i just bought a SD LB9 and an engine stand , what bolts should i use to hold it up , the bolts will into the belllhousing holes. BTW engine has all accessories , no oil or coolant .

 

I see alot of people use grade 5 and that may be enough, for how cheap they are I always use grade 8. Gives me a better thought so my 3,500 dollar engine is laying on the ground when I go to the shop one morning.

 

I always use Grade 8 bolts and washers on my stand as well. The minimal price difference is worth the piece of mind to me.

 

I agree - grade 8. Don't go cheap here. hardyz13 is right. You really don't want your high dollar engine on the concrete floor because you shaved a few bucks on bolts. I have seen the bolts break and bend. Bending shifts the center of gravity and the stand tumbles over. It will make you sick! Also, if you use washers, get ones that are the correct size for the shaft of the bolt and have enough diameter to prevent pulling through brackets. That is a lot of weight.

 

The bolts are 3/8" by the way. Too long is better than too short, you can always make up the distance with washers

And like everyone else said, please use grade 8. There is no good excuse not to

 

i was reading on another forum that eventhough grade 8 bolts are stronger , they are less likely to stretch and more likely to break where as grade 5 bolts would stretch rather than break . so im still kind of confused . so0o0 hard or flexible ? that is in case thatthebolts were to give way .

 

Get grade 8 bolts and washers. The grade 8 bolts will take more force to break than the grade 5, will take more torque, and will provide more clamping force. Theyre not made out of high carbon ultra hard steel, so theyre still somewhat elastic as far as steel goes, and will yield a bit like lower grade steel before breaking. Also make sure to use large grade 8 hardened washers as well, so you dont get pull thru. Go to lowes or something. Most hardware stores stock grade 8 bolts for cheap.

 

Whoever said that, dont ever listen to them again.

 

grade 8 fan here too. on the stand, i won't use anything less, its just good insurance

 

so i bought bolts yesterday , i asked for grade 8 bolts with standard thread and some washers . i got 4 inch bolts ,but in my opinion they look like they would break " they are long and thin " did i get the wrong bolts ? BTWtheyare 3/8olts .

 

You only need to look at the end of the bolt to know what it is. If its a grade 8 and 3/8" OD then dont worry about it.

 

The bolts are stronger than you give them credit for. Plenty of people (Myself included) have lifted our motor & transmission out of the car together using an engine lift plate attached with only 4 bolts on the intake manifold, that are only 5/16" if I remember right.

I've had a fully dressed, iron-headed SBC on an engine stand for several months at a time, no issues ever. No signs of strain on the bolts, that you could see with the naked eye at least. Just make sure the motor is "shimmed" up tight to the stand with washers, and don't worry about it