Were can I find out actual weights of Chevy's v8 cars? I would like to build a drag car this winter and want the lighest car that is not too hard to put a small block in. I like 78-83 malibus but is there a lighter car?
Thanks
Alex

Vega's area good choice for a light v8 capable car...

Race only??62 Chevy 2's,early Camaro's are very light,a 68/69 Chevelle can be under 3000# when gutted w/a sbc it really depends what you can spend and what you can find available.

Pretty much race only. I don't have much to spend so early camaros are probly out. And I don't want to have to do any weird mounting like motor plates. And being able to use mostly stock rear susspention would be nice. It dosnt have to look good, just go fast.

3rd gen camaros are really light in base trim, but they have issues with exhaust clearance and rear suspension setup. i think your most cost effective choice is your original choice, but they need expensive rear end upgrades.

if its a drag car then the 80's camaro exhaust deal is no problem, with open headers at least.

Vega or Monza or any Nova

S10 and S15(GMC) pick ups, but they aren't cars... REALLY light in base trim or stripped down.

Chevette(spl)

Early Novas. Vegas are a real handfull even when built correctly.

There's a guy roaming the streets of Springfield,Mo. with a quick Vega (7.60's 1000ft) and it looks like he's on a sunday drive going down the track,,,smooth and straight. Yeah,its had some extensive chassis work done to it,but he drives it everywhere.

Don't even think about a vega with a stick. Having said that I've had a couple with automatics..my favorite was a panel wagon. Still light but easier to handle. 8" rear from a maverick works well...

Full frame, v8? 78-87 Malibu. :D

Vegas are good but hard to find since they were notorious for rust.

You could opt for an 80's regular cab short bed S-10. I have one with a cast iron 350 with cast iron heads and water pump and a TH350 amd all steel body. It is a stripped down model and weighs in at just under 2700 lbs w/o a driver.

The biggest problem with the S trucks is the front to rear weight ratio but that's nothing a set of slicks and a good suspension can't fix.

Whatever you use is going to require massive rebuilding if you add a lotta power to a small, lightweight vehicle, so why not think out of the box and pick up something like a cheap, worn out foreign sports car and spend the time to learn how to set it up right.. (And motor plates and such are about the easiest way to do this too..)

BUT I personally like the little old '62 Duece Coupe idea b/c a buddy of mine had one with a cammed 327 years ago and for no more then it was, it was a real terror.. Jump right up and bite at you sorta deal...

I'd bite for the complete front clip, ""frame" if you will), rebuild that is offered with the Mustang II steering so you can add any headers you want and be done with it...

pdq67

Well, after starting a project that weighs close to 4400 lbs with driver and realizing that the almost 900 horse will take me as far as mid/low 10's at best, I too have come to the conclusion that next time I'm building a light car. And coincidentally my roommate drives a 71 Vega w/ a 406 and a homemade ladder bar setup to class every day. That thing is clapped together and runs away from most of the cars on the street here in Omaha. I'm convinced that a small dart block around 421 ish cubes with some basic AFR heads and a 250 shot would be more than enough to power that thing well into the single digits. Throw a glide and some 3.55 gears in there and you could be driving a pump gas, nine second car to work every day. I vote find an H-Body and build it a healthy small block. You'd be hard pressed to find a better bang for the buck.

Originally posted by iwantachevelle:
...I like 78-83 malibus but is there a lighter car?...Alex - We run an '80 Malibu and it certainly doesn't qualify as a "light" car. Ours started at 3240# (with driver). By the time we replaced the rear end (9"), suspension (ladder bars and coil overs), tranny (Liberty) and added safety equipment (scattershield, roll cage, etc.) it ended up at 3500#. I think the '60s Chevy IIs and Novas would be a better place to start.

I weighed my chevyII couple weeks ago and it was 3,080 pounds in full street trim/interior and a 1/2 tank of gas. The only added weight it really has is subframe connectors and caltracs. I am pretty sure Sedans way even less and also the 62-65 are a tad lighter as well.

The 78-80 malibu`s are one of the lightest for a normal sized car. Strip all the junk out of them and 3000 is no problem. S-10 are light as heck if you are into that. they are pretty cheap also.

What does it take to put a small block in an early chevy 2, and what years should i be looking for? There is a guy with a 64 down the road he might get rid of. Also know a guy with a 56, what do those weigh? What do you guys think about a monza? I have and 80 camaro now any guess on the weight of those cars?

What about a c-4 corvette ?

Mine was TPI ( 85) i switched it over to a carb and turbo 350 quite easily.

Mine weighs 2960 1/2 tank and no driver. 51% on the rear tires. Still has stock power seats, heat, power windows,heat, PS ( 5lbs) all alum suspension. I believe i can get 200 lbs more out of it. The car will fit a 28X10.5 slick in the factory wheel well.

Only draw back is if you get an automatic car it has a Dana 36 rear. Their supposed to be weak. I have just went 1.55 60' on mine, but the upgrade is the Dana 44 ($1000-$1200) used on the corvette forum board and many of these guys are getting 1.45 60'.

I paid $4750 for mine running. Especially if your going to gut it.

How fast you planning to go ?

