V8 on engine stand

[yaofeng]

Has anyone mounted an 4.0 V8 on a stand? The 4.0 V8 I just got has 8 M10 bolt holes on the engine rear plate.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/yaofengchen/BMW_95_540/DSC_2579.jpg

My engine stand has only four bolt attachments. When I did the 525i last year I used four M12 bolts on the steel block. So does my SAAB 9k four bangers. This V8 is much heavier. I am very concerned the four M10 bolts are not going to hold the engine cantilever off the stand. Has anyone done this?

[joshua43214]

4 grade 8 10mm bolts will easily hold the weight, but you may have troubles finding them long enough in the USA. 4 standard grade 10mm bolts should hold the weight as well. I have cantilivered heavier engines on 3/8" bolts with no trouble.

My only concern would be with thread engagement. I am not sure how deep the holes are in the back of the block. Just make sure you get as much thread into the block as possible with out bottoming out. and I'm not sure what you would bolt to at the bottom of the engine, I think the bolts arround the seal are 6mm, and bolting to the two lower bolts on the rear plate may cause unwanted flex.

If you are doing a comeplete teardown, maybe remove the heads,intake and rear cover on the bench, then mount it to the stand for the rest.

[yaofeng]

I am almost sure all eight are M10. Thanks for the reassuring words.

[DueyT]

Granted this was with a steel block, but I've had a 7.2L iron block V8 on a stand with only 4 bolts and it held fine...I'm thinking that must be a heck of a lot heaveri than the M60 even with everything on it.

As Joshua says, check to see the depth of the threads, then measure up the spacing you'll need on the engine stand's arms to make sure that you don't drive the bolts deeper into the block than you should.

Cheers,
Duey

[winfred]

i use the two with the alignment dowls for the top and the lower starter holes with a nut and washer when i mount a m60/62 on a stand

[yaofeng]

I found out last night two of the eight bolt holes are M8. These two were used by the seller to strap the engine down to the pallet for shipping. The remaining six are M10.