the rear hook on the passenger-side head if the manifold bolts don't work the way I want. The engine is tilted right now, so the hook didn't look like it'd clear the firewall. It'll still be maybe a week before I clear enough room for the motor...

hey, blue86iroc,and everyone else reading this. i too will be installing a tpi engine in the near future. this is the first time i've ever tried enstalling a engine. i want to install complete also. including the tranny,and with edelbrock headers(tes) on the engine. have any of you guys installed with the headers and transmission on the engine?

you can do it with the trans, but you cant do it with the headers on it.