Doesn’t really matter what specific part of building and/or maintaining hot rods you prefer, one area that applies to each and every one of us, if for even once in our lifetimes, is having to put an engine in or pull an engine out of a car—any car … including someone else’s! Cherry pickers and engine plates are without a doubt the universal tool, not only when it comes to personal use, but when it comes to the one(s) most loaned out. (Doesn’t matter how big—or much—you write your name on it either … chances are, it’s going to end up at a friend’s house/shop sooner or later!)
But for applications such as the venerable Flathead (as well as Chevy LS), Mac’s offers separate baseplates, as shown.
Engine plates are great for aiding in R&R-ing, but they have their limitations, namely when it comes to “pivoting” your driveline to clear certain obstacles that don’t lend themselves to making the job any easier. That’s precisely what Mac’s Custom Tie-Downs had in mind when they developed their new Pivot Plate. The articulating engine hoist assist device literally makes the once-cumbersome job a total breeze—one easily handled by a single person, not two or three … or more. Able to tilt an engine and transmission up to 35 degrees, maneuvering tailshafts around crossmembers and harmonic balancers around radiator core supports is as simple as twisting a wrench—because that’s all it takes to increase/decrease angle is twisting a wrench on the Pivot’s adjuster. Drilled to accept most popular two- and four-barrel intake manifolds, the Pivot Plate’s absolutely the most pivotal engine hoist attachment available, no pun intended, and Mac’s also offers a variety of engine plate adapters for specific applications (such as Ford Flathead, shown here, and Chevy LS).
In all honesty, Mac’s Pivot Plate is without question a must-have for ANY hot rodder, period. We got two, knowing full well one of them will grow feet and wander off to another’s garage before long!
