Months back I saw a couple of posts here that listed the vehicular weight of a 1946 1/2 ton as 3300 lbs. Is that correct? It seems lighter than I expected.
Also, I used to have saved a website that listed all of the engine weights for Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc. old and new. Does anyone know of that site?

 

Not sure on the website for engine weights. But I do know that my '46 totally stock, with flathead 6, 3 spd manual, about 1/2 tank of gas, weighed in at about 3,000 lbs, w/o passengers. I had to get the truck weighed for registration in California.

 

These trucks were pretty light. A book I have says that the 'shipping weight' is 2966 lbs. That's probribly without any fluids.

 

Well that is great! My objective is to get this truck to 2900 lbs or less. With the weights you both have provided that will be easier than I thought, though at the same time not easy.
I finally located the web site on engine weights. If anyone is interested it is http://www.team.net/sol/tech/engine.thml . The 46 era flathead is listed at 525 lbs. and the Y-block is 625 lbs. So basically I need to shed 200 lbs.

 

Well, they say there is a LOT of obesity going around these days. Why do you want to make your truck shed 200 pounds? It's still old and fat (fat fendered that is)...

 

Ha Ha! I have given serious consideration to making 20 lbs of the reduction me!
The truck has a Chevy Vega steering box, and monoleaf front springs. I just feel like I would be in a better comfort zone given those two items, if the truck had a little less weight cab forward..
I am down approximately 75 lbs so far.
Mike

 

200 lbs really isn't that much, unless your trying to get across a bridge with a 2900 lb weight limit.

Although, I do wish that they made balsa wood planks that I could use for my bed, then maybe I'd go on a weight saving frenzy of my own.

A Y-block probribly has at least 5 lbs of flash that can be ground off for weight reduction. Plus there are always tube front axels.

Clayton :-x22

 

Mike,

With the Vega steering box, I assume this truck is a rod. Have you decided on an engine or do you already have one? If I remember correctly a small block Ford 289 is one of the lightest modern V8s around...somewhat less than 500 pounds (I think). If you wanted something unusual, the early 60s Buick aluminum V8 was even lighter. You may want to look into V6s also. I have a chart of engine weights around somewhere but I can't put my finger on it just now...

 

Silly question, but have you replaced anything on the Y-block w/ aluminum parts? They do make aluminum heads for these now, as well as an aluminum intake. Swap the old brass radiator with an aluminum one, move the battery to another location, like under the bed, or under the seat (if you relocated the gas tank). Those things should shed a few pounds, probably not 200, but a nice amount of it.

 

A long time ago when this project began, I had a cool, fully rebuilt and balanced Y-block 292 on the engine stand ready to go into a 54 1 ton Ford. The engine seemed too good for the truck so I went scouring the countryside and found the 46 in Oklahoma.
I guess you could call this a rod. I call it a retro rod. A lot of decisions I made early on could have been better if I had any previous experience, or if there had been an internet then.
Just for fun here is an accounting of shaved pound so far:
No heater -12 lbs., Monoleaf front springs -15lbs, mini gear reduction starter -12 lbs, Alternator -5 lbs, battery relocated behind cab on inside of rail, -15 lbs, short big truck running boards, -5 lbs, aluminum headlight buckets from 49 F-1 -2 lbs, modified front bumper -7 lbs, .080 engine overbore -10 lbs., for a total of 85 lbs.
Planning on getting an aluminum intake in the next month or two, and after that going with an aluminum radiator. Also the access panels in each door could be aluminum. If I get an unexpected inheritence, the aluminum heads would be fantastic!
I noticed an advertisement in a hot rod mag of a very small, very light dry cell battery. I think it weighed only 10 or 12 lbs, and they claimed it had power to start about any V-8 even with high compressions.

 

Clayton, I forgot to mention that it has a tube axle now. But with the axle's forged ends and 1/2 inch thick spring pads, I didn't have a feel for it's relative weight, and counted it as zero gain/loss.

Mike