Engine Weight?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Engine Weight?
Does anyone happen to know how close the weight of a BBC motor with an iron block, aluminum heads, aluminum intake and aluminum water pump is to an all cast iron SBC motor?
For some reason I remember thinking that the BBC with aluminum parts was only 100 or so lbs heavier than the iron SBC but it's been a while. Any help is appreciated!
For some reason I remember thinking that the BBC with aluminum parts was only 100 or so lbs heavier than the iron SBC but it's been a while. Any help is appreciated!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
The older iron headed motors were about as follows
sbc=575 lbs
bbc=680 lbs
Going aluminum on a bbc for heads and intake gets you right into small block iron headed weight.
The new engines seem even lighter. http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/_r...talog_2010.pdf
page 10 shows the deluxe iron headed vortec 350 at 481 lbs and the deluxe aluminum headed zz502 at 611 lbs.
sbc=575 lbs
bbc=680 lbs
Going aluminum on a bbc for heads and intake gets you right into small block iron headed weight.
The new engines seem even lighter. http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/_r...talog_2010.pdf
page 10 shows the deluxe iron headed vortec 350 at 481 lbs and the deluxe aluminum headed zz502 at 611 lbs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Figure on about 620#. With mini-starter you can subtract ~10.
FYI, that's only ~100# more than an iron SB w/alum intake (L82 ~525#), despite the widely held notion that BB's weigh as much as supermassive blackholes.
FYI, that's only ~100# more than an iron SB w/alum intake (L82 ~525#), despite the widely held notion that BB's weigh as much as supermassive blackholes.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
I guess that's not too bad, roughly I guess my motor is around 610lbs (mini starter). I can't remember for certain but I thought I remembered shaving 80lbs off my BBC when I switched from cast iron to aluminum heads.
So basically my BBC is only about 45lbs heavier than my original all cast iron SBC. I also have an aluminum radiator which was noticeably lighter than the original unit. Thanks for the help guys!
So basically my BBC is only about 45lbs heavier than my original all cast iron SBC. I also have an aluminum radiator which was noticeably lighter than the original unit. Thanks for the help guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
I've typically heard they're worth about 75# for the pair, and my aluminum heads weighed in at just a touch under that lighter than the iron ones they're replacing, both sets complete with rectangle ports.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Pulled the engine out today, and put it on my (semi-antique) digital hanging scale. The engine is complete other than the headers and air filter housing. (Lightweight L-88 flywheel/clutch system, late C4 starter, and aluminum heads and water pump.) 
Got everything hanging from a load cell for the scale. (I zero'd out the weight of the chains and leveler.)
And the reading I got:
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I'm transferring several parts from this engine (pumps, intake, heads and cam, etc) onto the new shortblock, and I'll be more than a bit disappointed if the scale doesn't notice much difference. 
I'll post another reading once I get it put together.
I'll post another reading once I get it put together.
