Great Buy, Fleet 500! I look forward to wrapping with you on this thread and others. Check out your other thread 40-60 mph: '67 Ferrari VS '64 Cadillac and my latest Post #42 in dealing with road tests.
After looking over your scans, I can't help but notice that the published test weights do not reflect real world weights for many of the cars, especially, the Fords. I will deal with this more thoroughly in a later post, but this is in no reflection on you.
Let’s take the Mustang first. I have many tests of Mustangs straight through from 1964 -to the present time. As you may know total test weight including driver on the V8 1965-66 Stangs tended to average around 3150-3250 lbs. I will post a bunch if you like.
With the new body style in 1967, the average weight went up from 90-110 pounds according to Ford, at the time of introduction. That would put the small blocks up to a minimum of at least 3240 lbs.
Small Block 289s weighted around 475 lbs. not including flywheel assemblies. Big block Ford FEs weighted approximately 780 lbs., with the cast iron intake manifold. 780 - 475 = 305 lbs., right? So the big blocks had to weight that much more than a small block. Yet, Ford literature and various mags have held that the big 390 put out an extra 250 lbs. over the front wheels. Ok, fine. Add 250 to 3240 and we get 3490, right? So that means that a 1967 small block would weigh at least 3240 and the big block 3490. But, there is more than meets the eye to this story.
Big blocks also carried more fluids than small blocks did in their water systems. Add more weight. Big block automatic transmissions (C6) weighted at least 60 lbs. more than the puny (C4) and the (FMX) still outweighed the (C4) by 45 lbs. More weight...
Then came 1969 and a newer, longer, wider, and heavier body style than the 1967-68s. Add another 130-150 lbs. Once again, I will post scans to back up what I am saying.
So now a small block should weight about 3370 and a big block roughly 3640. All with manual transmissions of course. These weights apply to each body style by the way. Coupes or Notchbacks as they were officially named in 1969 are lightest. Fastbacks or Sportsroofs are next with the convertible being the heaviest. Sportsroofs were actually about 30 lbs. heavier than the Notchbacks. So then a small block should weight about 3410 with a 302, since 289s were phased out in 1968, except in Canada where a few were actually installed in very, very early model year vehicles including Mustangs.
Boss 302s weighted approximately 500 lbs. So a Boss 302 would be about 3435 lbs.
Boss 429s weighted about the same as the 428 CJ, perhaps a shade less even though they had aluminum intakes and heads. Regular 429 engines weighted about 830-850 lbs. or at least 60 lbs. more than the 390-428 FE due to stouter block reinforcements. Now, a Sportsroof big block should weigh at least 3670 lbs.
1971 Mustangs were larger in every dimension and the weight went up more another 150 - 175 lbs. So now a Sportsroof small block should weigh in at a minimum of at least 3560 lbs.
Big blocks being heavier should be around 3820 lbs. Wow! Intermediate sized pony cars!
Add an automatic and a few options and you are over 3900 lbs. It was obvious to everyone in 1971 that Mustang weights went up over 600 lbs. since the 1965 pony car was introduced in the spring of 1964.
Summary curb weight (no driver)
1965 - 3150 lbs.
1967-68 - 3240 (small block)
3490 (big block)
1969-70 - 3410 (small block)
3670 (big block)
1971-73 - 3560 (small block)
3820 (big block)
You can see that adding a driver bring the weights up at least another, say, 145 lbs., for an average person. Go figure!
So, now you can see why I say that the weights are not accurate. That 351 Boss Mustang should weigh in at least 3560 lbs. without a driver. Factor the driver into the equation and you get at least 3700 lbs. Right? Heavy, man heavy!
That Torino Cobra should be heavier also. I figure 3900-4000 lbs. without driver.
If someone were to factor in gross or net hp figures using Hales formula wth these inaccurate weights, the hp would naturally be way down. This only bolsters our arguments that many musclecars had decent net hp to weight ratios in the original musclecar wars of the 60s and 70s. Agreed?
Terry
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You know that you have it made, when you want for nothing, ask for everything, and receive exactly what you "deserve".