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Hot Rods How much does a hot rod weigh?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 35chevy, Feb 10, 2017.

  1. 35chevy
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 74

    35chevy
    Member

    I am gathering parts to put together my Model-A special coupe. It will be a bare bones fenderless car on 32 rails, Y-Block powered with 3 carbs, and a 5-speed. I need a guesstimate of how much these cars weigh so I can figure out how much power to try to build and how strong my transmission, clutch, and rearend need to be. I'm not building a top fuel dragster, but I figure if I'm going to build a hot rod, it needs to at least cover the 1/8 mile somewhere in the 7's at least. I mean, who wants a slow hot rod?
     
    gnichols likes this.
  2. Flatblack 31
    Joined: Oct 14, 2011
    Posts: 238

    Flatblack 31
    Member

    This one is all steel, weighs 2300 pounds. No speed demon either, runs 13.04 in the 1/4



    [​IMG]


    Sent by homing pigeon
     
  3. 35chevy
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 74

    35chevy
    Member

    That's lighter than I expected. Id like to run 11's. I wonder if 270 - 280 hp will do it?
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  4. Flatblack 31
    Joined: Oct 14, 2011
    Posts: 238

    Flatblack 31
    Member

    I doubt it… They're not very aerodynamic!!!


    Sent by homing pigeon
     

  5. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Traction is the key to E.T. as I'm sure you know.
    With it, and 270 H.P. at around 2300 lbs. you will be in the 7's in the 1/8th and the upper half of the 12's in the 1/4.

    What are your plans for the Y-block?
     
    kiwijeff and 35chevy like this.
  6. MAD 034
    Joined: Aug 30, 2011
    Posts: 775

    MAD 034
    Member
    from Washington

    My coupe weighs in at 2400 lbs.
     
    35chevy likes this.
  7. About the same as a Henweigh.
     
  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    A stock coupe's shipping weight is right at 2220 lbs. I'd think you will come out between that and 2600 with what you have planned.
    Use pieces known for their strength and reliability and call it good. It's better to over build a bit and not worry much than under build and have doubts.
     
  9. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    What ever happened to the Calif. street roadsters that weighed UNDER 1500 lbs. to go fenderless?
    I weighed my channeled '30 Coupe...221 flathead, '38 box, 'A' front and rear. I knew it had to be around 1500... LOL
    It was right at 2,000! I was 16, and surprised.
    @Mr48chev is spot on. A great rule of 'thumb'...
     
    alanp561 and X-cpe like this.
  10. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
    Member

    If you want a driver car that will run 7 second 1/8 th mile passes you had better be ready to spend some money on that Y-block. You had better be planning on at least a 31 spline 9 inch Ford rear or something of equal strength. You are going to need a minimum of a 6 pt. roll bar. How about a scattershield so you still have your feet attached at the end of the track. You will need a good clutch and flywheel because you are going to have to wing that Y-block and drop the hammer with slicks on.
    Is the frame boxed ? Should be other wise you are going to twist it . You need a drive shaft loop, ladder bars.
    Have you ever driven a 7 second 1/8 th mile car? You are talking an 11 second car. 7.00 is a 10.90 car and that's starting to get pretty serious in a Model A.
    In the 60's I helped a guy with a C/altered Model A coupe that weighed around 1900 lbs with a stack injected 302 Chevy. Center steer push start car, and it ran low 11's in the 1/4. Granted tires are better now , but that Y-block won't turn 8,000 rpm's like that Chevy did.
    Be safe , have fun and decide do you want a strictly race car or just a fast street car that you take to the track now and then. Don't worry about e.t's so much, mid to low 8's in the 1/8th is still a fun ride.
    Just my opinion from someone who has raced since 1964, but what do I know?
     
  11. A Model A has the aerodynamics of a brick.

    I would think Littleman could shed some light on the subject. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
  12. my bus weighs around 7000 pounds
     
    chevy57dude likes this.
  13. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,324

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    How long is a piece of string ???
     
  14. shorter than what I tell my wife
     
  15. I don't have access to a picture of it available right now but my 28 model a roadster pickup...fenderless, boxed model a frame, 6 pack 350 sbc (don't hate me please), t5, 8" ford with me in it weighed 2200 when I built it....I've gained a few since. I've never raced it officially, and I've never dumped the clutch at anything above 2000rpm as its an s10 t5, but I dragged a 2012ish 1000cc sportster and kept pulling away from him, and my 350 is a worn out mid 70's smog engine with a speedway cam and 6 pack. ...nothing special at all. He was disappointed big time and I was shocked I not only beat him but kept pulling away.
     
