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Trying to level carb pad on my 283 in my 49 suburban. The front clip is not installed yet as I am still working on the Danforth crossmember. I need to approximate the front clip weight in order to correctly level the engine and position it. Anybody know what the front clip with radiator and hood might weigh so I can fab up front engine mounts and get this thing back on the road? Its been sitting since last fall and its FINALLY warm in WI. And I miss cruising the back roads. All help appreciated. I think even an educated guess would work if not the actual measured weight.


Weeds

What are you trying to accomplish by levelling the engine? You'll never be on a perfectly flat road, and your drive line angles are more important than the engine being perfectly level.

I assembled my front clip a piece at a time so I would hesitate to even guess at the weight. But I don't understand your issue. The engine/trans will remain in the same orientation related to the frame and cab regardless of how much weight you put on the front suspension. It seems like the transmission fitment to the cab would be the critical area. If you are worried about the carb angle on the engine there are wedged spacer plates or you could have one milled to any angle you want although it probably would not be necessary.

Nobody knows how much a front clip weighs?




Weeds

Like most everybody else I put the 2 ton together one piece at a time, but having moved all the parts around a lot, I'd guess 150 lbs?

Are these the parts of a 1949 1/2 ton truck's front clip?

- bumper/brackets & front valance
- inner and outer fenders (and supporting braces/rods)
- grill assembly
- radiator frame (and radiator?) and shroud
- hood

Weeds, there is more to consider than just total weight of the front clip.
The bumper and brackets are heavy by themselves and they are located the furthest from the truck's center. This means that they have a bigger impact on pushing down on the front springs than if that weight was located closer to the truck's center.
I am assuming that you plan on replicating the front clip with sand bags or similar.
Well, that's what I think anyway...
Carl

Weeds, I understand your question...I'd guess 500 lbs. plus engine of about 600 making a total of about 1100 lbs.

Two of us can EASILY set the front clip off of an AD truck, less hood. This means we have to lift it up close to waist high at the bottom to have the inner fenders clear the tires and we
are no strongmen so I'd guess no more than 250 pounds. Usually leave the radiator in place. If it's all apart pick up a piece at a time and step on a scale. Do each piece for one side only and the double then weight. If it's all together have a friend grab one side and then each of you step on a scale. The balance point for lifting is the head light rim/hole/ bucket and the center of the wheel well opening.

According to the GM restoration sheets, your truck came with front springs with a rate of 316 lb per 1" compression. So for every 1" your springs are compressed, there is 316 lbs on them. If it compresses 2", 732 lb per side. Subtract out the weight of the engine, part of the transmission, and some for the front half of the frame (200 lb ? ), and you will be fairly close on your guess, if you know how low it used to set.

Weeds, as you know, it's the carb mounting surface of the intake that is leveled. When that's leveled, the motor/trans center line will be approx. 4 deg down at rear(pinion angle.)
I leveled the carb with no clip, on level ground and it did not change enough to matter. I had leaf springs all around. As said, two guys can lift clip. If the clip weight brings angle back some, it's a small amount. Measure valve cover ridge vs carb mount to see angle that's built in to your stock motor.
If you are concerned further, Mock it up level at carb, have two guys stand on front of frame and see how much the angle changes....and adjust. Close enough for Government work. You are close to overthink, but so am I when I do it. You gotta set it up to some value or you will go crazy. I'm with you on that. Are you going to measure with a full gas tank? do you have a rear frame tank? is someone in the cab, is the radiator full, tires aired up the same? spare tire mounted? hood? are you making sure there is no train passing by? Notice how nuts I get?....am? 283's are neat motors. First V8 with same cubes as HP.

debatable, how about the 1955 and 1956 Chrysler C-300?

What is a Chrysler? I should have said First Chevy V8. The 283 needed fuel injection to reach 283HP in 57.

Wasn't the 300hp 1955/56 Chrysler C-300 a 331 ci engine?

1957 345ci 345hp DeSoto Adventurer (2 x 4 barrel carbs)

1956 Chrysler 300B - (353.1) 354 ci and 355hp

I should not have mentioned the 283.

all I am trying to do is approximate the front clip weight (sand bags on front bumper brackets}. Then level carb pad so I can fab front engine mounts. Maybe I am overthinking this deal. I thought my original post was a simple enough question but maybe not. All I want to do is make up front engine mounts. This is a 283 and a Danforth front crossmember so nothing is stock. Front mounts have to be fabbed as nothing is available that fits this situation. Or is there? I may have to call Scott D. Should have done it in the first place instead of posting the question and starting such a convoluted thread. I would like to hear from anybody who has installed the Danforth crossmember and a 283 and what was done about front engine mounts. All help appreciated.


Weeds






Weeds

Weeds,

Doing a quick google search I found the following shipping weights.

Hood = 80
Fender 2 x 40 = 80
Inner fender 2 x 25 = 50
Bumber = 20
Grille, Core and Radiator = 50 (my guess on this)
Misc bolts, hoses, fluids = 50 (again, my guess)

Sub-Total = 330

You need to calculate the engine...600?

That's about 930 total.

If you put the 900 pounds directly over the axle I think you'll be close enough...if you put the weight ahead of the axle the weight will try to lift the rear, changing your angle.

Mike B

Hook, Mike ,Tim,46gmcpu and Leo Thanks for the replies and suggestions. If I understand correctly the pinion angle is the thing I should be most concerned with so I will go with that and put the front clip weight on the back burner. so to speak.


Weeds

You got it, Weeds, the pinion angle is the main concern. If carbs had to be exactly level then cars wouldn't have worked in places like San Francisco where they are nearly always on an angle---up, down, and crosswise.