1970 Corvette Big Blocks - What's your weight?
05-25-2015, 04:43 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
1970 Corvette Big Blocks - What's your weight?
I ran across someone arguing weight today and looked it up. One of the first references was Road & Track test from around 1970.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ick=welcome-ad
I know that they can't be that heavy and wonder if R&T was on drugs, lying, or just guessing?
Some other references list them as 3200 lb. but I believe that is the stock weight on the base model. since I figured many on here actually weigh their cars like at drag strips and the like, someone here would have real numbers.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ick=welcome-ad
Curb weight, lb 3740
Test weight 4070
Weight distribution (with driver), front/rear, % 53/47
Performance of our test car was also hampered by great weight: the test car, with a little bit of extra equipment besides the options listed, weighed all of 3740 lb and was tested at slightly over two tons! The weight, engine size and automatic transmission all conspire to produce 9-mpg fuel guzzling which, with a tank intended for a lighter, lower-powered 1963 design and now reduced to 18 gallons by evaporative emission control, means a ridiculously low range between refills.
Test weight 4070
Weight distribution (with driver), front/rear, % 53/47
Performance of our test car was also hampered by great weight: the test car, with a little bit of extra equipment besides the options listed, weighed all of 3740 lb and was tested at slightly over two tons! The weight, engine size and automatic transmission all conspire to produce 9-mpg fuel guzzling which, with a tank intended for a lighter, lower-powered 1963 design and now reduced to 18 gallons by evaporative emission control, means a ridiculously low range between refills.
Some other references list them as 3200 lb. but I believe that is the stock weight on the base model. since I figured many on here actually weigh their cars like at drag strips and the like, someone here would have real numbers.
05-25-2015, 05:01 PM
#2
Race Director
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For 30 years of car cruise bs'sing about bb vs sb weight I always was sold that a bb with aluminum heads, water pump etc is about the same weight as a iron headed sb but man, it's a bb so I never cared, and when I went from sb 383 to bb 454 in my 69 I liked the handling feel of the bb better.
I have seen posted curb weight vary but around 3500 + - was what I believe is about right for the car just sitting there, adding and subtracting a 100 lb here and there for engine, options and size of driver....
9 mpg?
My 72 bb which had a stick got the best mpg of any c3 I owned and was about double that 9 figure perhaps a little less and better if I drove better.
I have seen posted curb weight vary but around 3500 + - was what I believe is about right for the car just sitting there, adding and subtracting a 100 lb here and there for engine, options and size of driver....
9 mpg?
My 72 bb which had a stick got the best mpg of any c3 I owned and was about double that 9 figure perhaps a little less and better if I drove better.
05-25-2015, 05:10 PM
#3
With AC , Auto , all the options , iron 390hp, I think 37-3800 is pretty close. Yeah with full fluids and 200pd adult your at 2 tons.
They always maxed the options out dragging the performance down ....I think AC alone on a 454 is like 90-110 pounds of crap....evaporator, condenser, huge mounts, big ol heavy compressor , etc.
So 3550 is about right for a manual , low option , no AC ...LS5
I think I've read the motor with accessories is like 700plus pds....lol.
The auto and AC weights a ton....!
A low option LS6 with aluminum heads and intake ,with Aluminum M22 ...those are fairly light weight
I got a test on that 71 365hp AC Auto ....I believe it was Car n Driver and it was pretty dang fast for the day ! I remember they were impressed for a 2 ton car as they called it...great test btw!
They always maxed the options out dragging the performance down ....I think AC alone on a 454 is like 90-110 pounds of crap....evaporator, condenser, huge mounts, big ol heavy compressor , etc.
So 3550 is about right for a manual , low option , no AC ...LS5
I think I've read the motor with accessories is like 700plus pds....lol.
The auto and AC weights a ton....!
A low option LS6 with aluminum heads and intake ,with Aluminum M22 ...those are fairly light weight
I got a test on that 71 365hp AC Auto ....I believe it was Car n Driver and it was pretty dang fast for the day ! I remember they were impressed for a 2 ton car as they called it...great test btw!
