Engine and Transmission Tech

So I weighed my engine on the new chassis scales I bought. I had some trouble calibrating them but they hit my weight pretty close. Then I put my assembled engine on one of them and it read 280 lbs. So I swapped it out with another of the scales. Same thing... That CAN'T be right, can it???

What am I missing. I know I put everything inside the engine. The only things I'm missing is the valve covers, distributor top (I made a stub out of it to drive the oil pump.), and the guts of the water pump but that doesn't account for a missing 40 lbs.!?? Is the final weight of the engine wet? Or including the accessories?

I'm taking a close look at the scales tomorrow morning. I spent an hour going back and forth with things I know the weight of but I don't have an extra 300 lbs. weight just to double check the scales aren't broken.

Nic, to recap, Rover 4/4.6L block with 300 heads" less accessories? 215's w.o. starter,alt., f-whl. weigh in about 266lbs. Whaaat too lite? Put some 907 heads on there, that'l get the weight up.roverman.

Amazingly light engines. Besides the mini-starter and a lightened flywheel, is there any way to keep weight off of a 215?

I will probably use a Delco 10si or similar alternator to start with, but it's probably worth looking for a small Asian alternator for weight reduction. I suppose using narrow radiator hoses will help with weight reduction. That and a smaller radiator. Log exhaust manifold.

Yeah. The starter! Duh. That thing has got to weigh about 30 lbs.! I'll be looking for a mini. Maybe the complete engine will weigh less than 320 lbs. That would be cool!

Ok got my new Rover mini starter in the mail. 10lbs. The headers are about 3 lbs. each. So I'm up to 296 lbs. Still trying to grasp where the weight went. Maybe it was all that wasted metal in the cylinders I bored out! LOL.

I don't have the cast exhaust manifolds anymore. I wonder how heavy they are? I've removed all the internals from the water pump since I'm using a CraigDavies remote electric water pump. I'm not using a mechanical fuel pump. Only driving an alt. No other accessories. Maybe my Harcourt single plane intake is lighter than the stock two-barrel dual plane intake? The carb IS heavier. GEEZ! Way heavier. No distributor head.

I haven't added spark plugs and wires yet! That could be a pound. Then comes the EDIS coils.

ON the car I'm using a BMW 5.0l V12 rad. It's very light. Aluminum and poly tanks. BUT it is WAY bigger so it'll hold more coolant. I think I'm gonna need it though. I've swapped out the Saginaw 4-speed with a T-5. I saved 30 lbs. right there. The saginaw is a real chunk of iron. 115 lbs. wet. The T5 is about 75 lbs. I scrapped all the undercoating and sound coating. I got at least 17 lbs. that way. Swapped out the steering gear for an Appleton rack. Saved 4 lbs. that way. No front bumper, 8 lbs... The list goes on.

I'm weighing the car finally tomorrow morning. I keep getting called off it. I've done a bunch more weight reduction on the car. so I'm looking forward to seeing how it's paid off.

Nic, Before it's too late, Hydrogen fuel...much lighter.roverman.

Jeez. Nic.. Im dragging home some C4 Vette seats to see if they fit.. Now Im thinking of getting manual tracks for them just to save weight.... Or I could get some wicker seats out of an old cessna.. LOL..

You can save a lot of weight by getting rid of the windshield, those things are heavy. You're required to have eye protection though so you wouldn't be able to drive without your sunglasses.

Jim

Hey Nic, Make sure their "dark", you know, so no one recognizes you? Minnesota, doanchano? Isn't 1/2 the body missing already? Got fiberglass? 914 seats? Aluminum 8"? Make "Dorothy" fly Nic. Happy dieting, roverman.

LOL!! you guys are awesome. On that wicker idea. I was seriously thinking about making rear sling seats out of canvas. LOL!! Damn you guys got my number.

What about some Citroen 2CV seats?




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2009 08:41PM by Dave.

Hey Nic, that "hole" interior looks lite, and it's French...and Vega soundz Frenchy. U-can-do-it! roverman.

Ha ha ha! I actually got the idea from the "Duck". LOL. Only for the rear seat mind you. Funny.

Dave -

Neat seat, but you'd have to be damn flexible when going around corners - what with sticking your left arm outside the driver's door, grab the handle and stick your right work boot up against the passenger door - otherwise one winds up on the british side with no steering wheel!