spend the extra cash and but the heaviest built one, it will make you happy yrs down the road. a flexing floppy non steady engine stand makes you nervous the whole time a engine is hanging on it. look for a old one someone bought or built yrs ago.
some info here
Summit Engine stand on the 2nd page of that thread is a engine stand my uncle made yrs ago. theres pics of my home made engine stand (
its had SBCs BBCs & a pontiac 389 & 400 and Ford 390, Buick 455 on it), looks like the upright neck was fastened to the floor in a factory or machine shop at one time. it has wheel bearing type bearings in the neck. it has a big type wing nut (
wing nut is a factory piece that a 3/4 or 7/8 threaded nut with 4" wings) but loosen the wing nut you plus theres a spring loaded leaver that catches in notches on the back of the neck.
look for a heavy duty manufactured or home built engine stand with bearings in the neck.
Good Luck
Mustangsaly