So for years (decades) I've been reading, and it has been plastered everywhere, that a STOCK Buick 350 weighs 450 pounds ready to go. That is impressive, and given the weight of the 455 I could see it. But a couple times while looking at other weights that people have posted on various parts, it just didn't add up. One of my parts cars had a Buick 350, untouched, so I decided to weigh it top to bottom part by part. The engine was wiped out (cam, lifters, bearings), but all there and sorry to say its over 500 lbs ready to go. 1971 2 bbl code "TO". Please be assured I am not slagging the 350 (my convertible is a 350 car), and of course with aftermarket parts a person could lighten this thing up considerably (intake and exhaust manifolds alone are 80 lbs). I used two different scales for the heavy parts (block, crank, heads, intake, exh manifolds), they were within .5lbs every time, also used a kitchen scale for smaller parts. Parts were weighed multiple times in some cases. And on the way to the metal bin, some of these parts were also weighed again on a third scale that our company uses for shipping, again everything matched so that is about the best I can do for accuracy. Anyone who has different weights and/or wants to compare is more than welcome. This is a general info thing, not a scientific study. It's certainly a stout engine. You can just feel/see how sturdy this engine is, and of course still lighter than any other 350 sized engine. But its not 450 pounds. I have notes in the middle, others have weighed the block at 160 pounds, this one was 171 lbs with caps/bearings. Maybe they left the caps off? Don't know. Would love to see what others have for weights. Cheers Tim Buick 350 engine weights (1971): Bare block /w caps and bearings: 171.3 lbs (78.15Kg) Block caps only (no bearings) **info only** 10.4 lbs (4.72kg) Block cap bolts (set of 10) **info only** 1.85 lbs (841g) Main bearings (complete set) **info only** 1.2 lbs (538g) Crankshaft, bare 53.5 lbs (24.27Kg) Piston, rod and pin assembly/w bearings x8 3.10 lbs(1.41kg)each Oil pan/w plug 4.6 lbs (2.09kg) Oil pan bolts 0.45 lbs (202g) Oil pickup/w bolts 0.35 lbs (160g) Windage tray w/bolts 0.87 lbs (394g) Head assembled /w rocker assy’s & spark plugs x2 60.0 lb each (27.22kg) (Rocker shaft assy’s only/w bolts/alum) **info only** 2.74 lb each (1.245kg)) Head bolts (complete set) 2.8lb (1.27kg) Head gasket (composition) x2 0.32 lb each (144g) Valve covers /w fittings /w cap 3.88 lb set (1.76Kg) Intake (1971 2 barrel) 50.5 lb Intake gasket (stock tin style) 0.90 lb (419g) Intake bolts 0.88lb (400g) T-Stat housing (aluminum) 0.40lb (182g) T-Stat thin, light style 0.11lb (51g) Camshaft: 7.3lbs (3.35kg) Lifters (set of 16) 3.8lb (1.72kg) Pushrods (stock)/set 2.16lbs (980g) Timing cover /w waterpump, oil pump & bolts 10.3lb (4.67kg) Timing set /w dist gear /w eccentric /w bolt 2.4 lb (1.08kg) Harmonic balancer 5.17 lb (2.35 kg) Harmonic balancer bolt only 0.34lbs (155g) Exhaust manifold driver 15.5lb Exhaust manifold passenger 16.5lb Exhaust bolts complete set 0.88lb (400g) Flexplate 4.5lb (2.05kg) Flexplate bolts 0.28lb (125g) Misc bolts/brackets/fittings/etc off engine 2.96lb (2.25kg) **508.07lbs (231.41Kg) to this point * Extras: Motor Mounts /w bolts 3.16 lb each (1.435kg) Fuel pump/w line 1.76 lbs (800g) Crank pulley (double groove) p/n unknown 1.58 lbs (717g) Crank pulley (triple groove) p/n 1235821 2.65 lbs (1.20kg) Crank pulley, (double groove, CAST) no p/n 4.54 lbs (2.06kg) Waterpump pulley (single groove) p/n 1235797 1.37 lbs (622g) Waterpump pulley (double groove) p/n 1235822 1.56 lbs (710g) Points Dist/w points, cap & rotor 2.91 lbs (1.32kg) Points coil 1.36 lbs(617g) Plug wires 1.48 lbs (672g) Typical Q-jet 10.00 lbs (4.55kg) HEI Dist 5.5 lbs (2.5kg) 1972 4BBl intake p/n B-1238647-3 54.5 lbs (24.72kg) Starter ---
So, for only [allegedly] 75 or 15% additional pounds, one can have 205 or 59% additional pure Buick cubic inches. Sort of explains the flexi-flyer nature of the BBB block.
Very interesting. So apparently the 350 is heavier than the 300 and 340 by a good bit. That's something I didn't expect. OTOH, most engine weights are given without the exhaust manifolds and that's over 30lbs. The heads are also heavier, as is the block. That's enough to account for the difference. Jim
LOL, funny you mention that the original engine in my convertible came with a cast iron lower pulley, that sucker is heavy! I guess I should weigh that too....
I had a 70 lesabre with a cast iron water pump. I would bet a cold beer that famous 450 pound number was the shipping weight of long block with no tin, intake, exhaust or timing chain cover, but including the weight of the pallet. Some buddy grabbed that number and ran with it.
In my profession many early numbers [statistics or findings from previous scientific journal articles] are cited as gospel over and over for decades. When someone who is willing to do the homework and extra labor goes back and fact checks or even reads the original assertions it sometimes turns out that there were errors or major differences than what was originally cited. I am not saying that we shouldn't trust someone else's published efforts but mistakes are made more often than I ever assumed. The older I get the more frequently I encounter this in a number of printed materials. Over time it's easy for these things to become fact even when they may not be. Loved it that TimR made this effort - herculean!
My guess would be that because the weight of the 300 and 340 comes in at right close to 450 it was just assumed the 350 would too. Jim
OK rescued and weighed the main caps, bearings and bolts from the metal bin (thing was scrap, lots of rust in the cyl's not going to sleeve a 350). List updated. Would like to do the rod/pistons too but need a press to get the pistons off and no access at the moment. And yes, the block weighs just under 160lbs with the caps removed so that matches the 160 I keep seeing everywhere for "bare block"... I'm guessing as well somebody measured an incomplete longblock for shipping at some point in time way back (maybe even GM specs for shipping one?). Not too many people are nutty enough to weigh every part....LOL That explanation would seem most plausible.
That’s interesting! Sounds like something I’d do NOW, weight a SBC, Olds and Pontiac!! Would like to know if those weights were inaccurate also
I believe a lot of myths and speculations happened back in the “old days” and they just carried on thru time
Another thought on weight vs accuracy. Scales may be more accurate within a range and it may be one scale being used prior vs your scaling of the scales in this exercise.
