whats my engine and whats it worth?

[covinplus]

I have an engine with the following casting numbers- heads 3814690, block 3830814, intake manifold 3822929, ex. manifold 3822926. Itapears to have been recently rebuilt with very few miles on it. It has Comp cams roller rockers and sounds like it has a hi-po cam in it. The head bolts are hi-perf aftermarket items and so I presume it has been rebuilt with performance in mind. This engine runs VERY strong! What is it and whats it worth?

[Ronnie Russell]

covinplus, Please re-check intake manifold casting number and post. Most likely a 1963 425hp engine. Need a little more information.

[covinplus]

the intake number is correct, you can even see where the tag was stuck overduring casting

[Nuts]

The numbers according to this wep sight come out to be 1965 380hp 409. The block 3830814 is 63 for all 409 including Z11 427 but the exhaust and intake indicate that is is 380 hp. Anyway that's how I read it. Someone else may have more input...

Are you looking to sell it or just want to know what it's worth ? Is the motor installed in a car right now ?

[oldskydog]

the intake number is correct, you can even see where the tag was stuck overduring casting

3822929 is a late 62 380/400 hp service package intake with an open plenum for high rpm use. The casting number looks like a tag placed over the original casting number. It was basicaly a modified 3814678.:)

[Ronnie Russell]

brain-fart here.... Had 2x4s on my mind for some reason. My mistake. Casting number plainly listed in our home page info.

[covinplus]

I guess I will sell it if it is worth decent money. I am building a 502 for the Chevelle and it would help funding. on the other hand this engine is in such good shape and has obviously had money spent on it that it sems almost worth buying something to put it in.

[tripowerguy]

Buy a 58 thru 64 X frame car and join the fun. You don't need a numbers matching car, a W engine is a whole lot more fun than a sbc or a bbc. Sbc and bbc are like belly buttons, everyone has one. On the otherhand there are very few W's out there and they attract a lot more attention. I'd park the Chevelle until I put the W in a decent body and then you may forget all about the Chevelle.:D Roy

[tripower]

Buy a 58 thru 64 X frame car and join the fun. You don't need a numbers matching car, a W engine is a whole lot more fun than a sbc or a bbc. Sbc and bbc are like belly buttons, everyone has one. On the otherhand there are very few W's out there and they attract a lot more attention. I'd park the Chevelle until I put the W in a decent body and then you may forget all about the Chevelle.:D Roy

Roy, Well said....:clap :clap :clap

[Nuts]

I can back that up with proof. I showed my 62 BelAir for 2 years with a 327 installed. Other than National Chevy shows where the car scored 960+ points, I never got any local recognition. After installing the 409, I received numerous awards for best in class and sponsors selection at shows I'd gone to in the past. The car was in better shape with the 327, because I'd just finished it and everytime I've had to pull the 409 for various things, I'd get a scratch or something.

The 409 draws a crowd and people stand around and tell you stories from way back when about their buddy or someone who had one. Can't explain it all :dunno but the 409 is something special to everyone... :)

[Bungy]

I disagree completely about forgetting about the Chevelle. What you should be forgetting about is that (yawn) 502. Put that 409 in your Chevelle and have fun!

[dq409]

I disagree completely about forgetting about the Chevelle. What you should be forgetting about is that (yawn) 502. Put that 409 in your Chevelle and have fun!

BOB ??? Nows your chance !!!:brow

[covinplus]

I guess I have lots of options, although I would hardly call a 650 HP 502 boring. I don't like the idea of the 409 in the chevelle but might look for something to put it in, maybe a '64. However, it would be nice if you guys could give me some idea of its value, I hav'nt a clue. Do the aftermarket hi-po parts make it worth less, should I put it back to stock?

[1958 delivery]

I guess I have lots of options, although I would hardly call a 650 HP 502 boring. I don't like the idea of the 409 in the chevelle but might look for something to put it in, maybe a '64. However, it would be nice if you guys could give me some idea of its value, I hav'nt a clue. Do the aftermarket hi-po parts make it worth less, should I put it back to stock?


