... Manual Vehicle Description: 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Engine with 340HP ! Chevy legend Doug Marion reports that 15,019 W-series 409 engines were built at the Tonawanda Engine Plant for the '62 model year. Officially designated RPO Z11 and offered at a price of $1240, the 427 obtained its bigger displacement via a 3.65-inch stroke versus 3.50 inches for the 409 and sported a whopping 13.8:1 compression ratio. Still, the 409 is an unusual and interesting engine. The Beach Boys' song "409" celebrated what Chevy fans already knew: ". (However, the valves were not splayed at multiple angles as in the later Mark IV big-block V8.) Exhaust cutouts were common until Hedman supplied us with headers. However, a dual four-barrel aluminum intake manifold was soon made available over the parts counter at Chevrolet dealers for drag racing and other competition use. The remaining 6,110 409 engines were sold at dealerships as crate motors or service replacements. Bill and Carol Collopy were high school sweethearts who have now been happily married for 45 years. On December 17, 1960, the 409 engine was announced along with the Impala SS (Super Sport) model. Back in the day, Chevrolet had the 348 engine, but it was more of a boat anchor. Since brother Tom has already passed on, Bill and Carol's only regret is that they can't have both cars line up for a side-by-side display of 409 hp. The engine had a single Carter four-barrel carburetor that supplied enough fuel-air mixture to generate up to 360 horsepower. Since it shares the same bore, stroke, and displacement, the Z11 is often confused with another Chevy racing engine of 1963, the famed Mystery engine (read the Mac’s Motor City Garage feature here). Three different variations of the W-Series engines existed with the 348, 409, and 427 big block. The owner said a 409 engine and transmission was inside! The main and rod journal diameters and other features are the same as the 348, but the 409 crankshaft will not fit in a stock 348 block due to its larger counterweights. The mechanic who worked on them said he bought valves by the case for them. I wanted one like Tom's car. The truck origin story on the 348 was widespread back in the day and some folks back then were quick to dis the engine for that reason. Strickler turned the quicker e.t. Running a Schiefer lightweight flywheel made us faster. Of course it did. Get the best deals for 409 chevy engine for sale at eBay.com. Looking for Chevy 409 Engine? On the original 348 V8, the valve diameters were a modest 1.94 inches and 1.65 inches for the intake and exhaust, respectively. Of those engines, 8,909 were installed in new cars … make and model: chevy in cars+trucks; see in map view. It included Super Sport trim inside and out, chassis reinforcements, stronger springs and shocks, power brakes with sintered metallic linings, spinner-type wheel covers, and one of Chevy's earliest uses of narrow-band whitewall tires. There was only one version of the 409 in 1961. Barnes Automotive in Arlington Heights, Illinois, installed the period-perfect exhaust system with cutouts and Cherry Bomb mufflers. The connection with drag racing was a lot of fun. But in Z11 configuration with the raised intake runners, the engine was ideal for race applications. 590014 presented by General Motors in 1958, the design team was attracted to this design because it supported a variety of displacements and compression ratios with a minimum of tooling changes. According to SAE paper no. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Only 142 cars were built with the $484 option, which went into production in January of the model year. Apart from the offset valves and flat, chamberless cylinder heads, the W-Series was a fairly conventional General Motors V8, with iron block and head castings and forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods. Your information will be collected and used in accordance with our  Privacy Policy. Like most Chevy blocks, the stamping pad is located on the front passenger-side of the engine. But the car reminds them of good times with Tom. Tom would then typically perform a "tire melting" burnout while leaving Bill's house. Showcasing a robust assortment of chevy 409 engine today on the internet!. Bore x stroke were both up from the 348 cu in (5.7 L) to 4.31 in × 3 1 ⁄ 2 in (109.5 mm × 88.9 mm). The larger displacement was achieved with an increase in both bore and stroke to 4.312 inches by 3.50 inches, yielding exactly 408.89 cubic inches. Well, it was that, plus something else - that indefinable quality an engine has when everything in it is designed to match everything