Small Block Weights
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 1
Small Block Weights
I saw on http://www.sdpc2000.com that an aluminum small block 400 weighs 90 pounds. How much does a stock iron 400 block weigh?
thanks
-terry
thanks
-terry
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: Small Block Weights (terryrudy)
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but a cast iron small block weighs about 300lbs.
The LS-1 in the new C5's is alum. too & weighs about 107 lbs. as opposed to the LT4's that weighed 195 lbs....
So aluminum is about a 1/3rd the weight of iron in older cars
...and 1/2 the weight of iron in newer vettes. :)
The LS-1 in the new C5's is alum. too & weighs about 107 lbs. as opposed to the LT4's that weighed 195 lbs....
So aluminum is about a 1/3rd the weight of iron in older cars
...and 1/2 the weight of iron in newer vettes. :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Small Block Weights (verskel)
300lbs! No kidding? I knew they were heavy, but I didn't think they were that heavy, I carried a bare 350 block from my pickup bed into a machine shop one time. It was heavy, but it didn't feel that heavy, although my hemorrhoids were danglin' by the time I set the thing down.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Re: Small Block Weights (Smokehouse69)
A bare production cast iron block (small) weighs between 175 to around 200 lbs. The late model blocks are lighter than the blocks used in the 60's and early 70's. GM lightened the blocks to save weight (fuel economy) and costs, but sacrificed a little strength.
Even an aftermarket block like my Dart Iron Eagle/GM Rocket block only weights about 205 lbs, and that's with much thicker cylinder walls, main webs, bulkheads, and decks than production.
An bare aluminum block (small) weighs around 90-100 lbs.
Even an aftermarket block like my Dart Iron Eagle/GM Rocket block only weights about 205 lbs, and that's with much thicker cylinder walls, main webs, bulkheads, and decks than production.
An bare aluminum block (small) weighs around 90-100 lbs.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Small Block Weights (Monty)
200 or so for an iron bare block...
100 or so for an aluminum bare block....
rest of everything is the same, assuming aluminum heads/induction...
so for all that....we only save a measley 100 lbs???
not worth the cost on that one.....
hell my tired old hotrod 355 has about 375 some horses, and with benefit of some dyno time, induction changes maybe could make similar torque curves and so on as an LS1.......
interesting observation there....I would have thought that material switch was worth 200-300 lbs weight savings....but still too much iron in there I guess...
cylinder liners, cranks, rods...etc....
100 or so for an aluminum bare block....
rest of everything is the same, assuming aluminum heads/induction...
so for all that....we only save a measley 100 lbs???
not worth the cost on that one.....
hell my tired old hotrod 355 has about 375 some horses, and with benefit of some dyno time, induction changes maybe could make similar torque curves and so on as an LS1.......
interesting observation there....I would have thought that material switch was worth 200-300 lbs weight savings....but still too much iron in there I guess...
cylinder liners, cranks, rods...etc....
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Re: Small Block Weights (terryrudy)
I like weighing parts as I handle them, some time ago I weighed two bare blocks. The first was a 3970014 casting(350, 040 over), it was 75kg or 165 lb. The second one was an old large bore bowtie 366286 casting, that one weighed 82 kg/180 lbs. Took the measurements with a regular person scale so the numbers may be off some. I'd guess regular 400 is between the two, close to 180 lbs?
rgds Tomi
rgds Tomi
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Small Block Weights (mrvette)
mrvette,
If your putting an aluminum block in a "stock Corvette sled" thats one thing but in a "lightweight" car 100 lbs is quite a bit of weight. You might also consider the sprint car guys spend $80 a pound on titanium bolts to lighten their race cars. ...redvetracr
If your putting an aluminum block in a "stock Corvette sled" thats one thing but in a "lightweight" car 100 lbs is quite a bit of weight. You might also consider the sprint car guys spend $80 a pound on titanium bolts to lighten their race cars. ...redvetracr
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: Small Block Weights (Noel Carboni)
Can one of you musclebound hotrodders come over and put my Merlin on the engine stand? :lol: It's been on the garage floor for months!
[Modified by Flareside, 8:09 PM 3/20/2002]
[Modified by Flareside, 8:09 PM 3/20/2002]