  16. I always heard, "If ya make enough power, ya can make a brick fly!" ;)
     
    redlineracer42, kiwijeff and 35chevy like this.
  17. Parts48
    Joined: Mar 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,579

    Parts48
    Member
    from Tucson, Az
    1. Hot Rod Veterans

    "Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines." - Enzo Ferrari
     
  18. 35chevy
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 74

    35chevy
    Member

    The plans for the Y-block? well, that's sort of the reason for asking what these cars generally weigh. I'm trying to get and idea of how much power I am going to have to make to reach my goals. I don't want a race car, just a very fast traditional hot rod. I understand that it actually being fast might be the most untraditional part of it. I have a '59 292 with 113 heads and a Edelbrock 573 3x2 intake. I have a Mustang T5, but I might go with an automatic instead, and I am trying to buy a '58 station wagon 9" rearend. I think I've about got the guy talked into selling it to me. I will build the chassis strong enough to handle a set of slicks from time to time if I decide to go play. I plan on a posi unit, 350-4.10 gears, a good clutch with possibly a aluminum flywheel, etc. I don't mind putting some work into the y-block. I have been saving parts to build a 5.70 fox body Mustang for a while, and I'm giving it up to build the much slower Model-A. I no longer have a desire to drag race, I just want to play at the track maybe once or twice a year on test and tune night.
     
    kiwijeff likes this.
  19. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
    Member

    If you go automatic I have a manual valve body for a C-4 that I will sell cheap. It is a forward pattern that I took out to put a reverse pattern in.
    My Morris Minor gasser project is going to weigh in at 2200 with out me in it. It has a full 2x3 tube chassis and a 10 point cage and is all steel. So your Model A should weigh around 1900-2000 lbs.
    You make all the power in the heads so just get the best heads you can afford and build a good strong bottom end, Good valve train . The tri power wont make as much power as a good single plane intake with a 4 barrel, but will look a lot cooler going slow.
    Speedway has good deals on 9 inch chunks . Your choice of gear with a posi. I ran a 4.11 from them in my last street rod . About as cheap as just buying the parts and came in a plastic carrier.
    A drag car makes a crappy street car.
     
  20. Pete,you should know this,,very simple,its twice the distance from the center to one end..
     
  21. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,098

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    If you want to go 11's in a model A I'd be looking at @Malcolm and Jason's cars. Stroker sbf and angry fe both with three pedals and trying as hard as they can to go real fast.

    Your going to need to get those skinny tires to hook up far before you start adding the power to get it down the track that fast.
     
    Malcolm likes this.
  22. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You must be an interesting old guy... Police don't give a damn anymore about fender less hot rods any more. Old guys driving them are the last thing on their minds...
     
    alanp561 and Stan Back like this.
  23. dan31
    Joined: Jul 3, 2011
    Posts: 1,097

    dan31
    Member

    My 30' model a fenderless coupe with a sbc,turbo 350 ,9" scaled at 2500 even with half tank of fuel. With a mild small block [maybe not even 400 hp ] i can run a 11.90 in the quarter if it hooks. But its a model a and you would swear your running 10.5's
     
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  24. sportcoupe1948
    Joined: Dec 2, 2016
    Posts: 14

    sportcoupe1948

    My coupe is about 2100 no front fenders or sheet metal. 350/4 speed.

    Sent from my XT1254 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     

    Attached Files:

  25. sportcoupe1948
    Joined: Dec 2, 2016
    Posts: 14

    sportcoupe1948

    My coupe is about 2100lbs, no front sheet metal. Sbc with 4 speed. car+stuff+011.jpg

    Sent from my XT1254 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  26. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,460

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Can we say unrealistic expectations ? No way will you ever get into the 11's in the 1/4 with that little power.
     
  27. 2328 lbs with 20 gallons of fuel on board. Runs low 7s in the 8th at 90+ mph.
     
  28. 28TUDOR
    Joined: Jan 25, 2007
    Posts: 419

    28TUDOR
    Member

    image.jpg View attachment 3451109
    This is what my 28 weights with a half tank of fuel. It's pretty much neutral without me in it....
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2017
  29. ET / MPH is 7.66 seconds and 91.08 MPH
    computed from your vehicle weight of 2300 pounds and 270 HP.

    ET / MPH is 11.90 seconds and 112.63 MPH
    computed from your vehicle weight of 2300 pounds and 270 HP.
     
    rod1, pat59, Just Gary and 2 others like this.
  30. denis4x4
    Joined: Apr 23, 2005
    Posts: 4,198

    denis4x4
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Colorado

    1800 pounds, with a four banger engine and 10 gallons of fuel. Thought you used the same formula for figuring how high is up as to how long is a piece string
     
    LilBlue82 likes this.

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