Yanked out the six (223 with 3 speed), replaced with Mustang 5.0 and T-5. The scale speaks for itself.
I hope these pics make it, as I forgot to down size the pics for this post. The 8 came in at 590 lbs, the 6 at 675 lbs.
Very interesting, Les......and I'm assuming your new block is cast iron?????? Makes me wonder about the 719 lbs I was told my 4.6 with 4r70w tranny weighs, and my block, heads, and tranny case are all aluminum. I was also told mine was 60 lbs less than the oem six, which by your scale would make the weight on mine closer to 615, confirming the reason for my ride height problem.
Now, the question of the day...did you by any chance measure your ride height in the front before you pulled the 6 out? It'll be interesting to see if there is a noticeable difference in ride height when the 8 goes in. Thanks for posting that....sounds like you've been following our discusions on ride height/weight differences.
Rich
I have 2.5" drop spindles, stock six cyl. springs, 215/55/17 front tires. Cast iron block with al. heads and intake. Before my engine swap I had 10.5" from ground to bottom of front bumper. Now I have 11.5". I like that I gained the inch.
ford says the mark 8 4.6 dohc is 440 lbs dry,ford also says the 223 is 520 lbs dry.the y block is about 650 lbs.these numbers are for the engines only
Les...some time when you get a minute, could you get an approx. measurement from the center of the wheel hub to the bottom of the wheel well. That seems to be the place most of the guys are using for comparison as there is less variables involved. That ride height does look good.
Rich, I got 17.75 inches to center of hub to bottom of fender well, Les
17.75? Really? I was expecting your to be about 13 or so. some of the guys with lowered front ends are in the 12 1/4 range, and mine looks almost like a gasser at 16 1/4.
From the top of my tire to fender well is 6 inches.
I just took these.
From ground to bottom of front rocker panel is 7.25 inches, the is at 8.5.
My bad.....You gave me exactly what I had asked for, lol. I misspoke when I asked to measure to the bottom of the fender WELL. What we're all comparing is the center of the wheel/hub straight up to the fender opening.
Here's a pic of mine, so you can see how high mine is at 16 1/4. Sorry about that.
Okay, drum roll...........I'm at 12.75. I really like the rear wheels.
Great, thanks Les. Ha, My rear wheels in my pic.? Long story, but when I finally decided on which wheels I wanted, I ended up with three of what I needed...had to wait 2 months for the 4th to get off backorder! Good thing it wasn't ready for the road anyway.
Forgot to comment on the weights Gary posted. 210 lb. difference in y-block to the 4.6..... wow. That would sure explain why my car is so much higher than others. I wonder what the total weight of my car is....have to get it weighed this summer. Thanks for posting that info, Gary.
I took mine over the scales last fall. With a 1/4 tank of gas and nobody in the car it weighted 3380 lbs. This is with the stock 6 cylinder and 3 speed.
i put in heavy duty station wagon V8 front springs.after reading this post it looks like i should have left the 6 cyl springs in
I'm so confused on the issue right now, I don't know what to say. I had the aerostars put in today with a 1" spacer. I was expecting a 3" or so drop, but I got a 4 1/2" drop!!. I measured the springs that came out, now that I actually have physical dimensions of what it was suppose to be, and found out the springs apparently were not what they were suppose to be. The springs they sent were suppose to be 15 1/2 free length. They were 16" at least. Granted, a 1/2 " isn't that much, but it's enough to tell me I don't know what was in there load rating-wise.
With that said, I do not believe the 6 cyl springs were the lightest anyway. Of the 8 springs Ford used oem, Eaton Detroit caries 3 of them as in-stock, with the 6 cyl being the middle. Go figure.
With your lift, I'd just wait and see whaere you're at when everything is loaded on.
Springs can be difficult to guess. Some 6&8's use the same springs. Depends on body style and equipment.
A/C cars had a spacer at the top of the spring, in later years a different spring. A good stiffer spring is a
the 64 galaxie 390 w/ a/c & p/s. I used them on my 1st 57 and cut a coil for height. Yours w/ the lighter engine
will be tough to match, think i would call a spring co. and tell them exactly what you have and ask for a recommendation.
You may end up just cutting a quarter turn at a time off a stock spring for height. With good shocks and bars it should
handle well.
Goodluck,
Ron.