Weight difference between 320, 385 and 473 engines

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2010/12/23 12:28:26

Does anyone know the actual weight difference between the Eight, Super Eight and Twelve engines of the Thirties?

I attempted an apples-apples vehicle comparison between the 320, 385 and 473 using the 1936 Dietrich Phaeton published weights because the bodies were probably trimmed similarly between the three. Weights were 4990 lbs, 5080 lbs and 5480 lbs respectively or a 90 lb increase from the Eight to the Super Eight and a 400 lb increase from the Super Eight to the Twelve.

Assuming the Eight and Super Eight had largely the same suspension components, the only significant difference beyond the engine would have been the 5 inch increase in hood length. If that was, say, 20 lbs, the actual engine weight difference would have been around 70s lbs.

For the Twelve, assuming the beefed up suspension accounted for around 50 lbs, the engine itself would have weighed 350 lbs more than the Super Eight engine.

These weight differences are lower than what has been published and I wonder if, beyond differences in interior trim, the big reason is that Packard may have published weights for Super Eights and Twelves that usually included side mounts, whereas the Eight weight was always without them.

Is any of this correct or partially correct, or is it totally off base?