The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop bolt hardness for lifting engine and engine stand?

Hi All - I just bought a new Chevy 350 long block for my 1950 AD truck project.
I went out and bought grade 8 bolts for lifting the engine out of the crate with my engine hoist, and grade 8 bolts for attaching it to my engine stand.
My questions is, are grade 8 bolts proper for lifting the engine and bolting to the stand? Are they too brittle for either operation? I wanted to use strong bolts to assure no threads give out, but then I started thinking about the brittleness of hardened bolts.
I just want to make sure my new engine makes it up and onto the stand without any mishaps!
Also, I'm planning to lift it by bolting to 4 corners where intake bolts to heads since there's no intake on it yet. Does that seem like the proper place to lift it from?
Thanks for any and all responses!
Tom

I used grade 8 bolts for my 235 when it was on the stand. I had it on the stand for around 6 months without a problem. As for lifting, I'm not sure on a 350 but for the 235 I just attached a chain to two opposite corner headbolts and lifted away. Good Luck!

when I pulled my 305 we bolted the hoist the same as you want to do. We had no problem at all with anything doing this.

While grade 8s are brittle, they're not that bad. The brittleness usually doesn't come into play until lots of vibration cycles have occured. While the grade 5 is plenty strong for this application, there is nothing wrong with using grade 8, except for the added expense.

Thanks for the replies!
I just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to drop my new engine on the garage floor!
It's been about 20 years since I built an engine and my memory ain't as good as it use-ta-was.
But I can still remember the important stuff, like how great it feels when you fire up a 2-3 year project and drive it down the road the first time! Right now my 1950 3600 truck is in the "frame off" stage with the cab sitting on a dolly next to it. But in a couple years I'll be cruisin around sunny Fort Myers, Florida in my "new" truck.
Thanks again!
Tom

I bet 20 years ago you dug through your old rusty nut and bolt bucket and used anything that would fit. Just like us. Don't tell me you were getting a certain grade bolt then. :p

You're right about that Tony M!
20 years ago I had to save for a month just to buy an engine stand! My toolbox didn't have wheels, and I had a bunch of rusty nut and bolt coffee cans that I was always scrounging through.
And I kept all my engine parts on plastic sheeting in the house in almost every room!
And of course I had to walk uphill in the snow both ways just to get to the parts store!
Ok, well everything but the snow part is true.
Thanks to everyone on this site for sharing so much knowledge with us!
Tom

Take a look at this link for info comparing grade 5 to grade 8
Grade 5 or 8

Wow, that's a great article!
Thanks Kenny W.
I used the grade 8 bolts last night and have my new 350 long block up on the engine stand!
Thanks again to everyone who replied!
Tom