1967 Big Block Curb Weight

[Rob Howell]

Hi Gang,

I am looking at a 67 coupe that I suspect is an original big block car. The seller has the original 1967 Texas title and it lists the weight at 3400 lbs. What is the weight of a small block coupe? A big block coupe?

[Duke W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

The AMA specs for each model year give base vehicle curb weights and the addition or subtraction for each RPO, and as a "ballpark" for a '67, 3200 for a SB and 3400 for a BB is probably within 50 pounds of what they would be depending on how each is optioned.

Curb weight includes all normal equipment (like spare tire and jack) and full fluids including fuel. At about six pounds per gallon, 20 gallons of fuel is 120 pounds.

Duke

[Rob Howell]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

Thank you Duke. This is probably a long shot, but does the AMA have a website where this info is presented?

Regardless, from what you state, 3400 would indeed appear to indicate a BB coupe.

I will procede with optimistic caution. The seller does not present the car as anything other than a Corvette with a NOM

[Duke W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

Not that I'm aware of, but the AMA specs are part of the "restoration package" that is available from GM Customer Service at no charge, 800-222-1020. If you request a package, they will want the model year and VIN.

Duke

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

I have the 1967 AMA specs on file somewhere. If you want, I can dig them out and report back.

Hopefully you are aware that there are many other possible clues as to whether a given Corvette was originally a BB car. There is a guy in my chapter who is an expert on this topic.

All of the potential clues can be faked by a knowledgeable person, so even if all of them check out on a restored car, there is no way to be sure that the car is an original BB. However, these clues are particularly helpful in evaluating an unrestored car whose original engine is unknown. A few areas that I can recall are:

* Halfshaft yokes on differential
* Rear sway bar
* Fuel line termination in engine compartment
* Throttle lever at firewall
* Firewall wiring clips
* Evidence of transistor ignition on a 435 HP car
* Cooling system differences between BB and SB

There are probably several more areas that the real experts know to look at. If this question is important to you, you may want to have an expert look at the car for you.

[Rob Howell]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I'm aware of the clues you pointed out and the car has them (hence my suspicion).

If you can post the specs from the AMA I would most appreciate it.

The options the car has are M21, power brakes, power steering, side exhaust, headrests, AM/FM radio, and leather seats w/headrests.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Curb Weight

Hi Rob:

I located my 1967 Corvette AMA specs, and found the following with respect to curb weight:

Base coupe curb weight: 3155 pounds
J50 power brakes: +12
N40 power steering: +21
U69 radio: +21
L36 390 HP: +215
L68 400 HP: +151
L71 435 HP: +149
L89 aluminum heads: -73

There were no entries in the table for side exhaust or headrest seats. So, depending on which big block option was used, the total curb weight for this combination would be in the range of 3285 to 3424 pounds.

[Wayne M.]

Were these used for the MSO weights ?

or did they take into account EVERY option (like 1967 speedwarning U15 -- add 0.2 lbs for relay/buzzer and harness).

[Joe R.]

Re: Were these used for the MSO weights ?

Hi Wayne:

I don't know, I'm just reporting the requested information from the AMA specifications that I have. Only a subset of the options are listed in the table of weight deltas. The smallest delta is (+1) for the Powerglide, but there is no line item for headrests, which are certainly more than that.

I thought the (+21) listed for the radio seemed high, even with the inclusion of all the shielding and filter caps. Maybe that was a typo, since the same value of (+21) appears on the previous line for power steering.