Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How to weigh an engine

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • How to weigh an engine

    I needed to know how much the 250 cu in straight 8 engine weighs for my Indy racer. While there was a heavy crane scale at work rated for 10,000 lbs, it was to heavy for me to even lift.

    I went to Walmart this morning, bought 4 bathroom scales for $7.88 each, and laid short lengths of 2x6 across pairs of them. Then I zeroed the scales. I lowered the engine onto the 2x6's till the chains were slack and read the 4 scales. While the distribution was not equal, the sum gives the weight of the engine.

    So, for a Commander/President 8 of 1929-42 vintage, here are the numbers:

    Bare block: 445 lbs
    iron head: 55 lbs
    bell housing: 32 lbs
    flywheel: 58 lbs [!!!]
    clutch: 20 lbs
    transmission: 55 lbs
    TOTAL: 676 lbs
    (without intake and exhaust manifolds, carburetor, generator, starter, oil filter)

    Note that the crank, pistons, valves, cam, etc. were in the engine block.

    The aluminum head to replace the iron one weighs 17 lbs.

    As we were picking up, my brother said, "Gee, now you can put the scales back in the boxes and return them to Walmart..."



    [img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/indy/gary_indycar25_vvsm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
    Dartmouth, Mass.
    '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
    '48 M5
    '65 Wagonaire Commander
    '63 Wagonaire Standard
    web site at http://www.studegarage.com
    Gary Ash
    Dartmouth, Mass.

    '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
    ’41 Commander Land Cruiser
    '48 M5
    '65 Wagonaire Commander
    '63 Wagonaire Standard
    web site at http://www.studegarage.com

  • #2
    Hate to mention it now, Gary, but you left the fan belt on when you weighed the engine. If you haven't already returned the scales to WalMart, maybe you can weigh just the belt to subtract that from the total weight. (SARCASM)

    '50 Champion, 1 family owner

    Comment


    • #3
      I sent Wal-Mart your picture.....

      Comment


      • #4
        What's that sticking off the side of the block? Surely that engine doesn't have a spin on oil filter.. [?]

        Matthew Burnette
        Hazlehurst, GA

        Comment


        • #5
          What do you think the reaction was of the Walmart stock person who suddenly found that 4 of the Sunbeam scales had sold in a single day!

          I am keeping the scales so that I can weigh the car as it goes together. At 300 lbs per scale, I can put a pair under each wheel, one axle at a time. That's 1200 lb/axle. I'm pretty sure the finished car will come in at something like 2000-2200 lbs maximum. If I can get 180-200 hp, the performance should be very good.

          Matthew: that's the fuel pump on the right front corner. Early blocks (~1929-34) had the fuel pump at the back right. The oil filter was fed from the gallery on the left side of the block and returned to the sump.

          [img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/indy/gary_indycar25_vvsm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
          Dartmouth, Mass.
          '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
          '48 M5
          '65 Wagonaire Commander
          '63 Wagonaire Standard
          web site at http://www.studegarage.com
          Gary Ash
          Dartmouth, Mass.

          '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
          ’41 Commander Land Cruiser
          '48 M5
          '65 Wagonaire Commander
          '63 Wagonaire Standard
          web site at http://www.studegarage.com

          Comment


          • #6
            is somebody's face red...

            Comment


            • #7
              Autograph them and put them on e-bay starting at $9.99 each , every thing sell on e-bay be sure to put them under Studebaker that is where the high dollar people are....Bob

              Bob Peterson / C & B Studebakers

              Castro Valley, CA

              Candbstudebakers
              Castro Valley,
              California


              Comment


              • #8
                In the picture, it almost looks like the oil filter mount on a Full Flow engine. But I guess a fuel pump would make more sense.

                Matthew Burnette
                Hazlehurst, GA

                Comment


                • #9
                  Simple and ingenious, Gary. I'm off to buy some scales. I need to weigh a cratefull of Rockne engine bound for Norway. Thanks!

                  Brad Johnson
                  Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
                  '33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight
                  Brad Johnson,
                  SDC since 1975, ASC since 1990
                  Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
                  '33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight. '53 Commander Starlight
                  '56 Sky Hawk in process

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Yes, Brad, Walmart will soon be convinced that America is on a new health kick resulting in all citizens buying at least 4 new scales. Let's see: 300 million people times $7.88 times 4, WOW! could be a huge market. Let them dream on.

                    [img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/indy/gary_indycar25_vvsm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
                    Dartmouth, Mass.
                    '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
                    '48 M5
                    '65 Wagonaire Commander
                    '63 Wagonaire Standard
                    web site at http://www.studegarage.com
                    Gary Ash
                    Dartmouth, Mass.

                    '32 Indy car replica (in progress)
                    ’41 Commander Land Cruiser
                    '48 M5
                    '65 Wagonaire Commander
                    '63 Wagonaire Standard
                    web site at http://www.studegarage.com

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X