[390pony]

I'm going to be transporting the 390 engine from my 68 Mustang from Tucson to Los Angeles later this month. I have a 2002 F-250 short bed with a camper shell and a Bed Rug. I've never tied down anything in the bed before so I could use some advice. Where would be the best places to tie that engine down? It will be in a cradle and weighs about 650 pounds. I'll also be pulling a 22-foot-enclosed car trailer with my other Mustang inside so I want a safe load and tie down. I may have the C-6 transmission in the bed, too, but that's not a sure thing yet.

I have extra tiedown straps that I use on my cars, so that's not a problem. I just need to know the most secure spots in the truck.

 

[Blk88GT]

I've always put the motor in the middle and tied it down to the corners of the bed. If you don't have a toolbox, I'd consider putting it right up front.

Use a lot of straps, that thing is one hell of a projectile if you don't.

 

[jimmy]

From having hauled engines in truck beds comes this advice: Place a piece of thick plywood (or two thinner ones) cut to approx size of pickup bed front panel, against front panel of pickup bed. Slide the engine against this and secure with ratcheting tie straps to the eyes prided at front corners of bed to hold engine against forward bed panel/plywood.
The forces pushing engine back will be low, you will towing a trailer and as powerful as we think our trucks are, the most force to the rear will we way less than one G.
Stopping will produce higher forces pushing engine forward and an accident (can happen) will make this an even higher force.
To further make this safe in any circumstance you can run criss-crossed ratcheting tie straps over engine from the front corner eyes to opposite rear corner eyes to keep engine secured downward. Gravity is way on your side in this case but if the truck were to go over you'd add some protection from it becoming a projectile.

Signed,
your friendly expert in many things gone wrong

 

[JimTJr]

Put the oil pan into an old larger tire, that works great too with straps...

OK, being a typical guy I didnt read "ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS" ,, I see you have an engine cradle.. just run straps to each corner of the bed, that should work great.
The most secure tiedown spots are the 4 secure points at each corner, *unless you have a plastic bedliner, then they are a pain to reach!! (I cut mine out some more so I could reach those)

One of these days I will buy a truck WITHOUT already having the plastic one in there, and I can have my spray in liner!!