Slant Six Forum :: Lightest a bodies??

Lightest will be 60-62 Valiant/Lancer as you say. The 63-66 Valiants will be next on the list and within 50lbs or so of the 60-62s. Get a 2dr post 63-66 V or a 4dr. The 2dr coupes are heavier and more flexible.

I am a weight FREAK, and I thought about this long and hard. My '66 V100 2dr post (Project V) was chosen for weight and stiffness, and is 2480 right now (12 gals gas) with 110 lbs of rollcage and big disc brakes and wheels but substantial lightening everywhere else. I might have gone with a 62 car, but parts are a little harder to find and I wanted the a 63-65 Dart front end on this car, which swaps over easily.

The 63-66 Darts are also light, but maybe 50-80 lbs more than the shorter Valiants. My 64 is 2800 with a full tank (18 gals) and no driver.

Add at least 150 lbs for the 67-72 Darts, and 100 lbs for the 67-72 Valiants/Dusters/Demons. Forget about 73-up anything since they add 100-300 lbs for fat bumpers, door beams...

BTW, I only consider my cars with a full load of fuel.

Nice thing about 70-72 Dusters/Demons is you can get 'glass parts all around more easily than other cars.

I would take your time and find a 60-66 Valiant with little rust. They are still quite cheap for a nice non-rusty shell, if you have the patience.

Happy hunting,

Lou

Author:	NCDemon1971 [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Lightest a bodies??
What are the lightest known a bodies? Would that be the 60/62 lancers and valiants? The 67-up a bodies can be made light but it takes alot of cutting and around 73-76 they get extremely heavy. Considering a 63/64 dart or 61 lancer...Suggestions please

Author:	dakight [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:
I don't know the specifics, but I'm pretty sure the 60-62 Valiant/Lancers are lighter by at least 200 lbs. Darts of any year will be heavier because they are larger. The 63-66 Valiant are probably close to the earlier ones but I think they are still heavier.

Author:	NCDemon1971 [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: I don't know the specifics, but I'm pretty sure the 60-62 Valiant/Lancers are lighter by at least 200 lbs. Darts of any year will be heavier because they are larger. The 63-66 Valiant are probably close to the earlier ones but I think they are still heavier. Hmmm...200 pounds There's a good start. Does anybody know what one of those weigh??

Author:	VDART [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:11 pm ]
Post subject:	car weights
all par lists the lancer at 2495-2560 60 valiant 2635-2860 aussie 62valiant 2604-2610 I did not find anything on the 67-- up cars--- check out moto-guzzi-- I think his ride is in the 2400lb range. Lawrence

Author:	slantzilla [ Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:
'67 Barracuda notchback was supposed to be the lightest late A body, followed by the '67 Dart/Valiant 2 door post cars. They are all supposed to be in the 27-2800 pound range dry.

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Author:	Valleyant [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:48 am ]
Post subject:	'72 Plymouth Valiant weight
Hi, You know I just weighed my Valiant at the drag strip on their new digital scale....I still have my reservations about what the read out said...2650lbs...my car is a radio delete car and has power steering...9" brakes all around ....Oh and that weight is with front and rear sway bars that were added shortly after I bought the car...I estimate their weight at just over 30lbs combined...so just over 2600lbs stock...can that be?? I'll try to find a different scale, maybe the recycling yard if I get a chance to confirm my data... nico

Author:	dakight [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:32 am ]
Post subject:
2600 lbs plus or minus is the number I've heard most frequently for the early A-bodies. It will vary by how they're optioned. A/C and power steering will add a bunch. The 225 will wiegh a little more than the 170 and the Torqueflite is heavier than the 3-speed manual. Interior trim levels will have different weights and undercoating adds quite a bit as well. I'm having trouble understanding why a Lancer would be lighter than a Valiant since they are virtually identical except for the nose. You have to be careful when weighing, especially at places like landfills and junkyards. The scale may not be accurate since the only thing they really need to know is the weight difference of a vehicle as it enters and when it leaves. The gross weight is irrelevant.

Author:	Charrlie_S [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:54 am ]
Post subject:
My 65 Valiant 170/904/7 1/4 2 dr post weighed 2530 as a 1975 NHRA stock eliminator car. I was supprised it was that light, with no weight reduction, except for aluminum wheels and headers, and no street exhaust system. My current 66 Valiant 225/904/7 1/4 2 dr hardtop, is 2500, with no hood, front bumper or grill. Gutted interior. Also light weight aluminum wheels. My 66 Cuda 170/904/8 3/4 with a little added weight is about 3075.

