Need to pick up my 408 which has no heads on it yet and put it on my engine stand. Can I safely put couple of bolts into head bolt holes.I don't have any head bolts yet though they are on my other engine which is still in my car.I am worried don't want to strip out the head holes or damage the threads so anyone know what bolts can use for temporary we have a bolt place near me . Assume they are metric of course. I could just chain under the engine but don't really want to scratch up stuff have no oil pan on there either yet.

It it ok to life the engine from just a couple bolts diagonally in the head bolt holes ?

 

Bellhousing bolt on the rear, and find another big bolt on the front.

Make sure the chain doesn't mar up any mounting surfaces.

 

I kept a set of ls1 head bolts for that very reason. I use them to hoist the shortblock up and it works great. I also agree, if it's apart like that, use a bellhousing bolt and one up toward the front to avoid damaging threads.