Depending on condition about $5K.
Don't go and put a 409 in a Chevelle, that's just wrong. In fact that Chevelle and engine would definitely be worth a lot less in that combination.

[Bungy]

I would say about $4000 to $5000 for your engine.

Of course everyone knows that putting that engine in a Chevelle would lower the valve of both the engine and car. Mixing and matching engines and different vehicles is always a finanical loss. I don't know how Foose and Boyd stay in business.

Bob, We are both wrong?

[tripowerguy]

Since your 409 is made of different year parts it would not increase in value by trying to make it back to stock. I agree that the value is in the neighborhood $5000. You are in a very biased area on this forum. I for one have seen enough small block chevy turbo 350 combos to sicken me for the rest of my life. I saw a 427 numbers matching 67 Chevelle that was impressive, it was a Dick Harrell car. The big blocks are boring to me although not on the scale of small blocks. I have more interest in a flathead F**d than those. Does everyone think like I do? I hope not, but all of us like W engines to the extreme so we naturally are somewhat opinionated when it comes to engine choice. If you don't love these engines then by all means sell it to someone who trembles at the thought of buying a unique part of Chevrolet history.:deal Roy

[tripower]

Since your 409 is made of different year parts it would not increase in value by trying to make it back to stock. I agree that the value is in the neighborhood $5000. You are in a very biased area on this forum. I for one have seen enough small block chevy turbo 350 combos to sicken me for the rest of my life. I saw a 427 numbers matching 67 Chevelle that was impressive, it was a Dick Harrell car. The big blocks are boring to me although not on the scale of small blocks. I have more interest in a flathead F**d than those. Does everyone think like I do? I hope not, but all of us like W engines to the extreme so we naturally are somewhat opinionated when it comes to engine choice. If you don't love these engines then by all means sell it to someone who trembles at the thought of buying a unique part of Chevrolet history.:deal Roy

Roy, All I can say is your on a roll...:clap :clap :clap

I am going to have to agree with Roy...:cheers SBC BBC a dime a dozen...:doh If you want to attract a crowd W The buick nailhads are cool to but,I think those flatheads F**D's are awesome

[goat boy]

[QUOTE=Bungy;75674]I would say about $4000 to $5000 for your engine.

Mixing and matching engines and different vehicles is always a finanical loss. I don't know how Foose and Boyd stay in business.

newer engine in an older =cool
older engine in newer car=sh*t
:cheers

[covinplus]

Don.t worry guys, there is no chance of that 409 going into the Chevelle, it just ain't gonna happen. I will either put it into a period car or sell it. Where is is the best place to a) look for a period car and b)sell the engine depending on which way I go. The only trouble with buying another car is that I have a "56 Bel Air half way done and I want to start on the Chevelle after that, as well as mainting a Model A rod.

[covinplus]

it is really only the intake that is "out of year" isn't it? And that could be contemporary.

[Ronnie Russell]

covinplus, I mean no disrespect, but I don't think you admire these w-head engines as much as most of us. If your intention is to use the engine then you will find all the help and suggestions you need right here on this site. However, if you are most interested in selling the 409 to finish your Chevelle , by all means do it. E-bay has its good points and bad points, but if you wish to find the true value, post an honest e-bay ad with every piece of information you have and use a $5,000 reserve. You might be surprised at the final bid. Good luck with your decision, no matter what you decide.

[covinplus]

Don't worry the 409 will not go in the Chevelle!

[Ronnie Russell]

covinplus,,,,, To determine how correct your engine is, you would need the date codes off of both heads and the block. It may be all correct for 1963 year model, less the intake manifold. As far as the Chevelle goes, I do not agree with the others. G.M. did not build a 409 Chevelle, but they should have. G.M. did not build a 409 Chevy II either, but my partner and I did. If it feels good, do it. I dont know what the big deal is, just a bunch of cast iron and steel. It's worth what its worth. In a car or out of a car. Again, good luck with your decision.

