Will 4 x M8 bolts be strong enough to support a car engine

[Agroshield]

If you are really, really worried that the top two bolts are taking too much force, extend the plate downwards and tap the plate itself for two nylon-tipped M8 pusher bolts (with locknuts). Snug these against whatever they touch for extra support.

If the red engine stand in the photo is typical of the breed, the bottom connection of the vertical leg to the wheeled bit will distort or fail before the engine comes off its mounting plate.

 

[Dcal]

One of you needs the 2litre 16V engine in my shed . . .

I keep seeing Betas for sale . . . if I had more room under cover . . . Beta coupe has to be one of my favourite cars I've owned, closely followed by the hpe - both in that horrible turd brown for some reason.

I can imagine a certain Mr Barry Whitehouse waiting Mr. Crofts arrival, a copy of the earlier book in hand . . . "and another thing, you got this wrong too . . ."

I'll certainly take it off your hands.

 

[armalites]

Tensile strength of an M8 10.9 bolt is nearly 4000kg so I don't understand why anyone is saying 4 of them won't support an engine. They will easily

 

[Ton-up]

Extend the plate down and bolt a piece of angle on to pick up some sump bolts.

 

[Agroshield]

Tensile strength of an M8 10.9 bolt is nearly 4000kg so I don't understand why anyone is saying 4 of them won't support an engine. They will easily.

From the first reply to the original post up to and including here, I do not think anyone has suggested the bolts are not good enough. There was concern expressed about (possible damage to) the female threads into which the bolts will be screwed.

 

[Pete.]

I'd bolt up on those four holes no problem. Make sure it's a substantial plate bolted tight and use good quality bolts.

 

[minimutly]

One of the other Fiat tuning gurus used to live down my way -Subito if I recal he was called, from a village called Llawhaden - now try saying that after a few beers...

 

[mangocrazy]

Have you a build thread on the Beta?

I've one and a half Montecarlos waiting for their turn.
Plan is to keep one stock and maybe put modern running gear in the other (1750 TBI and a sixspeed box would be nice).
One was complete and the other a doner car but it could be made to live again

I've got various threads going on the BetaBoyz website (lanciabeta.co.uk) with random posts dotted about the site. If you like Montes then you need to check out Eric Weston's build thread on that site. He has a supercharged fuel-injected Monte using an 037 Volumetrico compressor that's making close to 300 hp. He also has a fuel injected Volumex Spider that's not exactly slow...

 

[mangocrazy]

I see two spot faced surfaces in the photo that look like they are threaded, can you not pick up on one or both of those as an additional support?

I'm heading back to where the engine is stored tomorrow and will check if there are any other pick up points that could be used. But from what's been said, I'm pretty confident that the 4 x M8 mount points will suffice. I'll be using 10.9 flange head bolts to attach the plate to the block.

 

[hazzabo]

One of the other Fiat tuning gurus used to live down my way -Subito if I recal he was called, from a village called Llawhaden - now try saying that after a few beers...

useless fact: I got married in Llawhaden Church.

 

[badabec]

My Citroen DS21 engine to the engine stand? 4 x M7 bolts. No problems

 

[minimutly]

useless fact: I got married in Llawhaden Church.

Ooo, to who, I might know her....

 

[Turbo]

I'll certainly take it off your hands.

There was a guy who lived near Enniskillen who was an avid Lancia fan & had a large collection of them, most of them for breaking. I bought a 2l TC from a Thema for a project that never happened, ended up giving the engine away!

That was 20+ years ago & the guy is likely pushing up daisies by now, I wonder what happened all those cars? There were some rare, amazing & beautiful cars that I'd never saw before, it would be sad if they ended up as scrap.

 

[mtt.tr]

Tensile strength of an M8 10.9 bolt is nearly 4000kg so I don't understand why anyone is saying 4 of them won't support an engine. They will easily

The bolts yes, the aluminium casting no.

Initially it was believed the engine was mount from the crank end with the gearbox on aswell

 

[Dcal]

It"s cast iron, in any case it will take the load if a proper bracket is used.
Biggest danger would be using an overly engineered bracket that is bent or twisted and cracking the block while tightening it up.
If there is good contact between the bracket and the block it will be fine.
I agree there is no real point in going for more the 8.8 grade bolts bit it won't do any harm

 

[hazzabo]

Ooo, to who, I might know her....

Martin family, Redstone Cross, Narberth.

 

[minimutly]

Martin family, Redstone Cross, Narberth.

I'd love to start a wind up and say "why yes, really well", but allas, no..

 

[hazzabo]

I'd love to start a wind up and say "why yes, really well", but allas, no..

Ha ha - whereabouts are you? We live over the bridge in Englandshire, get back to Pembrokeshire a few times a year. Wife’s family farm was sold a few years ago when FIL passed.

 

[minimutly]

I'm in the north Pembrokeshire, but travel all over Wales, Llys y Fran regularly. We were out having a meal in Narberth last week

 

[mangocrazy]

The bolts yes, the aluminium casting no.

Initially it was believed the engine was mount from the crank end with the gearbox on aswell

As has been already mentioned the block is cast iron, and the casting is of excellent quality. I've acquired a piece of steel plate the same size as the engine stand mounting plate (12 x 150 x 200mm) and have drilled 4 x M8 holes to match the block layout and 4 x M12 holes to match up with the mounting grooves in the stand plate. Then using a piece of 25mm steel rod, I've cut 4 x 12mm deep slices (drilled centrally to 8mm) and 4 x 10mm deep slices (drilled centrally to 12 mm) to act as stand-offs. These will be welded in place on opposite sides to make an adaptor plate. Probably easier to show a photograph, but it's away being welded up.