so this guy on youtube advises tilting the engine forward with ratchet straps to get better access to the spark plug for cylinder #2. Do you guys vouch for this approach? Any pitfalls?

I want to do a compression test. Is it going to put strain on the transmission if I'm turning the engine over with the starter while the engine is tilted forward like this?

Some engines yes and some no. Some cars yes and some cars no. Some years yeas and some years no.
OK?

oops.

2007 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 Naturally Aspirated

I don't have any personal experience with this Gen, but the strain would be in the driveline if you tried to move the vehicle. The engine/transmission should be bolted together solid, and shouldn't suffer any strain from doing this.

That is, assuming the drivebelt and pulleys are not contacting anything in the tilted position.

If that has the dog bones you are OK to pull a bolt out and tilt it.

I've done spark plugs on this engine in various platforms including the H-bodies, W-bodies, G-bodies, and others built from the mid-`80s to the latest units and never had to do this. If you can't do it by feel, then it usually takes a mirror.

I'm not necessarily against tilting it all forward, but these cars are getting old. Whatever you move hasn't moved much in probably decades, and/or has moved in ways it doesn't prefer a couple of times over the years while repairs have been done.

Personally, I don't do it, but I don't blame others for doing it. My advice: Be careful what gets bent/stretched/twisted/etc. along the way, and check for leaks/sparks/cracks/bare wires/etc. when complete.

Sorry, back to the original questions:

No, no extra strain directly on the transmission doing this. That being said, if you absolutely must tilt the engine, you might want to do a hybrid solution where you tilt it just enough to get hooked up to that cylinder, then untilt, reassemble motor mounts etc. do compression test, then disconnect and replace the spark plug by feel.

Also, keep in mind that the engine does move around a bit when turning over and while running, especially with a cylinder not firing. If it is tilted while this is happening, that movement has potential to make the other concerns (that I mentioned above) worse.

Thanks for helping me think it through. I have fairly small hands, so i think i'll try to do it all without tilting it and then maybe try that hybrid idea if i get in a jam.

You are not going to hurt it by releasing the dog bones.Maybe take a couple shots of Jack so you get the nerve to do the job.

I hear this helps with the pain of bloody knuckles too.