I've dumped a much lighter engine using the 3 legged stand. They hold the weight okay but as stated are very tipsy.

Pinecone - you are the MAN. None so brave... :-X22

Is everyone's truck out in their driveway and the garage full of junk or something?

I rebuilt my 302 in the garage by cleaning out a corner and was still able to keep 2 vehicles in the 2 car garage. Granted I know newer houses have smaller garages (no room in front), and people have bigger vehicles (bloody SUVs). A thick thick clear plastic sheet wrapped around it when I wasn't working on it, and a perseverence to get it done in 3 or 4 weeks instead of spending 13 months on it. I kept the peace with the family no issues that way.

Agreed on the harbor freight cheapo, Seems I remember the slightly better model category was beat by tool crib, or craftsmen, or even walmart or somewhere.... Harbor's cheap was too cheap - in the competitive it was worth the time to shop around.

A buddy of mine bought a $100 cheapo aluminum yard shed because his garage was too small, now he keeps his mower and such in there so there is room to move around the end of the SUV in the garage.

Brian,

I think there are are few members lucky enough to have an outside space to work on their trucks. I know that was my location for the first couple of years when I first started working on my truck 30+ years ago. I then was able to to move up to a unheated pole building and now I have heated space in my business's shop. It took over 30 years but I'm happy where I'm at.

Ok, returned the other stand and got the heavy duty 4 wheel version today.

Next problem is, the engine has to bolts that go through to the block but all the other bolts on the engine (I don't have the bell housing on there), just hang off.

Someone mentioned putting the bell housing back on. Is that the best way to go?
Can I get by with putting 2 bolts on parts where it is metal hanging off the block?

You may have to buy bolts to fit. You do realize those four arms can be moved to align with various holes in the rear of the block, do you not? Some arms may have to be moved upward, others downward, in, out, what ever it takes.

raytasch, yeah I was going to see if I could find some bolts that were stronger than the head bolts (which are the same size) and get some washers too.

I do know those arms move around.

My problem is only 2 of the bolts on the back of the engine actually appear to go into the block, everything else just goes into the metal/plate on the back. Is it ok to use these?

Guess I'll have to go out and look at my engine and see how I would mount it on the stand.
For now, I would go to the active thread by Albqu F1, Short & Sweet, and see how he attached the engine to his stand.