Aluminum FE weight

[Charlie]

Can anyone tell me what the aluminum FE engine assembly (complete with manifold and water pump, etc.) weighs in at? Or, how much weight does it save over an iron FE assembly?

[Bob Putnam]

My measured weights

[Charlie]

Thanks Bob,
I should have known to just go to my car's father for the answer. You have the best documentation of ANY car out there.
Charlie L.

[Lew Ledyard]

Bill Parham of Southern told me that, apples to apples, there is a 61 pound weight difference between the Shlby block and a 427 SO block.

[JBAIRD]

The Shelby block is 118 pounds, The Iron Side oiler block is 255. That is a137 pound diff. Parham is way way off. I also have a 351 Winston cup iron block and it is 205 pounds. The RDI (Ford Racing ) alum. 351 block is 115. pounds. The iron sideoiler is certainly heavier than the 351 iron block. These are factual #'s not something dreamed up.

[Bob Putnam]

JBaird,

My measured figures, with flywheel and carb (+/- 10 lbs) are:

All iron FE - 610 lbs

Iron block, aluminum heads, water pump and intake - 520 lbs

All-aluminum Shelby - 460 lbs

Which would indicate only a 60 lbs difference between the iron and aluminum blocks... Things are not adding up. My guess is that the Shelby figure doesn't include the sleeves and bearing caps.

[JBAIRD]

Bob, you are very close and I certainly agree w/ you figures as well. When we compare the iron FE to the Alum. Fe we see about 150 pounds diff. I said 137, parham was telling this other guy 61. You and I are close, just depends a little on the accessories. The all alum motor is considerably less than the all iron FE SO. John-

[Lew Ledyard]

Bob:

It looks like your figures back up Bill Parham's. Bill said that apples to apples (i.e. complete motors with the same heads, intake and water pump), the engine with a Shelby aluminum block will weigh 61 pounds less than the same motor built with an iron SO block. 520 pounds for the iron SO block engine and 460 pounds for the aluminum Shelby block engine.

[terry lee]

Try to look pass the weight issue.
Most of us won't notice the difference in everyday driving.
I looked at the alum. block as an insurance policy. If for any reason a rod should find its way thru the side of the block or any other disaster for that matter, at least I can repair my alum. block. Not quite so with the old iron FE. Yes, iron can be repaired to a degree, but do you want to HAVE TO RELY on it? Now try to replace that 427 block down the road. They seem to be pretty scarce right now and most are questionable. Those that can be verified cost as much if not more than the alum counterpart. We know for a fact that alum can be repaired over and over. Should you score a piston wall with the alum block, simply pull out old sleeve and replace it with a new one. Let's not forget one other factor, the 427 iron FE block is near 40 year old technology. Times have changed and so have the ways of casting and machining to provide a better and more consistant product.
Having said all that, you can't beat the look of all alum under the hood, or the WOW factor when showing it off.
Just my $.02 worth.
TL

[southernfriedcj]

Guys, there is a weight difference of 83 pounds on an aluminum FMS 302 block(92 lbs.) and a Dart iron 302 block(175 lbs.), according to the figures I found while researching the 302. Are these figures incorrect or is there an anomaly that would make an aluminum SB save weight over an aluminum BB, vs going with iron?

[Bart Carter]

From Ford Racing:

Cast Iron:
302 street replacement production block, max 347 cu in, 135 lbs
302 race block, max 360 cu in, 160 lbs
351 (9.5" deck) production block, max 427 cu in, 190 lbs
351 (9.5" deck) race block, max 454 cu in, 205 lbs

Aluminum:
302 race block, max 380 cu in, 92 lbs
351 (9.5" deck) race block, max 454 cu in, 122 lbs

Aluminum blocks have steel 4-bolt main caps and replaceable cylinder bore sleeves

A 454 aluminum small block with the weight of a 5.0 sounds mighty tempting.

[susan parham]

Weighed on certified scales less than one hour ago:
Brand new - taken out of original box - NOS 427 side oiler
block with main caps - 201 lbs.

Brand new - taken out of box - Shelby 427 aluminum block
with main caps (CSX #322) - 139 lbs

Bill Parham

[Bart Carter]

OK Bill -- now we get the real weight. It is actually 62 lbs difference, not 61 lbs as previously stated. Please don't make these mistakes again.

[Lew Ledyard]

Bill:

Can I buy that brand new fresh out of the box iron SO? I gotta acouple of extra kids running around the house. You can have your pick, they are all pretty good!

Lew