1966 American Cars: Engine Weight

[Fleet 500]

Here are some interesting specs from Car Life magazine, May 1966.

1966 Specifications. Included are the engine weights of American cars. Some are listed without the flywheel, so those will be noted below...

Engine------------------------ Weight

AMC 327-cu-in V-8------------ 600 lbs

Mopar 170 6-cyl--------------- 465
------ 225 6-cyl--------------- 500
------ 273 V-8---------------- 550
------ 318 V-8---------------- 605
------ 361 V-8---------------- 640
------ 383 V-8---------------- 650
------ 426-Hemi--------------- 725
------ 440 V-8---------------- 685

Buick 300 V-8----------------- 470 (no flywheel)
----- 340 V-8----------------- 500 (no flywheel)
----- 401 V-8----------------- 640
----- 425 V-8----------------- 650

Cadillac 429 V-8--------------- 600 (no flywheel)

Chevrolet 230 6-cyl------------ 465
--------- 250 6-cyl------------ 480
--------- 283 V-8 2-bbl-------- 575
--------- 283 V-8 4 bbl-------- 585
--------- 327 V-8------------- 610
--------- 396 V-8------------- 687
--------- 427 V-8------------- 700

Oldsmobile 330 V-8------------ 570
---------- 400 V-8 4-bbl------ 610 (no flywheel)
---------- 425 V-8 2-bbl------ 620 (no flywheel)
---------- 425 V-8 4-bbl------ 630 (no flywheel)

Pontiac 230 6-cyl 2-bbl-------- 490
------- 230 6-cyl 4-bbl-------- 500
------- 326 V-8--------------- 600 (no flywheel)
------- 389 V-8--------------- 675
------- 421 V-8--------------- 685

Ford 170 6-cyl---------------- 356
---- 200 6-cyl---------------- 380
---- 240 6-cyl---------------- 450
---- 289 V-8----------------- 485
---- 352 V-8----------------- 647
---- 390 V-8----------------- 660
---- 410 V-8----------------- 670
---- 427 V-8----------------- 670
---- 428 V-8----------------- 680
---- 462 V-8----------------- 735

It looks like the Lincoln 462-cu-in is the heaviest of the listed engines at 735 lbs with the Mopar 426-Hemi close behind at 725 lbs.

[f6fhellcat13]

Though it probably is completely irrelevant as an engine at some point must be attached to a car, did any of these engines make numerically either more power or torque (in hp/lbft) than their numerical weight (in lbs)?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

Though it probably is completely irrelevant as an engine at some point must be attached to a car, did any of these engines make numerically either more power or torque (in hp/lbft) than their numerical weight (in lbs)?

Seeing the weight figures I'd say no.

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by Fleet 500

It looks like the Lincoln 462-cu-in is the heaviest of the listed engines at 735 lbs with the Mopar 426-Hemi close behind at 725 lbs.

well, it beats nissan's RB26 by four pounds lol, not bad for the displacement

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Seeing the weight figures I'd say no.

maybe if they measured in kilograms..

[Fleet 500]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Seeing the weight figures I'd say no.

Yeah, I don't think so, either.

Horsepower per cubic inch was a common figure given. Although I think lbs/hp is a more useful figure.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

maybe if they measured in kilograms..

And gross power ratings?

Maybe.

[Matra et Alpine]

What ancillaries are included in the weight ?
It's always a difficult comparison as when do you include carburation and when fuel injection ? Turbos and superchargers ? Headers ? water pumps ? oil filters ? starters ? alternators ?
Some of these are remote on some engines and built-in on others.
So normally it's without "ancillaries" but without the turbos the Nissan is a pretty weak engine
Does the article touch on that Fleet ? ie if an engine power is listed with supercharger then is that included in the weight.

[johnnynumfiv]

I believe the only forced induction was on the Chevy Corvair and Olds F-85 Cutlass. Both were turbo charged. As far as I know the only fuelie cars were the corvette and thunderbird. It's interesting that the Chevy 396 and 427 are 13 lbs apart, seeing how they are basically the same engine. Perhaps they have different intakes(aluminum vs cast)?

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by johnnynumfiv

I believe the only forced induction was on the Chevy Corvair and Olds F-85 Cutlass. Both were turbo charged. As far as I know the only fuelie cars were the corvette and thunderbird. It's interesting that the Chevy 396 and 427 are 13 lbs apart, seeing how they are basically the same engine. Perhaps they have different intakes(aluminum vs cast)?

What 427 is it? Some had optional aluminum intakes but others were cast iron to he best of my knowledge.

[henk4]

in comparison to this I would like to see the weight of the all alloy BMW 3.2 liter V8 engine, used in several models ranging from the 502 to the 3200CS as late as 1966. This engine has always been mentioned as the inspiration for designing the small block V8.

[johnnynumfiv]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

What 427 is it? Some had optional aluminum intakes but others were cast iron to he best of my knowledge.

All the truck motors had cast intakes, there were 2bbl, 4bbl, and tri-power cast. I think the only aluminum intakes they had were 4bbl.

[Fleet 500]

Originally Posted by henk4

in comparison to this I would like to see the weight of the all alloy BMW 3.2 liter V8 engine, used in several models ranging from the 502 to the 3200CS as late as 1966. This engine has always been mentioned as the inspiration for designing the small block V8.

I am trying to remember if Car Life or Car & Driver had 1966 specs for European cars. I think Car & Driver had general specs but can't remember if engine weight was included. I'll see if I can one of those magazines in my collection.

[Juggs]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

What 427 is it? Some had optional aluminum intakes but others were cast iron to he best of my knowledge.

And some of them were all aluminum, block, heads, everything...

[Fleet 500]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

What ancillaries are included in the weight ?
It's always a difficult comparison as when do you include carburation and when fuel injection ? Turbos and superchargers ? Headers ? water pumps ? oil filters ? starters ? alternators ?
Some of these are remote on some engines and built-in on others.
So normally it's without "ancillaries" but without the turbos the Nissan is a pretty weak engine
Does the article touch on that Fleet ? ie if an engine power is listed with supercharger then is that included in the weight.

Unfortunately, there is no explanation of "engine weight" except that some are listed without the flywheel.

[johnnynumfiv]

Originally Posted by Juggs

And some of them were all aluminum, block, heads, everything...

Not in '66, but yea, some were later on.