else. Having one's favorite OE manufacturer supply a new, more powerful engine was akin to an NBA team signing a number-one draft pick. Show Cars Automotive 348 and 409 Performance Engine Kits are made from the highest quality parts from some of the most respected names in the auto parts industry. Chevrolet needed the 409 to keep up at the drag strips. Get the best deals on 6.7L/409 Engine Car and Truck Complete Engines when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. The rear end is correct, 1962 posi with 410 gears. The 409 was an extension of the 348, and there are few visual differences between the two, such as the location of the dipstick (the 348 has it on the left, the 409 on the right). The only problem he has with the car is remnants of tire rubber accumulating on the bottoms of the rear quarter-panels. At a Glance1962 Bel Air Two-Door SedanOwned by: Bill and Carol Collopy, Arlington Heights, ILEngine: 409ci/409hp V-8Transmission: BorgWarner T10 4-speed manualRearend: 10-bolt with 4.11 gears and Positraction Interior: Red vinyl bench seatWheels: 15x6 front, 15x8 rear Wheel Vintiques steel with hubcapsTires: 7.75-15 Coker Firestone Deluxe Champion front, 820-15 Coker Firestone Dragster cheater slick rear, Special features: Exhaust cutouts, Hurst shift linkage. Finally, 50 years after seeing Tom's 409 Bel Air perform smoky burnouts in front of his house, he and his wife Carol found the right "brand-new" freshly restored '62 409 Bel Air. Let’s jump right in for a closer look. Earlier Chevy W-engine drag racers acknowledged “short shifting” the W-motors for best performance and longevity, too. Find Chevy 409 Engine in stock now. The engine might be best remembered today as the subject of an old Beach Boys song, oddly enough. 409 Engine - Classifieds: 409 engine wanted in Canton, 1963 409 Bob Vrbancic motor in Oceanport, 2005 Pcm Zr 409 Inboard in Greenwood, 2013 Super Air Nautique G23 in … Sporting big-valve heads and a dual-quad intake manifold with a pair of Carter AFB D-Series carburetors, the engine quickly became top dog at the drag strips and drive-ins of the time, where it was known as the “Oh-nine Oh-nine” in hot rod slang. Perhaps I missed it, but it’s important to note, the 348 and 409 were originally made for large trucks. It would be another year before the 409 engine became readily available. Of those engines, 8,909 were installed in new cars on the assembly line. The 409 story actually starts here, with the 348 cubic-inch W-Series V8 (above) introduced for 1958. Bore spacing was 4.84 inches from center to center, identical to the Chevy Mark IV V8, better known as the big-block V8, that Chevrolet would introduce some years later (1965). There were no tow rigs back then. Aug 16, 2019 - Explore Jake's board "CHEVY 409 BIG BLOCK" on Pinterest. We had to make guide plates for the pushrods. You can be assured that the finest quality and workmanship goes into every kit. The Z11 also used the previously released big-port heads and two-piece intake manifold, and was nominally rated at 430 hp at 6,000 rpm, though it was capable of close to 500 hp. He loved them, even later! Displaying 1 - 15 of 16 total results for classic 1962 Chevrolet Impala Vehicles for Sale. Traditional V8 engines utilize a 90-degree deck-to-bore angle, but the deck-to-bore angle on a W engine is a 74-degree angle. An entire generation was captivated by high-performance machinery. the block deck was milled at 74-degree angle (16 degrees from perpendicular) to form an oval, wedge-shaped chamber in the top of the cylinder itself. The 348 was easy picking. Initially rated at 360 hp at 5,800 rpm and 409 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, the ’61 409 was equipped with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor. That is, 409 cubic inches, 409 horsepower, one horsepower per cubic inch. The 409 V8 may be a dead end in the Chevrolet high-performance story, but it’s a fascinating one, and more than worthy of a closer look. No mappable items found. In 1963, shortly before the GM racing ban was enacted, Chevrolet built a short run of vehicles (some sources say 50 units, others say 57) equipped with a 427 cubic-inch version of the W engine. The story I remember reading (in a few different places) was that Chevy had planned to soldier on with their small block V-8, but when Ford came out with the 332 and later 352, Chevy had to “do something”. Bill saved his pennies and he saved his dimes. The lower spark advance needs and the need to “short shift” rather than “run it out” tended to “mess with” the sensibilities of normal Chevy racers (who liked the small block for its rev-a-bility traits. The truck