Author:	Dart270 [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:19 am ]
Post subject:
Lightest will be 60-62 Valiant/Lancer as you say. The 63-66 Valiants will be next on the list and within 50lbs or so of the 60-62s. Get a 2dr post 63-66 V or a 4dr. The 2dr coupes are heavier and more flexible. I am a weight FREAK, and I thought about this long and hard. My '66 V100 2dr post (Project V) was chosen for weight and stiffness, and is 2480 right now (12 gals gas) with 110 lbs of rollcage and big disc brakes and wheels but substantial lightening everywhere else. I might have gone with a 62 car, but parts are a little harder to find and I wanted the a 63-65 Dart front end on this car, which swaps over easily. The 63-66 Darts are also light, but maybe 50-80 lbs more than the shorter Valiants. My 64 is 2800 with a full tank (18 gals) and no driver. Add at least 150 lbs for the 67-72 Darts, and 100 lbs for the 67-72 Valiants/Dusters/Demons. Forget about 73-up anything since they add 100-300 lbs for fat bumpers, door beams... BTW, I only consider my cars with a full load of fuel. Nice thing about 70-72 Dusters/Demons is you can get 'glass parts all around more easily than other cars. I would take your time and find a 60-66 Valiant with little rust. They are still quite cheap for a nice non-rusty shell, if you have the patience. Happy hunting, Lou

Author:	VDART [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:14 am ]
Post subject:	weight
the title on my 62 v200 said 2510--- I do not know how that was determined--- if I can get a title for the signet I'll let you know it's title weight. Lawrence

Author:	Dart270 [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:49 am ]
Post subject:
Titles and "official" data are not accurate in my experience. They are sometimes completely dry (shipping) weights, or sometimes with full tank plus 300 lbs over the car weight for typical driver + load. Your V200 at 2510 is probablya dry weight, so add 100 lbs for full tank and maybe other fluids?? Lou

Author:	70valiant [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:29 am ]
Post subject:
The last time I weighed my car at E-town it was 3116 with me init and 1/2 tank of fuel I weigh 235 pounds.

Author:	NCDemon1971 [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: Lightest will be 60-62 Valiant/Lancer as you say. The 63-66 Valiants will be next on the list and within 50lbs or so of the 60-62s. Get a 2dr post 63-66 V or a 4dr. The 2dr coupes are heavier and more flexible. I am a weight FREAK, and I thought about this long and hard. My '66 V100 2dr post (Project V) was chosen for weight and stiffness, and is 2480 right now (12 gals gas) with 110 lbs of rollcage and big disc brakes and wheels but substantial lightening everywhere else. I might have gone with a 62 car, but parts are a little harder to find and I wanted the a 63-65 Dart front end on this car, which swaps over easily. The 63-66 Darts are also light, but maybe 50-80 lbs more than the shorter Valiants. My 64 is 2800 with a full tank (18 gals) and no driver. Add at least 150 lbs for the 67-72 Darts, and 100 lbs for the 67-72 Valiants/Dusters/Demons. Forget about 73-up anything since they add 100-300 lbs for fat bumpers, door beams... BTW, I only consider my cars with a full load of fuel. Nice thing about 70-72 Dusters/Demons is you can get 'glass parts all around more easily than other cars. I would take your time and find a 60-66 Valiant with little rust. They are still quite cheap for a nice non-rusty shell, if you have the patience. Happy hunting, Lou I have access to a '66 valiant four door. Has rusty quarters but that does not frighten me because I get this thing super cheap. I guess though a four door would be added weight due to window tracks and hardware but on a drag car Im assuming I can eliminate all that pretty quickly. Trying to figure on how light I can get it..... Id love to have alot of the fiberglass goodies they make for a duster but in the long run Id come out much cheaper by getting a lighter body to start with and then start cutting

Author:	slantzilla [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:32 am ]
Post subject:
The bad part about the narrow A bodies is that although they start pretty light, it is hard to take much weight out of them. Nothing on them that you can remove weighs much.

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Author:	Dart270 [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:35 am ]
Post subject:
The 4dr does not make much difference - maybe 40lbs. Lou