[1958 delivery]

covinplus,,,,, To determine how correct your engine is, you would need the date codes off of both heads and the block. It may be all correct for 1963 year model, less the intake manifold. As far as the Chevelle goes, I do not agree with the others. G.M. did not build a 409 Chevelle, but they should have. G.M. did not build a 409 Chevy II either, but my partner and I did. If it feels good, do it. I dont know what the big deal is, just a bunch of cast iron and steel. It's worth what its worth. In a car or out of a car. Again, good luck with your decision.



How much is cast iron worth at the recycler?

[CDNpontiac409guy]

I for one have seen enough small block chevy turbo 350 combos to sicken me for the rest of my life. I have more interest in a flathead F**d than those. Does everyone think like I do? I hope not, but all of us like W engines to the extreme so we naturally are somewhat opinionated when it comes to engine choice. If you don't love these engines then by all means sell it to someone who trembles at the thought of buying a unique part of Chevrolet history.:deal Roy

and...

"I'd park the Chevelle until I put the W in a decent body and then you may forget all about the Chevelle. Roy"

and Goat Boy said...

"newer engine in an older =cool
older engine in newer car =sh*t"


Nothing to add. Just thought the above statements were worth repeating:beerbang

[Ronnie Russell]

Gee, I hope you did'nt offend Bob, the Admistrator. I like his Chevelle, in fact I think anything looks good with a 409 in it. But ya know, everybody has an opinion............

[Bungy]

So, that makes two people that think Bob's 409-Chevelle combo is sh*t. But I'm still unclear about mine. The engine is a 64 and the car is a 64 so is it in the "cool" category or is it in the "sh*t" category because it's a Chevelle? :dunno

[covinplus]

Ronnie Russel- I am not perhaps as passionate as you all about W engines because I have never had one before and never really dreamed I would. This engine came into my possesion in an odd way because I did someone else a favor. I do have a fondness for them as I was in my teens when they came out. I remember seeing an early 409 being driven by a sailor in San Diego and loving it but that was a long time ago. Of course I am interested in its value but that doesn't mean I am only interested in selling it. I have in fact decided to keep it and try to find out more about it with a view to putting in a car. Since I want to finish my '56 before I start on anything else that gives me time to find a car and research the engine. I guess I will start checking date codes. Is it worth pulling a head?

[models916]

Big cube Mid-size Chevy is always cool. 409 has the look of the 60's. I would do it in a minute.

[Ronnie Russell]

covinplus, Do not need to pull the head for date codes. The numbers are cast into the head . Only need to pull valve covers. Please go to the home page and explore casting numbers. All the information , including locations , are listed. Lots of information. Glad you have decided to keep it. :)

[tripowerguy]

I would never want to offend our Great Leader and I didn't mean to imply that the Chevelle was not a canidate for a W engine. I do love these engines because they are unique and when you open the hood it is great to see the looks on peoples faces. When I won at Wentzsville it was so great to have all the people come over to see what had beat all the crate motors, a 40+ year old engine with funny looking valve covers.:D So put them in dragsters or anything, just swim upstream for a while it is fun instead of only going with the flow. I wish we had a hundred guys like Jim with his Phantom 409 it does my heart good to see a W that is competitive with all the other engines that are out there. I wish there were more 56-57 Olds, Nailhead Buicks and even Studebakers:eek: running at the drags and at cruise ins. Nascar has a sameness about it:yawn: and NHRA has the same sameness:yawn: There is nobody coming up with a unique ideas and the organizations won't let them anyway. You used to have some intiative to experiment but now it is 350-350 combos, there are so many 350's in early F**ds you would think Henry invented it. I'm saying that the 348-409 engine gives us a chance to be different and be the person that says I'm not a part of the herd.:cool: Roy

[skipxt4]

I agree, Roy.:clap There are more Chevy engines in Ford cars, than ever. I wonder how that makes FMC feel? Ford always said it had a better idea.:rofl

[dq409]

"newer engine in an older =cool
older engine in newer car =sh*t"


I don`t get it ?? :dunno :scratch

Being different, doing different = cool

Doing the same `ol same `ol = sh*t

[DonSSDD]

To be really different, not a 409 in a Chevelle, a 348/409 in a 64 1/2 Mustang?

