1960 Engine Crate

[60eldo]

 I built a crate for my engine of wood. Cause I will be picking up my rebiult engine in about a month. Question is. The engine is sitting in the crattle and supported only by the oil pan side screws. There is a lip there on the pan equal to the oil pan bolts. Is it ok to rest the engine like that I dont want to damage the oil pan gasket.

[TJ Hopland]

If the lip and screw heads are at the same height the weight will in theory be transferred through the threads to the block so not putting extra pressure on the pan gasket.  Its kinda the traditional way to do it but I never much liked it especially on a new/rebuilt engine. 

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

I would think that with the weight on the screw heads the continuous weight and shipping vibration would quickly have the screws sunk into the wood "runners", transferring much of the weight to the pan rail "lip", thus compressing the gasket. That is my thought.
Greg Surfas

[TJ Hopland]

The crates I have personally handled didn't travel that far so the grinding didn't appear to be an issue but its something to think about especially if its going far by a 3rd party and its soft crappy wood that is often used for crates.  If you are building it yourself maybe some hardwood for those rails would help?  If you are a woodworker maybe even custom fit rails to reduce movement?  The soft wood would sort of be self locking but hardwood cold slide around if its not a tight fit and maybe also cause issues?

Whats the mount layout on a 60?  Could you leave the mounts on the engine and have those be the main contact point on the crate then some through bolts on the bell into more crate structure?   Is this going to be an enclosed crate or more of a cradle skid sort of thing?

[60eldo]

  I made it myself using pine wood, its rectangular, the sides are higher than the front and back. Its a cradle skid. Ya you guys have a good point. I did think of the lip of the pan thats bothering me too.   The crate is on my driveway now with a spare eng on it now. I need to rethink this. Any more suggestions wood be great

[Clewisiii]

I dont have a close up of my crate.

[60eldo]

Yours is nicer LOL,,,,I took mine apart, it was 10 in wide, made it 12in wide and now it sits good resting on motor mounts and rear bell housing. I did what TJ suggested.