Last time I was at the scales I weighed in at 2960lbs with a half tank of gas (Without me in it). Aluminum heads and intake, electric fans, fiberglass springs, no vacuum stuff, no spare tire, no carpet insulation. Im probably back up to around 3100 with a few extra parts and road grime I added over the years.
I really need a TIG so I can start making aluminum parts to get back under 3000lbs

 

What's amazing to me, is a shoebox 55-57 2dr post is a 3100 lb car....

John

 

wow, i'd have thought at least 1000 more than that.

 

At the land fill scales my ride was 3200lbs.
Me out of the car
1/2 tank fuel
200r4 trans
C5 seats
electric fan
Long tube headers
No smog or computer system
Fiberglass rear spring
Spare tire in place
Factory alum. slot wheels
Cast iron heads
This is a early 81 car

 

My 78 L-82 4 speed from various sources lists the weight at 3450 lbs-not sure what that includes: fluids, gas, coolant, etc-I have never actually weighted the car on a scale. However, I have to believe that my actual weight today is much less than that figure with little gas in the tank and no driver. Why? Aluminum radiator and water pump, shorty headers instead of the cast iron manifolds (They are heavy!) with AIR ports and hardware, no pancake cat (very heavy), no A/C compressor (heavy!), no 7 leaf rear steel spring replaced with composite spring in 1986 (I actually weighted this one: 50 lbs versus 8 lbs), Newer batteries are signifacantly lighter than the OEM battery, and zero pollution control. I honestly believe that running without the T-Tops in the car (they are fairly heavy as well), the car should weight about 3,250-3,300 lbs which really isn't that bad. I am thinking about AFR aluminum heads instead of the 882 cast iron smog heads which would help immensely. My car also has power nothing-no power windows, door locks, seats, etc-nothing! The Turbo 350 automatic is much heavier than the 4 speed cars as well! Just something to consider.

BTW-My 2010 Z06 is listed as 3,080 lbs!

 

with me out of it mine on a public truck scale weighed 3540#'s...76 with spare tire, full of fuel and all other liquids. had a small bag of tools and rags in the back as wellMotorcycle makers often advertise weights as "dry weights" with no fluid and no battery in them. Don't know what Vette did but it is actually stock fairly heavy. Mine now included a luggage rack on the back. I could delete the spare tire but it is also part of the crush/compression back bumpering system for safety and since I'm not racing it, I leave it in.

Lance P.

 

i found a quick way to remove 240 lbs of ugly weight in mine, radio control it.

 

3280 1/2 tank, me not in the car.... very very close to a 50/50 weight... and I went with a lot of Aluminum parts as well.... 1979

 

Is there some ratio of X weight loss adds X HP gain. 100 lbs = 10 hp

 

the MVMA specs from GM indicate curb weight of a 78 w/ std equipment as 3557# (1682# front 1875# rear) - shipping weight is shown as 3428#.

Curb weight is defined on the same page as a calculated value of a vehicle with std equipment only, as designed, with the additional load of oils, lubes, coolant and fuel - all filled to capacity.

Shipping weight - as curb weight but only 3 gallons of gas.

The same specs indicate the dry weight of the L-82 as greater than the L-48 (640.7# vs 622.4#).

I've always heard that the 78 was actually the heaviest of all C3's - I always assumed it was because of the rear glass as well.

Optional weights for L-82 are;

A/c 67#
P/W 8#
Gymkana 7#
AM/FM 13#
AM/FM/8T 15#
TILT/TELE 2#
HD Battery 5#
L-82 20#
auto trans 34#

So my L-82 car would have broke the scales at 3679# (3557+67+8+7+13+2+5+20)

 

there is also added weight from safty/crash reinforcment. modern cars add streingth from engeering it into the steel through shape and placement.. in the 70's they just added more steel.

 

Another reason the curb weight is higher on the 78 vs earlier models is the larger fuel tank - a 78 has a 24 gallon tank (23.7 according to mvma specs) which is a rather big step up from the previous year which was IIRC 17 gallons or thereabouts.

At 6.1#/gallon thats a 42.7# delta right there from the previous year.

 

You think that your fuel prices are high - try UK fuel cost - similar no's but in £ Sterling - try exchange rate calculation !!!!!!!!

 

OK

 

That's some great info-Thanx!

I am perplexed though about a few items:

I am assuming that the gymkhana suspended cars weight +7 lbs mostly from the fact that the L-82's having a heavier front sway bar and a rear sway bar but the 9 leaf steel spring versus the 7 leaf on the gymkhana cars has to be pretty heavy. The composite 360 spring I have deducts 42 Lbs alone.

The L-82 weighs +20 which has to come I assume from a heavier crank (forged) and 4 bolt main bearing caps versus 2 bolt main bearings but it has an aluminum intake versus a cast iron manifold (big difference) and the L-82 has the AIR pump and associated hardware versus none for the L-48.

AM/FM/8 track is also gone.



My 78 L-82 has no A/C, no Pwr windows, no tilt/Tele, a modern battery which is much lighter than the HD battery in 78, no cast iron exhaust manifolds (McJacks shorties are much lighter), and no pancake cat (which is a big boat anchor). Also, the OEM mufflers are VERY heavy versus Monza turbos/Magnaflows and no cat. Then you have to add the 24 gallon tank (appx 150 lbs) which you are right is very heavy full of gas. Delete the weight of the T-tops which I hardly every carry with me in the warmer months (rain shade) and deduct the aluminum radiator and water pump (how much?).

The SLP rims are lighter than the OEM aluminum rims as well (not sure how much?)

So where am I with my 78 with a 1/4 of tank of gas today and a 4 speed an aluminum water pump and radiator? Probably around 3,450 to start. Composite spring, no cat (s), shorty headers, lights mufflers, no t-tops, much lighter battery, lighter wheels etc-best guess 3,300 lbs-Not too bad. 3,100-3,200 Lbs would be much better! Aluminum heads would probably get me to 3,250.

With all this said, I need to weight the car with minimal gas, no t-Tops, and no driver.

PS-The stock seats are very heavy versus some others!

 

I cant respond to the perplexing items since I only have what information that in this document. the L-82 weight doesnt include the emissions systems apparantly so that would be additional.

I would venture to say the springs between the 9 and 7 leaf are nearly a wash as the 7 leaf uses thicker leaves than the 9.

Either way, the 78 starts out pretty porky dont it

 

74 smallblock convertible. Muncie 4 speed, AC, power steering, aluminum wheels (from a 79, maybe), aluminum intake manifold, fiberglass rear spring, full gas tank and nobody aboard=
3480 lbs.

 

82 with no AC/heat, no emissions, no spare tire, aluminum radiator, aluminum water pump, converted to manual steering, converted to 4-speed, full tank of gas, no driver - 3060 lbs.

In process of removing misfire injection, gotta be a few pounds. Future includes aluminum heads, aluminum master cylnder, removal of stock fan & shroud (electric fan)...

Carl

 

If you are going to compare your car's actual weight to the published curb weight, you need to weigh it with a full tank of gas. If you don't all you're doing is muddying up the water.


Scott

 

BeeJay has done all this and more... and he still is not at this weight... are you sure you got a good weigh?