Now that would get a lot of people scratching their heads. I wouldn't do it, but it would be a neat thing to see the explosions when people figured out what it was.

Don

[boxerdog]

I always thought a '63 Nova with a straight axle and a 409+ would be PERFECT! I just never had a Nova and a 409 at the same time!

[Ronnie Russell]

boxerdog, Is this what you had in mind ?? No straight axle, but close.

[chevytaylor]

Ronnie Russell, that's one SICK Nova!!! :beerbang

Who won the grudge match between that Nova and Jim's 55?

Man, I wish I was there to see THAT!!! :bow

[boxerdog]

Ronnie, that's outstanding. My "vision" had old-school injectors, and was probably orange, but I think that's a great piece. To me, that's a perfect combo and pretty close to being period correct with some neat tweaks. Nice job! Can you tell me/us more about it?

[jim_ss409]

Ronnie Russell, that's one SICK Nova!!! :beerbang

Who won the grudge match between that Nova and Jim's 55?

Man, I wish I was there to see THAT!!! :bow

Well we never actually got to race because I got bumped out in the first round, but I was running low elevens and the Chevy II ran high nines so I would have been about 12 car lengths behind at the finish line.:deal That Chevy II is a really cool car. It goes straight and makes a high nine second pass look easy. Barry and Ronnie have that thing dialed in and running great.:beerbang

[dq409]

boxerdog, Is this what you had in mind ?? No straight axle, but close.

WHOA !!!! Now THATS a bad as* car !!

Got my thingie dancing again !!!

[Ronnie Russell]

Dave, Apologies to covinplus for stealing his thread but one more post and I will bow out. My partner's name is Barry Taylor. 3 years to build car in Barry's garage. Barry did the welding, I did the grunt work. After first 5 years, I sold car to Barry. I just build the motors and cheerlead now. First 3 years, stock bore and stroke 409--- 2nd 3 years 1/8 stroker 409 3rd 3 years - 4 in stroke 409 , 9 to 1 motor I built for street, then changed mind and put it in the Chevy II. Current motor - 4 in stroke ,13 to 1. 1 year plus, so far. P.G. with 4.30 gear. Last June at Kentucky, first time out for current motor. 9.99 et 1/4 mi. with 6.35 et in 1/8. Came home, did some tuning, best 1/8 so far 6.18 at 111mph. Ran 6.27 last week with hot, sticky weather. We are Friday night bracket racers, no plans to run 1/4 mi. so its speculation as to what 1/4 time would be. Barry restricts rpm to 6,000 shift. This probably has more to do with longevity than my engine building skills, but with expense of these engines, we prefer to be very conservative. Besides, bracket racing is more about consistancy than e.t. Don't get me wrong, we want to go faster too, hope for some BWR heads for next year.

[tripower]

Ronnie, Nice Chevy II and story...:clap :clap :clap

[boxerdog]

great story and outstanding car. I attached a couple of pics of other Chevy II / Novas that I particularly liked, but they are only SBC cars and need W motor transplants. Congratulations to you and your partner on a job well done!

Dave

[MileHiSS]

I always thought a '63 Nova with a straight axle and a 409+ would be PERFECT! I just never had a Nova and a 409 at the same time!

I have a 55, a 66 Nova, and my 62 Biscayne that wanted a new motor. But I only had one 409, so off to the 62 it went. I'm hoping to have one of all the major motors (except the very new stuff) that Chevrolet used. I'm even going to take the 235 Blue flame and build it up to put in one of my 55's. I've got a SB in one 55, a ramjet in my 57, and the correct BB in my 67SS396. The 409 and Blue Flame will help me work towards completing the list.

I have to agree that a W in a Chevelle would seem odd, but it would sure get the looks.