blocks were taller. Other auto makers like, Pontiac, Buick, Plymouth, were all coming out with bigger engines. Those 409 cars were out there racing against the 421 Pontiacs, the 413 Mopars, and the 406 Fords. Several trucks were powered by 409’s. While the 348/409 series are often thought to be called W engines because of the shape of the valve covers, the designation actually came from GM engineers. she always turns in the fastest times. For serious drag racers, Chevrolet also offered a package of very special 409 pieces in 1962, including an improved two-piece intake manifold, revised cylinder heads, a trick camshaft, and lightweight aluminum body panels. No more than around 20 cars were assembled with these components, the experts say, but in the hands of top competitors including Dyno Don Nicholson and Dave Strickler, shown above, they were capable of quarter-mile times in the mid 12-second range at 112 mph. We were racing our daily transportation, constantly working to make them faster. 409. It was a big part of our growing up, great fun.". Just like later on 427 engines. The Chevy 409 V8 was introduced in December of 1960 as the engine of choice for the all new 1961 Impala Super Sport. We sell complete engines, short blocks, bare blocks, high performance stroker rotating assemblies and new internal 409/348 engine parts direct from the manufacturers.  The big news for Chevy performance enthusiasts arrived midway through the 1961 model year with the introduction of the mighty 409 CID V8. Never saw it myself but I heard it worked just fine. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! While the 348 and the 409 are nearly identical in external appearance to the casual eye, there is one time-honored (but not totally foolproof) way to tell them apart. Just like it is now. ", Lamar Walden is considered Mr. 409 among the faithful who continue to restore, show, and race 409 cars today. My friends father had a 1963 impala convertible SS with a factory 409 and a powerglide transmission. Shop Chevy 409 Engine Online. The 409 enjoyed widespread availability for the first time—and truly got on the map—with the 409-horsepower version introduced for 1962. The 409 V8 is a missing link, if you will, in the history of Chevrolet horsepower. Chevrolet product planners recognized that domestic passenger cars were rapidly growing in size and weight, topping two tons, and feared that the small but mighty 283 CID V8 would soon be insufficient. These motors started as truck motors, with no conventional combustion chambers in the cylinder heads. In fact, Warren Johnson used that Z11 design to develop the Pro Stock Big Chief Pontiac head.". There was a total of 453 Supersports made in 1961. and a stroke of 3.25 in. See more ideas about chevy, big block, chevy motors. The truck blocks are different from the car blocks. The dashboard gained a Corvette-type passenger grab bar and the steering column got a 7000-rpm tachometer. And when you blew the doors off a ford or chrysler in a street race, you were sure to remind the loser that he’d just been beaten by a grabage truck engine. Here at 409 Chevy Performance we specialize in 1961 - 1965 parts for your Impala, Impala SS, Bel-Air and Biscayne. It was put into production by GM because of the performance ground that had been lost due to the new highly successful Ford 390 that had been gaining respect at the local race tracks the same year. The king of the 409 engine family technically isn’t a 409; it’s a 427. Let’s jump right in for a closer look. Thank you for clearing that up. $200. 348/409 engine specifications including, cubic inches, bore, stroke, horsepower, torque, … The external physical differences between a 348 and 409 block are virtually nonexistent. Only a handful of 409 cars had been built for the '61 model year. I met a guy who ran W-motors in his dump trucks, back then. As problems go, that's a good one to have. The RPO 580 380-horsepower 409 cost $320.65, while the RPO 587 409-horsepower 409 cost $376.65. Unlike the small-block Chevy and other V8s of the period, the W engine’s valves were not aligned in a single row but offset in two planes, which permitted larger valve diameters within the allotted bore spacing. In the late 50s and early 60s, we referred to 348s as ‘garbage truck engines,’ not to insinuate that the Wblock was trash, but because it could be found powering many GM produced garbage trucks. The packed spectator stands seen in films and photographs from early '60s drag racing events testify to the sport's huge popularity. The standard 348 CID V8 with single four-barrel carburetor was known as the Turbo-Thrust V8 in Chevy marketing lingo, while the performance version with three two-barrel carburetors (more on that fuel system here) was called the Super Turbo-Thrust V8, and it was ultimately rated at 350 hp in its final stage of factory development. It seems to me that hot-rodders encountered similar failures and the fix was to use a special cast oil pan with webs that pressed up against the main caps. favorite this post Feb 2 ... 