The Ford Barn

Waorani · 12-18-2023, 07:52 PM

I've got two stripped blocks I want to store on a shelf but was concerned about weight. Search here and google turned up all kinds of weights for various combinations of block/head/crank/etc and lots of "about, I think, around, probably, etc," but I never could find anything definitive for just a bare block. So I weighed both today with a digital crane scale and got:

- block w/ just intake/exhaust studs = 95lbs

- block w/ just head studs = 96lbs

I was a little surprised how light they actually were.

Gary WA · 12-18-2023, 09:09 PM

Block empty of all parts.

Bruce of MN · 12-19-2023, 05:16 AM

Thanks, it is good to get an actual weight, rather than a good guess.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 12-19-2023, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waorani

I've got two stripped blocks I want to store on a shelf but was concerned about weight. Search here and google turned up all kinds of weights for various combinations of block/head/crank/etc and lots of "about, I think, around, probably, etc," but I never could find anything definitive for just a bare block. So I weighed both today with a digital crane scale and got:

- block w/ just intake/exhaust studs = 95lbs

- block w/ just head studs = 96lbs

I was a little surprised how light they actually were.

It seems that way until I am lifting one onto the boring table, or the surfacer, -or the valve machine or honing tank, ...and then that 95 pounds feels like twice or three times that!!

goodcar · 12-19-2023, 01:48 PM

When I was 16 years old, I maybe weighed 135 pounds., I tossed 70-pound hay bales all day long, stayed out until the wee hours, got up early and went right back to tossing bales. Now 77 and have to have 40-pound water softener bags delivered to the basement. They feel like they weigh 100 pounds. Old age comes with challenges.

Joe K · 12-19-2023, 02:14 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Old age comes with challenges.

Beats pushing up daisies.

Time enough for that later.

Joe K

Synchro909 · 12-19-2023, 04:53 PM

When we (my wife and I) had a rural general store, I would often have to deliver bags of cement. 25 to the tonne meant they weighed 40 kg each (88 lbs). I used to carry one under each arm without raising a sweat. I break out in beads of it these days just looking at a bag. Dunno how I did it!

8EL · 12-19-2023, 05:37 PM

What is the capacity of the crane scale? Could it be for normally weighing much heavier loads and not reading accurately on the low end? 95 pounds seems a bit on the light side, just bought a cylinder head which had a shipping weight of 40 pounds packaged in a cardboard box.....

johnneilson · 12-19-2023, 05:42 PM

The best saying heard about building race motors out of a Model A
“Is like trying to build a safe out of a tissue box”

95# is about right, equal to a good crank and girdle assembly

J

Waorani · 12-19-2023, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8EL

What is the capacity of the crane scale? Could it be for normally weighing much heavier loads and not reading accurately on the low end? 95 pounds seems a bit on the light side, just bought a cylinder head which had a shipping weight of 40 pounds packaged in a cardboard box.....

1000 lb crane scale but it's a quality unit. Weighed the first one again on a shipping scale used for UPS and again 95 lbs. I can see how casting variations could easily cause a couple pounds variation.

As far as wrestling them around, every shop needs a hoist or three.

8EL · 12-20-2023, 04:57 PM

For sure with the casting variations, maybe it truly does only weigh that little, but it surprises me. Usually scales like gauges are more accurate at mid range in this case 500#. I would not expect that a 1000# gauge would accurately read 95# (9.5% of scale)....

Interesting and thought provoking none the less......

Jeff/Illinois · 12-20-2023, 05:51 PM

Makes me think of watching that guy at the Rouge, original Ford film, standing there pulling all that cast iron off the line sliding it to another line.... He was one hard working dude! It was coming at him as fast as he could work.

I couldn't work like that even as a youngster

nkaminar · 12-20-2023, 08:16 PM

I am 79. I can lift the blocks and carry them outside to paint them. When in my 20's I would lift a complete engine out of the car to exchange it with a better one. I recently did some concrete work with 80 pound sacks of pre mixed concrete. They got lighter by the end of the job. What I learned is that even an old person can build up muscles through exercise.

Waorani · 12-20-2023, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Makes me think of watching that guy at the Rouge, original Ford film, standing there pulling all that cast iron off the line sliding it to another line.... He was one hard working dude! It was coming at him as fast as he could work.

I couldn't work like that even as a youngster

I thought about the same thing!

12-18-2023, 07:52 PM	#1
Waorani Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 43	Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs I've got two stripped blocks I want to store on a shelf but was concerned about weight. Search here and google turned up all kinds of weights for various combinations of block/head/crank/etc and lots of "about, I think, around, probably, etc," but I never could find anything definitive for just a bare block. So I weighed both today with a digital crane scale and got: - block w/ just intake/exhaust studs = 95lbs - block w/ just head studs = 96lbs I was a little surprised how light they actually were.

12-18-2023, 09:09 PM	#2
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,105	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs Block empty of all parts. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com Last edited by Gary WA; 12-30-2023 at 02:34 PM.

12-19-2023, 05:16 AM	#3
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs Thanks, it is good to get an actual weight, rather than a good guess.

12-19-2023, 01:48 PM	#5
goodcar Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 293	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs When I was 16 years old, I maybe weighed 135 pounds., I tossed 70-pound hay bales all day long, stayed out until the wee hours, got up early and went right back to tossing bales. Now 77 and have to have 40-pound water softener bags delivered to the basement. They feel like they weigh 100 pounds. Old age comes with challenges.

12-19-2023, 04:53 PM	#7
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs When we (my wife and I) had a rural general store, I would often have to deliver bags of cement. 25 to the tonne meant they weighed 40 kg each (88 lbs). I used to carry one under each arm without raising a sweat. I break out in beads of it these days just looking at a bag. Dunno how I did it! __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

12-19-2023, 05:37 PM	#8
8EL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2023 Posts: 235	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs What is the capacity of the crane scale? Could it be for normally weighing much heavier loads and not reading accurately on the low end? 95 pounds seems a bit on the light side, just bought a cylinder head which had a shipping weight of 40 pounds packaged in a cardboard box.....

12-19-2023, 05:42 PM	#9
johnneilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W Posts: 1,057	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs The best saying heard about building race motors out of a Model A “Is like trying to build a safe out of a tissue box” 95# is about right, equal to a good crank and girdle assembly J __________________ As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.

12-20-2023, 04:57 PM	#11
8EL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2023 Posts: 235	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs For sure with the casting variations, maybe it truly does only weigh that little, but it surprises me. Usually scales like gauges are more accurate at mid range in this case 500#. I would not expect that a 1000# gauge would accurately read 95# (9.5% of scale).... Interesting and thought provoking none the less......

12-20-2023, 05:51 PM	#12
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs Makes me think of watching that guy at the Rouge, original Ford film, standing there pulling all that cast iron off the line sliding it to another line.... He was one hard working dude! It was coming at him as fast as he could work. I couldn't work like that even as a youngster

12-20-2023, 08:16 PM	#13
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Stripped Model A engine block weight = 95 lbs I am 79. I can lift the blocks and carry them outside to paint them. When in my 20's I would lift a complete engine out of the car to exchange it with a better one. I recently did some concrete work with 80 pound sacks of pre mixed concrete. They got lighter by the end of the job. What I learned is that even an old person can build up muscles through exercise. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.