Mounting XPAGs into engine cradles/stands

[Fraser]

Does anyone have any experience of mounting XPAGs into engine cradles/stands? I'm about to rebuild my XPAG engine. I saw and engine (on EBay) in an engine stand, but the owner had mounted the engine cradle onto the side of the block, i.e. choosing not to mount it onto the bell housing bolt holes. Seeing this got me wondering if the weight of the engine was too much for the four 8 x 1mm threads. I've built countless 911 engines on stands before, but these always use the flywheel end to mount the cradle. It would be an awful shame to mount what is a perfectly good XPAG engine into the stand only to watch the casting fracture leaving me in one hell of a predicament, so I thought it worth an ask.

[Steve Simmons]

I mount mine using the rear bolts, no issues so far.

[Fraser]

Thanks Steve, most interesting..... what sort of contact area do you have?
On the stand I have the cradle has four adjustable legs that each have a swivel foot and a distance tube that only has a diameter of about 20mm which contacts the crankcase. If I turn them around on the cradle I'd have more contact area to the rear of the crankcase, but not much access to the flywheel bolts. I think I may remove the flywheel and try to fit the swivel feet the "wrong way around" to spread the load - what do you think? Have I made myself clear?

[Steve Simmons]

It sounds like the same type of stand I have. You would definitely have a clearance issue with the arms turned around. Instead, you could cut the distance tubes a bit and weld some bar stock to them, then drill holes in the bar stock to line up with more holes in the block. I think it's fine as-is but this would give extra peace of mind.

Here is how mine bolts up...

[Fraser]

That's perfect - thanks so much Steve. Your set up is exactly what I've got. It's very re-assuring. All I need now is some 8 x 1mm bolts that are long enough! Excellent photo - a picture paints a thousand words....