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Does anyone know the weight of a complete pontiac stroker 400 block with E-heads?
And also the weight of a stock 350 chevy small block. I need to know this in order to perchas the right front springs from hotchkis. They list bigblock chevy springs and small block chevy springs. Which one should i buy. Thanks. mike |
Does anyone know the weight of a complete pontiac stroker 400 block with E-heads?
And also the weight of a stock 350 chevy small block. I need to know this in order to perchas the right front springs from hotchkis. They list bigblock chevy springs and small block chevy springs. Which one should i buy. Thanks. mike |
I read somewhere recently that a Pontiac Block weighs right between the Chebby Big and Small blocks.
So since you have the Aluminum Heads I would go with their "small block" springs. "Nothing Beats an Ol' Goat..." http://www.wacomquartz.com/images/li...on2orqcopy.jpg |
What Goatrider said.
Also consider that the Hotchkis springs are rated at 600 lbs/inch. If your engine weighed 100 lbs more than a smallblock (which there is no way that it does), your ride height would only be lower by 1/6". http://www.willbaker.com/misc/BLUBLUR2.jpg ---------------------------- '72 Formula 400 12.77 @ 108 / 234/244 cam / Q-jet / 3840# / 3.23s / street tires (not DRs) '73 Firebird 400/4-speed |
The reason i need lower springs is that the front came way up after sitting without a engine for some time.
And putting the battery in the trunk. Also the much lighter E-heads and all the other small but ligther parts. Thanks for the info, i will get the small block springs. mike |
If my memory serves me right the weights were (all iron motors):
<UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>sbc 550lbs <LI>Pontiac 640lbs <LI>bbc 680lbs[/list] With Edelbrock heads you will need to subtract 50lbs and another 25-35lbs for and aluminum intake. So you should be real close to the weight of an iron sbc. with out questions there can be no answers 1969 Grand Prix [email protected](1.358) [email protected](1.342) WARPed Tepee Forums [email protected] |
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Will:
Also consider that the Hotchkis springs are rated at 600 lbs/inch. If your engine weighed 100 lbs more than a smallblock (which there is no way that it does), your ride height would only be lower by 1/6". <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'm doing a suspension rebuild and am also looking at purchasing Hotchkis springs and trying to decide between the "big block" and "small block" kits, so this thread is of real interest to me. If the specs listed above are correct, this means there would be less than 1/4" height difference if you switched engines from a SBC to a BBC but kept the same Hotchkis springs in the car (based on a 130 lb. difference). I was expecting a much more significant difference between the two sets of springs. If this is true, in terms of front end height, the choice of springs almost becomes irrelevant. Is there something else to keep in mind when making this decision? Thanks for the help. '72 LeMans 2Dr Hardtop My first car, owned since 1980. Let the enhancements begin. --------------------------- '96 Corvette Grand Sport (#470 out of 1000 produced) LT4 w/ couple of breathing mods, 6spd |
I think you need to redo your math Will. You didn't figure in the lever ratio of the control arm which is probably 2-2.5 to 1. You also need to figure out what the spring height is because you'll be compressing the whole spring and not just an inch of it. Also divide it bye 2, becasue each spring is only supporting half the frontend weight.
I would guess about quarter to half an inch. Bartman Ponies run but Birds fly |
You're quite right Bartman, I not only didn't think about the fact there's two springs supporting the front end weight, but I didn't think about the leverage aspect of the spring's location.
Your comment about not compressing one inch of the spring confuses me though. If a spring has a rate of 600 lbs/inch that means that you have to apply 600 lbs of force to the spring to compress the entire spring by 1". This rate is linear, so if the spring is sitting there with 600 lbs atop it and you apply another 600 lbs, it will further compress another inch. It really doesn't matter what the free length of the spring is. One thing that frustrates me about Hotchkis is that getting tech info out of them is like pulling Rhinoceros teeth with tweezers. Apparently their tech people are unable to type words longer than one syllable. Every time I've written with very specific questions concerning their springs I get vague half-answers, as if the people writing the replies can't be bothered to fully explain what they're talking about. Still, it's my understanding that the only difference between the big block and smallblock springs is the free height, the rates apparently are the same at 600 lbs/inch. They told me to get the smallblock springs for my '73 since I'd be moving the battery to the trunk, running aluminum intake and water pump, and making other weight-saving modifications. http://www.willbaker.com/misc/BLUBLUR2.jpg ---------------------------- '72 Formula 400 12.77 @ 108 / 234/244 cam / Q-jet / 3840# / 3.23s / street tires (not DRs) '73 Firebird 400/4-speed |
hotchkis is gonna make some $$$this week http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_wink.giflike v8bird and gs470 i to am getting springs from hotchkis.i have a d-port 400 and if i'm understanding correctly you could get a 1"-2"drop between the sb-bb springs but still the same rate.im worried about header ground clearance.also i have no ac,rpm intake,and am considering putting the battery in the trunk..i was also wondering about H.O.racing,ive seen ken crocie post here does anybody have his spring setup,i remember a shootout between H.O.,herb adams,and guildstrand,i read that article a thousand times. http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...icon_smile.gif
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AAARRRGGG!!! I'm still torn between BB and SB springs!! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...n_confused.gif I had started a thread in the Suspension Tech section (click here) to address my spring dilema, and I was getting closer to choosing the BB Hotchkis springs, but now I'm not so sure. I, too, got rid of the A/C, will be running an RPM intake, am considering moving the battery to the trunk and I'm converting from my TH350 to a Tremec TKO II 5spd (which should be lighter). I know I can cut down the BB springs if necessary, but I'd really like to get the height and stance right the first time and avoid tearing the whole thing apart again, if possible.
'72 LeMans 2Dr Hardtop My first car, owned since 1980. Let the enhancements begin. --------------------------- '96 Corvette Grand Sport (#470 out of 1000 produced) LT4 w/ couple of breathing mods, 6spd |
Folks: I still sell springs for these cars(as well as front and rear sway bars)and can tailor the spings to weight / ride height requirements
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