Interesting engine weight comparison

[Dan White]

Reading about the history of the Packard V8 (http://1956packardpanther.com/PV8C/HRM195508A.html) I ran across an article that shows the weight of the complete 352 cu. engine, all but the air cleaner, at 698lbs. For as long as I can remember the Packard V8s are considered boat anchors.......

Well here are some of the big engines from the same era and a couple perhaps a little newer

331 Hemi - 745 lbs
331 Cad - 699 lbs.
390 Cad - 720 lbs.
BBC/Mark iV - 685 lbs.
401 Buick - 685 lbs.
352 Packard - 698 lbs.
374 Packard - 705 lbs.

So it appears that the Packard V8 was really in the same weight ballpark as its peers!

[Xcalibur]

Hot Rod magazine, Sept. '62, pp. 78-79, 100-101. Good reference on early engine weights. It is nice because it gives some engines' individual component weights (and "accessories"), as well; but alas, no Packards but it does include Stude.

Btw, the 392 Hemi (a virgin example, complete with factory air, rests back in my east 40) = 765... heaviest of the lot.

[bezhawk]

The Stude was what 685 if I remember correctly.

[DougHolverson]

So that first Golden Hawk would only be 13 pounds heavier up front. and not quite as black jack as its reputation.

Those boat-anchor '50s superchargers can't be all that light, either.....

[PackardV8]

So that first Golden Hawk would only be 13 pounds heavier up front. and not quite as black jack as its reputation.

Those boat-anchor '50s superchargers can't be all that light, either.....

For true; the '56 Golden Hawk and the '57-58 Golden Hawk engines weigh essentially the same.

My theory is the '53-55 cars were less likely to have PS, PB, PW and automatic, thus were lighter. When the '56J came along, most of them were loaded with all the heavier accessories. Also, the torque of the Packard V8 really overstressed the limber Stude frame and rear springs.

jack vines

[lumpy]

When I first bought my 59 lark , I gave serious consideration to a 59 Cad 390 as I've always wanted to build one , And I thought it would put a whole new twist on Studillac
I suppose with an aluminum intake and headers it would be fairly equal to a Stude V8? Must repeat..No more projects ...no more projects

[studegary]

For true; the '56 Golden Hawk and the '57-58 Golden Hawk engines weigh essentially the same.

My theory is the '53-55 cars were less likely to have PS, PB, PW and automatic, thus were lighter. When the '56J came along, most of them were loaded with all the heavier accessories. Also, the torque of the Packard V8 really overstressed the limber Stude frame and rear springs.

jack vines

Wasn't the car's center of gravity different with the Packard engine and its placement? Of course the blower on the Studebaker engine was weight far forward.

[drrotor]

Reading about the history of the Packard V8 (http://1956packardpanther.com/PV8C/HRM195508A.html) I ran across an article that shows the weight of the complete 352 cu. engine, all but the air cleaner, at 698lbs. For as long as I can remember the Packard V8s are considered boat anchors.......

Well here are some of the big engines from the same era and a couple perhaps a little newer

331 Hemi - 745 lbs
331 Cad - 699 lbs.
390 Cad - 720 lbs.
BBC/Mark iV - 685 lbs.
401 Buick - 685 lbs.
352 Packard - 698 lbs.
374 Packard - 705 lbs.

So it appears that the Packard V8 was really in the same weight ballpark as its peers!

Having just finished building a Packard 374 by stripping a 352 of all it’s useable parts and combining the two, I have no idea why a 374 would weigh more... the only difference being the 374 has a 1/8” larger bore... not that it’s much...

[PackardV8]

Wasn't the car's center of gravity different with the Packard engine and its placement?

The Packard is 4-5" longer than the Studebaker V8, so that would move the center of gravity maybe one or two inches forward.

Having just finished building a Packard 374 by stripping a 352 of all it’s useable parts and combining the two, I have no idea why a 374 would weigh more... the only difference being the 374 has a 1/8” larger bore... not that it’s much...

The 374" pistons are 40 grams heavier x 8 = 11 ounces more. The 374" block is a different casting, but the heads, manifolds, crankshaft, rods, accessories, are all the same. Having said that, I don't know why having 1/8" larger bore would make it weigh more. Just to settle the question, I'll weigh the two blocks one day next summer when the snow melts.

jack vines

[t walgamuth]

My reference sources always have had the Stude and Cad motors the same within about 5# of each other, so you should not need an aluminum manifold on that 390, but lighter is always better in my book.

[Dan White]

Per the same reference I used the Study V8 is 650lbs. Possibly the 374 Packard may have had a 2x4 manifold and an extra carb?

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights2.html

[shifter4]

Years ago , I set a Packard into my '55 coupe ( using the GH motor mounts ) , and the key to me
was that the engine , being longer , extends the weight forward of the " axle line " , which probably
affects the dynamics a bit .
The Stude engine remains behind the " axle line " .

I always thought that if Stude had produced aluminum Water and Intake manifolds for both of the engines
that they would have had an opportunity to appear as ,moving ahead , engineering-wise and advertising could have
made a good deal out of that Image-wise . Could have been a relatively inexpensive thing for the Corp. to do , and
do right .
2 cents

[t walgamuth]

My reference books on the Stude and Cad say they both are about 620# IIRC.

[PackardV8]

My reference books on the Stude and Cad say they both are about 620# IIRC.

The difficulty is knowing we're comparing apples. Those must be bare engine weights. To get a Studebaker V8 down to 620# would be without bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, starter, generator, carburetor and maybe a few other externals.

From an observed weight on a certified scale, a 259" Studebaker V8, with all the above accessories, ready-to-run, but dry, weighs 695#.

jack vines

[raprice]

Reading about the history of the Packard V8 (http://1956packardpanther.com/PV8C/HRM195508A.html) I ran across an article that shows the weight of the complete 352 cu. engine, all but the air cleaner, at 698lbs. For as long as I can remember the Packard V8s are considered boat anchors.......

Well here are some of the big engines from the same era and a couple perhaps a little newer

331 Hemi - 745 lbs
331 Cad - 699 lbs.
390 Cad - 720 lbs.
BBC/Mark iV - 685 lbs.
401 Buick - 685 lbs.
352 Packard - 698 lbs.
374 Packard - 705 lbs.

So it appears that the Packard V8 was really in the same weight ballpark as its peers!

Dan,
That was eye-opening. Thanks for pointing it out. I always thought that the Packard V8 was heavier than most other V8s. I also thought the Stude V8 was much lighter. Go figure. Rog