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; 05-25-2015 at 05:30 PM.
05-25-2015, 06:45 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Apr 2009
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I ran across someone arguing weight today and looked it up. One of the first references was Road & Track test from around 1970.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ick=welcome-ad
I know that they can't be that heavy and wonder if R&T was on drugs, lying, or just guessing?
Some other references list them as 3200 lb. but I believe that is the stock weight on the base model. since I figured many on here actually weigh their cars like at drag strips and the like, someone here would have real numbers.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ick=welcome-ad
I know that they can't be that heavy and wonder if R&T was on drugs, lying, or just guessing?
Some other references list them as 3200 lb. but I believe that is the stock weight on the base model. since I figured many on here actually weigh their cars like at drag strips and the like, someone here would have real numbers.
With a full tank of gas (17 gallons) my air conditioned 454" powered '71 weighs 4060 pounds.
05-25-2015, 08:31 PM
#5
Race Director
I weighed my '71 LS5 454 w/ AC at a drag strip years ago when it was all stock. It weighed 3360 lbs with 1/4 tank.
As for fuel economy it got 15 mpg on the highway, 9 in town. It's much better now.
Btw, all stock I ran a 14.1 @101 mph.
As for fuel economy it got 15 mpg on the highway, 9 in town. It's much better now.
Btw, all stock I ran a 14.1 @101 mph.
Last edited by zwede; 05-25-2015 at 08:33 PM.
05-27-2015, 09:05 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
05-27-2015, 10:11 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
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The chart shows the LS-5 weighing in at 3768 pounds dry. Add 17 gallons of gasoline at 7-1/4 pounds per gallon and you end up with 3891 pounds. Then add another say 100 pounds for A/C and you now have 3991 pounds. Add a 200 pound driver and you have 4191 pounds. Wasn't too hard.
And don't forget the C3's came with a tire carrier and full-sized spare tire. Even with the lighter 350" the total weight (with driver) hit 4000 pounds
And don't forget the C3's came with a tire carrier and full-sized spare tire. Even with the lighter 350" the total weight (with driver) hit 4000 pounds
Last edited by toobroketoretire; 05-27-2015 at 10:14 PM.
05-27-2015, 11:05 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
454 had same bore, but longer stroke, 427s had alluminum intakes ,so were lighter I
would think.
would think.
05-27-2015, 11:10 PM
#18
Team Owner
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The LS-5 engine was really GROSS. A 454 with all cast iron engine...cast iron block, cast iron heads, cast iron intake manifold, cast iron exhaust manifolds, cast iron water pump. etc. Putting this pig in a C3 was really perverse. Driving my 70 LS-5 engined car, I could definately sense the massive weight in the nose. My 70 has now become a project car. Have a Keith Black BB aluminum block and Brodix aluminum heads. Getting this car completed before retirement is an issue. I think an all aluminum BB will be about the same weight as a stock cast iron SB.
05-28-2015, 07:31 AM
#20
I found my Car N Driver Corvette test book ...all corvettes 
June 1971. ...... They tested L48 , LT1 , LS5 and LS6
LS5 Was maxed out with every option. Coupe with auto and AC , pwr everything , windows ,defroster , tilt, leather ....the whole deal.
Curb weight 3675 listed as weight.
1/4 mile. 14.1 sec........with a 3.08 axle ratio
Top speed 2 way avg. 141mph
The LS6 was faster , the LT1 slower .
They liked the L48 the best.
June 1971. ...... They tested L48 , LT1 , LS5 and LS6
LS5 Was maxed out with every option. Coupe with auto and AC , pwr everything , windows ,defroster , tilt, leather ....the whole deal.
Curb weight 3675 listed as weight.
1/4 mile. 14.1 sec........with a 3.08 axle ratio
Top speed 2 way avg. 141mph
The LS6 was faster , the LT1 slower .
They liked the L48 the best.