[cls12vg30]

We are almost ready to pull the engine on my friend's '81 308GTSi. We have the engine hoist and stand, however we still need the straps to go around the engine.

I have never really done this before, can anyone recommend a type or brand of strap for this purpose?

 

[senna21]

We have the engine hoist and stand, however we still need the straps to go around the engine.

Straps around the engine?!? You're asking for trouble if you do it that way. You should be using a chain not a strap. And you need to secure it to the engine. On most engines there should be either hooks or "eye" brackets to put a large bolt through the chain and bracket. It needs to be secure when you're lifting it out of the compartment. If it's not I guarantee it'll slip which means it's either going to fall on the car, the floor, or someone under it. Either way your going to wind up with a big bill.

If no hooks or brackets are available on the engine look for threaded holes on the heads that take a bolt. You want to position the chain one end toward the front of the engine and one on the opposite bank toward the back. Don't worry about the tranny, it'll hang on to the engine. But, You'll have to accommodate for its weight when you hook the engine lift to it. Make sure you have plenty of thick blankets protecting the body. I guarantee you'll be bumping the engine and tranny into it during this process.

Where's Pete when you need him...

 

[cls12vg30]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. The plan was to place straps, such as cargo or boat straps, around the engine, and attached to the hoist, in addition to the engine hoist chains, as both a backup to the chains themselves and a method of stabilizing the engine. I had thought this was common practice.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. As for the mounting points for the chains, originally we had thought to use the motor mount point located on the rear-bank valve cover as one of them, but that is close to the middle of the engine (lengthwise), and I am also not to comfortable with the weight of the engine being supported by the valve covers, or the heads for that matter. I would prefer to find adequate mounting points on the block.

By the way, does anyone have an estimate of the weight of the 81 308 GTSi motor? This is the four-cam, two-valve motor.

 

[senna21]

If you can't find any mounting points pull one of the exhaust manifold bolts and use that for the bolting point. Most pull brackets will be located on the head and won't damage the engine. Just be sure you get a bolt that's a little longer than the stock one.