1962 IMPALA BELAIR WAGON HEADLIGHT BEZEL TRIM SET 409 327 283 350 62 $100 (SOUTH SUBURBS) pic hide this posting restore restore this … On the 348, the oil dipstick is on the left (driver) side of the engine, while on the 409 the dipstick is on the right (passenger) side. What was the magic in this new engine? Dyno Don returned to the finals to face another drag racing legend, Dave Strickler, for an all Chevy 409 Stock Eliminator final. On the 409 version, the valve sizes were eventually opened up to 2.20 and 1.72 inches. Four-Oh-Nine! This layout also gives the W-Series its distinctive valve cover shape. During their school years, Carol's brother, Tom, would drive his sister and Bill home from school. On Sunday Nicholson and Strickler faced off again in the Stock Eliminator final. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! Radio & heater delete, Rare one piece California bumpers. Today, the 409 is still a highly sought after engine for restorers, rodders, and racers. This is a Must See 1960 Chevy El Camino Super Clean 348CI Dual Quads. Through its five-year production life (1961-1965) the 409 was offered not only in high-performance versions with high compression and multiple carburetion, but also in single-carb tune for regular highway use. One EARLY issue with the 348s was that they didn’t respond to the typical “more ignition timing” as did the small blocks. Dyno Don backed up his 1961 win with his '62 409 Bel Air that day, but both Nicholson and Strickler were now national racing heroes. Even though I was still a youngster at the time I do remember a couple of them that separated the mains from the block and all but blew the crankshaft onto the road. What the 1958 348 engine offered was a broad torque band that made manual transmission cars accelerate very well from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm. Therefore, the 348s were not liked as “better” and the small block following persisted. Internally, both the bore and stroke were increased, resulting in 360 hp (and later 380) with a single 4-barrel carburetor. The burnout was not difficult to achieve, since Tom's Roman Red '62 Bel Air post car was a four-speed, dual-quad, Positraction 409. Did the shared experience of the unruly display of 409 hp fuel the young couple's love for one another? Other name racers, including Hayden Proffitt, Butch Leal, Hubert Platt, Dick Harrell, Dan Hargis, and Lamar Walden, were also busy racing 409 Chevrolets in 1962. I had to drive my 409 car to work with 4.56 gears and my Atlas Bucron tires. Check this out: A total of 99,311 Super Sport Impalas were sold. According to Bill, it drives down the highway beautifully. Key thing was to keep the rpms BELOW 4000rpm for best longevity. Ever a perfectionist, Bill had Nostalgic Auto Body in Island Lake, Illinois, buff the paint to its present magnificence. Truck blocks having higher deck heights on the W-motor, like the later Big Block Truck engines, probably was due to the pistons having FOUR piston rings rather than the THREE which car motors used. The only regular driven street car I ever saw in person with a 409 engine. However, the setup did require a big, heavy piston with a tall compression crown, as we can also see. Chevrolet placed an “X” on the front of the block for the passenger 409 engines and the truck 348 engines, so if your engine has X in this location, it’s a 1962-or-newer model. Brand loyalty ran rampant. Dyno Don Nicholson introduced the Chevrolet 409 to the world by winning the first NHRA Winternationals in 1961. Compliments abound when he cruises this car locally. Chevrolet’s offset placement of the valves was possible because of the deck angle on the 348 and 409 engine block. The truck thing is a very common story, possibly due to the engine’s low-rpm properties. The flat, chamberless cylinder head deck also provided generous squish and quench area, as shown in the illustration above. © 2021 Hot Rod | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC. Show Cars Automotive offers top quality name brands at wholesale prices. Dubbed "Turbo-Fire," production began in January 1961. A bargain at just $53.80, the SS \"kit\" was offered on any Impala. While the Z11 label is sometimes applied to these cars and components, Chevrolet did not release an official Z11 package until the following year. It was the 360hp. Diesels were a ways off for those that still wanted a gas job, and the 348/409 was the hottest gas motor you could get ( I believe) at the time. In truth, these are two rather different powerplants. He said that if his drivers could beat one of the heavier-brand trucks out of the pit, that “other” truck never would see that Chevy truck again! In place of a conventional bowl-type chamber in the cylinder head. Here’s the lowdown on a nearly forgotten engine.