O.K here's a simple question for you guy's,how much does a complete 400 engine weigh carb-oilpan??

I want to order some Moroso Trick front springs,but the car currently has a Buick 455 in it,and I'm pretty sure they don't weigh the same,I see they list springs for Camaro:mad: only with a Big Block Chevy or a Sm Block,so the question is which ones do I get for my T/A??

thanks for any help
Rob..

[ August 29, 2002, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: 80pont406 ]

O.K here's a simple question for you guy's,how much does a complete 400 engine weigh carb-oilpan??

I want to order some Moroso Trick front springs,but the car currently has a Buick 455 in it,and I'm pretty sure they don't weigh the same,I see they list springs for Camaro:mad: only with a Big Block Chevy or a Sm Block,so the question is which ones do I get for my T/A??

thanks for any help
Rob..

[ August 29, 2002, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: 80pont406 ]

If you have an all steel car with some power accessories, go with the BB springs. If you have a lightweight car carrying just the motor, go with the small block springs.

Word of caution: Let the car sit for a couple of weeks before you trim the springs. They will sink quite a bit (mine almost sank 5 inches). I know of two guys already that didn't want to wait, and now they have their headers on the ground.

[ August 29, 2002, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Goatman ]

The car is all steel except for the 4" lift off cowl hood.It will be gettin lightened up a bit pretty soon.What are some ideas to take weight off the front end of the car?It's a 1979 T/A.

Thanks guy's
Rob..

The front bumper-nosepiece weighs about 398 pounds [img]smile.gif[/img]

They both are about 640 thats what I was told awhile back 2nd hand info

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Steve, Mongo was standing on the scale when it was weighed... ;)

Rob, on top of the massive front bumper supports, there are tubular control arms, lightweight brakes, aluminum radiator supports and radiators, fiberglass bumpers, aluminum steering boxes, and good old fashioned hole sawing/plasma cutting that could be done in such a way as to keep the car looking stock, but be really light.

PS

Don't forget about the 500lb door braces in those cars.

Actually, the front end on the 79 is not as heavy as one would think. I've had the inner bumper and frame brackets off myself at least twice and the whole assembly probably weighs between 45-65 lbs.

On the nose of a car, that is 400lbs.

Traditional all iron Pontiacs engines are 640-660 lbs.

80pon406
The Buik 455 was the lightest of the BB's.

Good morning guy's,

Thanks for all the great info guy's I really appreciate it,one question Where can I find a aluminum radiator support??I would love to have 1 of them,I see Chad Dammen made a tubular radiator support for his T/A does anyone know what he used and what the dimensions were for it??Those boat anchor door bars are definetly gonna GO :D .

a front racktakes a lot of weight off as do the other things bruce mentioned. the inner bumper and brackets brian mentioned also take a lot of weight off, if any body is interested I am having a front bar made that would replace the steel bumper it will probably bolt on in the stock location and help suport the nose, (my nose is saging terribly after taking the bumper out.) it will also have a tow hook sticking through the spoiler as well as mounts for the turnsignal & hood release. I am also thinking of haveing the entire front nose made out of glass because of the paint cracking. any body interested in these please let me know.

Bruce is also right about cutting the springs, it happened to me!!sunk 3" in a few days went to move it and the headers were on the ground!

Ray, The 77/78 Nose is about the only nose not being made. If your thinking of making one up, I'm very interested.

Keep me Posted!

Good info Ray I thought about having a bar made up for the nose also because I know after a while it will start to sag with nothing in there but my car is a 79 though so it's a little different than your's,your idea is a very good one though.Also as for the springs I'll take you and Bruces advice and wait a week or so before I do any cutting.

Thanks for the advice
Rob..

[ September 02, 2002, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: 80pont406 ]

Oh yeah I also took and weighed a 400 complete carb to pan it was 658lbs on my friend scales,just thought I'd let ya know...

Rob, if you have a good stock radiator support, I have a freind that can make you one out of aluminum. They look pretty close to stock when they are done too. ;) We can have them powder coated or anodized as well.

Goatman that sounds like a pretty good idea I do have a mint radiator support for something like that or do you mean he makes radiator supports out of aluminum?, if thats the case I definetly want one,shoot me a email or something,also thanks for the info on Dick I got a hold of him today I will be bringing a set of heads down to him asap hopefully this month anyway.

[ September 02, 2002, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: 80pont406 ]

Bruce you got mail.....

You have mail as well. ;)

Bruce, how much does your friend charge to fab. a 2nd gen. T/A radiator support? :cool:

"Oh yeah I also took and weighed a 400 complete carb to pan it was 658lbs on my friend scales,just thought I'd let ya know"

Uhh em; I believe that's between 640-660 lbs. :cool:

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">He must have a Really Big Bathroom! ;)

Larry, a few things have to happen before I can get a price. So far, there seems to be a couple of people interested. Rob has agreed to drop off his mint radiator support to me. I will then bring it to the shop for mock-up. I will then be able to give you a price and time frame. If there is enough interest, maybe I can convince my buddy to build a jig to make things easier.

My friend builds tuna towers for the local fishermen all day long. He welds aluminum better than anybody I have seen yet, including Wilson Manifolds. He even welds anodized aluminum.

Does anyone know what supports fit which year Birds? It would be great if I could get all the different years together.

The 2nd Gen V8 core supports were broken down into following versions:

'70-72 (flat top, no fender to core support braces)
'73-76 (top has large recesses for the fender braces)
'76(type 2)-81

The later style core support has the lower removable panels on each end of the bottom of the core support. All 73-81 F-body coresupports will have a date stamp on the top panel. Though cosmetically different, an '81 core support will bolt up in a 70 1/2. If anyone likes I can weigh a stock core support tomorrow.

[ September 02, 2002, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: ol' Pinion head ]

I've got my 78 support ready to go back in.
I blasted & epoxy painted it; as well as, lightened it a bit. But I'm thinking about making one outta aluminum now. If Bruce's buddy can do it cheaper than my time & cost of materials, I'm in.

OPH is Da Man! :D

Thanks!

Hopefully I hear back from Bruce today about his buddy and then I can drop of my support on the way to Dicks shop.The support I'll be giving him is one from my 79 T/A.I would definetly love to have a aluminum support no more rusty support's,searching for a good one is getting harder and harder around here anyway,and there are'nt to many repro's either.

Later Rob...

Just talked to my buddy and he said he is willing to look at the support. As son as Rob drops it off, he will be able to give me an idea as the to time and cost involved. He did say that he was kinda strapped for time, but he would help.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">=

It ain't gonna be cheap! ;)

Nothing ever is...................

If you want a nice alternative to steel that is lighter and will never rot, then some may say that it would be worth the cost. Others will feel differently, I'm sure. ;)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True! :D