What does it take to put a small block in an early chevy 2, and what years should i be looking for? A special front sump oil pan, pick-up, pump, and pump driveshaft, if you want to use factory stuff. Aftermarket rear sump pans are available, but you CANNOT use a "standard" style pan.

64-67 would be the easiest to start with, since they have 5-lug wheels.

Remember, these cars came stock with lousy suspensions, drum brakes, and (most had) manual steering. I love my '65, but if I were looking to built a low-$$ fast street car, I'd start with something newer that already has discs, better handling, etc. Ever think about a FOX mustang? <<ducking and running for cover>> smile.gif

If the Blue Oval is out of the question, I'd look to thirdgen Camaros.

I dont care for the vega or monza, you cant get much of a tire under them without a bunch on money, The chevy 2 can be pretty expensive. The 80 camaro`s are kind of heavy but you can strip it out and use it since you already have it.
The camaro has a decent rear that will hold some power, the monza, vega, malibu`s have junk rearend, it will cost more to put a good rear in these cars.

old datson or nisson like 240z. or an s10 reg 6ft bed. chevette would be nice as well. or luv truck as well.

aaron

I forgot to mention another perk . You NEVER have to lean over a fender to work on it. Just tilt up the hood and sit on the tire (if you choose) to work on the car. I have hooker supercomps on mine and i can change all 8 plugs in 15 min.

Mike

66-67 Chevy II

Covettes are out-$. I hate fords with a passion. How much does a 3rd gen camaro weigh? Sounds like the small cars need too much to make them work. How much do novas weigh?
Thanks

I want to be well in the tens. I don't like it but there may be small (100) amounts of nitrous.

there's a '90 mustang at a local speed shop with a 440 6pack real cool tongue.gif . I had a POS S10 and the title said it weighed 2500#s 4 banger and power nothing ;) .

3rd gens weight about 3800 belive it or not.

aaron

i did a vega it started out at 2300lbs and when i was done it was 2780lbs i pro streeted it and had steel wheel tubes and full carpet int ,glass hood ,but if you gut everything your weight will be less,the easyest and least cost i would think the 79 malibu would be a hit

Originally posted by iwantachevelle:
How much do novas weigh?
Thanks http://www.novaresource.org/weights.htm

If you get a Nova with a v8 in it already there won't be much to change. If it has a straight 6, you would need v8 engine frame mounts. Oil pan is no big deal, you can get a rear sump chevyII pan off ebay for $50 and its just as good as the $180 Moroso ones. You would need a different radiator (which you would probably change anyways).

if there is a short supply of money look here. www.racingjunk.com (http://www.racingjunk.com) find you an alterd rolling or ready to race .cheaper than you could tub and buy all the electronics and not even mentioning the rear end. TJMHO

I would look in National Dragster Newspaper for a used drag car, maybe less motor & trans. Lots to choose from and most are already set up for drag racing. Dave

Heck, a cheap, worn out Miata with a narrowed 9" under it!!

5.0's fit in them like they grew in there!!

pdq67

Originally posted by BowtieAaron:
3rd gens weight about 3800 belive it or not.

aaron Maybe for a full load disco Z-28, but base coupes are around 3100lbs.

http://www.f-body.org/tech/tech.htm#ThirdGen

Start stripping, and you are easily down to 2800 in an afternoon. The rear suspension is the big negative, and they flex alot, so a full cage would almost be mandatory to keep it from twisting in 2.

I second the FOX mustang idea. Cheapest option by far. graemlins/waving.gif

http://www.f-body.org/tech/tech.htm#ThirdGen

Fox body mustang. My engine builder Paul Klyceck runs 2800 lbs and a small block chevy that runs low eights on Drag Radials. 8.8 rear and decend suspension.

a guy I know has an 80's nissan pickup, small block fits in better than in an s-10 and it is way lighter. full frame car runs 10's with a streetable smallblock. I will see if I can post some pics of it. best of all you can pick them up pretty cheap. just a thought

Hey, now that you mention the nissan truck. . .

Datsun trucks and Chevy Luv trucks too! I think the LUV has a lot in common with the Datsun truck if i remember correctly.

The Luv was based off the Isuzu.

keep in mind the shorter the wheelbase the harder it is to control at high speed.ask a pro-stock driver about it.your'e upside down before you know it.i hafta vote for the early/mid novas for light weight. ;)

My small block 73' Nova weighs 3260 lbs. The weight factors look like this...
-Aluminum heads, radiator, water pump, intake.
-No sway bar in front
-Roll bar installed {add 100 lbs}
-Richmond 5 speed, aprox. 100 lbs compared to an auto wich is probably more
-Weld drag lite's on all 4 corners
-fuel cell instead of tank
-Full stock interior
-Fiber-glass cowl hood
-All the "Extra stuff" removed from behind the bumper i bet that was darn near 75 lbs. Anyone whose ever worked on a 73-74 nova knows what im talking about!!
-No power options, manual disc brakes
-Heater box etc. removed
-Half tank of gas

All in all its very light for a steel, non stripped car. It would harbor a big block easily, they are still PLENTY CHEAP, and besides the front grille look just like the 68-72's. That would be my decision.
Now if you gutted it, and had no exaust,removed wheel wells etc... it could be a 3,000 lb flyweight. Somthing to concider....