Â. Find Chevrolet Impala at the best price. The 1961 SS 409 could be considered the father of the muscle car for Chevy. That “something” was to raid other Chevy engine programs, in this case, the truck group, for a larger displacement engine. The initial 348 cubic-inch displacement was obtained with a bore of 4.125 in. May 10, 2014 - 1965 chevy 409 big block came out of a grain truck its not stuck but will probably need a rebuild kit to be on safe side $1500 firm Iv ran the numbers and the dip stick is on the pass side its a 409. call or text 641 278 0261 creston ia Dyno Don Nicholson (underhood, looking over his 409) returned to Pomona in 1962 to defend his 1961 Stock Eliminator title. As he recalled, in 1962 "there was a lot of excitement about Chevrolet coming forward with these 409 motors. The name for the W-Series V8 is easy to remember due to the distinctive valve cover shape, which resembles the letter W, sort of. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to the  Terms of Use. Another unusual feature of the W engine cylinder head, is the lack of a combustion chamber. This was no doubt the version of the engine the Beach Boys were singing about in their 1962 hit song, 409. Just because the blocks different, doesn’t mean they can’t make he same power. For one thing, the Z11 was intended for drag racing, while the Mystery 427 was built mainly for NASCAR. Mission accomplished, as the W-Series arrived only 2.70 inches wider and 1.78 inches longer than the existing V8. The 409 also saw some truck use, notably in cabover-engine applications. Of course, the trademark feature of the W-Series V8 was its distinctive combustion chamber design. Some would argue the introduction of the 409 truly launched the muscle car era. Those memories are a tremendous source of excitement, strength, and motivation. The Engine ZMZ 409. We were racing our daily transportation, constantly working to make them faster, The 409 fans had much to cheer about at the second NHRA Winternationals in 1962. But when they came out with the 409, featuring one horsepower per cubic inch, it was a pretty big deal. The small blocks liked 38-40 degrees total advance, but the W-motor only needed about 31 degrees to work best (a more efficient combustion chamber design). As we scraped away gunk and paint from the area, we couldn’t find any numbers or letters—nothing at all. Running in NHRA’s A/Factory Experimental class in the ’63 season, Z11 Impalas ran elapsed times in the high 11-second range at nearly 120 mph. Goals for the new V8 included low manufacturing cost and a compact footprint so it could fit in the same vehicle applications as the small-block. Today, on the basis of this internal combustion engine produced a few units with a volume of from 2.3 to 2.7 L. This set of models 406 and 405. Trans is the correct Borg Warner T-10 with the correct shifter. Engine block # is 3788068 which is a 1962 409-409 HP. Bill knew that one day he would buy a brand-new 409. When Bill bought the car, it had the boring factory skinny tires and quiet exhaust system. Comes with Straight 6 engine. Performance parts were not as readily available as today. Still, the 409 is an unusual and interesting engine. My first encounters with this type of engine were definitely in the larger trucks. close fullscreen. Chevrolet enjoyed a banner year in 1962. larger bore diameter, naturally. Experimental X and Y-Series engines, essentially scaled-up versions of the small-block V8, were tried before the Chevrolet engineering team, led by John Rausch, Howard H. Kehrl, and Donald H. McPherson, determined that an all-new engine was the preferred course. Bill explained, "I was looking specifically for a '62 two-door sedan, not a bubbletop. Variously rated at 360 to 400 hp, these versions typically featured hydraulic valve lifters and unlike the 409/409, were available with an automatic transmission. On the conveyor the motor set in 1996-m to year. We had a sense of accomplishment when we made improvements to the cars. Chevy legend Doug Marion reports that 15,019 W-series 409 engines were built at the Tonawanda Engine Plant for the '62 model year.