There's a sneaky trick to get a conventional engine stand to balance and support a stovebolt 6 better. Fabricate a couple of V-shaped pieces from 1/2" X 2" flat bar stock, with about a 30 degree angle between them, and drill these pieces to fit the holes in the back of the block where the flywheel housing would normally bolt on. Bolt the engine stand arms to these adapter pieces, and the positiopn of the pivoting head can be arranged so the engine will have a more cooperative center of gravity when it's rolled over to do the assembly work- - - -installing the crankshadft, pistons, etc. If the length of the stand is sufficient, an additional set of attachment holes in the adapters can be used to bolt the bellhousing-equipped engine back to the stand with the same C.G. considerations. Just make the stand long enough to extend past the end of the crankshaft with the clutch housing attached.
Jerry
