61 348 Engine Options

[oldskydog]

Just in case anyone hasn't seen this chart, it's from the original 61 Parts And Accessories Catalog that I picked up at a swap meet today. It explains the difference between the 305 hp engines with one being solid lifter and the other hydraulic. Good info on part numbers. I hope it's readable.:cool:

[rstreet]

Good find.... The 305 hydraulic version was powerglide equipped.
robert

[oldskydog]

Good find.... The 305 hydraulic version was powerglide equipped.
robert

According to the chart the hydraulic 305 came with either the hd pg (GE)or manual trans(FL) and lo comp pistons but 1147 heads where the 305 solid lifter (GD)engine used a different cam, 379 heads, but the same high compression pistons as the 340/350hp engine but with lo compression 9.5?:scratch How do they do that? Must be some cam to kill that much compression since the heads aren't supposed to have any real effect on compression........possibly an extra notch like the truck block?:dunno

[real61ss]

Cecil,
My 305 has the hyd cam with the 1147 heads. Basicely its a 348/250 with big heads, big exhaust manifold, taller intake and AFB carb.
The other 305 fits the decription of the earlier '59 and '60 motor. I didn't realize they made both motors in '61.

[NASCAR FAN]

I have a Chevrolet printed 1960 348 Power teams chart which was included in a service bulletin sent to dealers. It lists 7 different 348 engines available during the 1960 model year. Including the:

Suffix code "GD" 305 horse 348 with hi-lift solid lifter cam. 11.0 c.r. pistons and only available with a HD Powerglide. This engine was first released shortly after the 1959 models were released and carried over to the 1960 cars. I don't believe it was carried over to the 1961 cars even though a solid lifter 305 horse 348 was listed in some early '61 specs.

In my opinion the only 305 horse 348 available in 1961 had hyd. lifters, standard cam and 9.5 pistons---RPO 572 available with man. trans or HD powerglide--suffix code FL & GE. This engine was the base '61 Impala SS 348.

Rick

[AZ409]

Cecil, City code states you can only store 10,000 sq ft of rare Chevy parts you need to stay away from swap meets, you are almost there. Larry

[petepedlar]

Hey Larry, does that mean that we can all show up at Cecil's soon with our trailers????:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

Dave

[oldskydog]

Hey Larry, does that mean that we can all show up at Cecil's soon with our trailers????:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

Dave
You'll be too late. Phil is probably on the way here already. He can smell a W sale before it happens.:deal
My wife says he'll be the first one she calls when I croak.:eek:
:rofl

[oldskydog]

I have a Chevrolet printed 1960 348 Power teams chart which was included in a service bulletin sent to dealers. It lists 7 different 348 engines available during the 1960 model year. Including the:

Suffix code "GD" 305 horse 348 with hi-lift solid lifter cam. 11.0 c.r. pistons and only available with a HD Powerglide. This engine was first released shortly after the 1959 models were released and carried over to the 1960 cars. I don't believe it was carried over to the 1961 cars even though a solid lifter 305 horse 348 was listed in some early '61 specs.

In my opinion the only 305 horse 348 available in 1961 had hyd. lifters, standard cam and 9.5 pistons---RPO 572 available with man. trans or HD powerglide--suffix code FL & GE. This engine was the base '61 Impala SS 348.

Rick

Rick,
I agree. The parts catalog, although effective February, 1961 is probably compiled before production begins just like the service manuals and would be based on plans and available info at the time. The solid lifter 305 from 60 was probably already in the charts so they just left it there for the revision. I find it interesting that there is no mention at all in the Feb, 61 parts And Accessory Catalog of the 409. I'm looking for a copy of the 62 Parts Catalog to see what it says. Does anyone have a copy?:scratch

[petepedlar]

Phil Who ?????????:dunno :dunno :dunno

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Dave

[rstreet]

maybe we need a posting to determine if anyone has a "GD" block with a 61 car production date. I haven't heard of anyone having one either even though they are referred to in some publications.
robert

[Phil Reed]

You'll be too late. Phil is probably on the way here already. He can smell a W sale before it happens.:deal
My wife says he'll be the first one she calls when I croak.:eek:
:rofl

Tell Francey my phone number is BR 5409!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[W Head]

Rick,
I agree. The parts catalog, although effective February, 1961 is probably compiled before production begins just like the service manuals and would be based on plans and available info at the time. The solid lifter 305 from 60 was probably already in the charts so they just left it there for the revision. I find it interesting that there is no mention at all in the Feb, 61 parts And Accessory Catalog of the 409. I'm looking for a copy of the 62 Parts Catalog to see what it says. Does anyone have a copy?:scratch

Cecil, Have Oct 1966 Passenger Illustrated and Special Informatrion Catalog. Lists Highest HP in 1961 as "Super Turbo Thrust 348-335 HP on page 50, but on Page 35, list a 1961 "Q" manual trans 409 and special high perf. QA 409. I'm not sure chevy knows what was what, we all know 1961 348 was 350HP.:dunno

W Head
59 El Camino 348-3,2s
59 Impala 409-2,4s

[petepedlar]

Since you're talking about high HP 348's I have a question.

The 540 intake was used on 305 and 320 HP 348's in 1959 only.

The 579 was used in 1961 on the 305 and 340 HP 348's and the 360 HP 409.

Our home page also says that the 540 is more of a high rise than the 579 and the 579 has a little different runner design........

If the 540 was a high rise why didn't they use it through 1961 ??? Is the lower 579 a better manifold??

Dave

[NASCAR FAN]

Some people, including myself, do not believe all the applications in the chart are correct.

Rick

[oldskydog]

Since you're talking about high HP 348's I have a question.

The 540 intake was used on 305 and 320 HP 348's in 1959 only.

The 579 was used in 1961 on the 305 and 340 HP 348's and the 360 HP 409.

Our home page also says that the 540 is more of a high rise than the 579 and the 579 has a little different runner design........

If the 540 was a high rise why didn't they use it through 1961 ??? Is the lower 579 a better manifold??

Dave

Dave,
The 540 intake was not around in 59. The 60 Factory Parts Catalog lists the 579 aluminum intake(part no.3767578) for 59-60 hi perf (hydraulic lifter 305) and a cast iron intake part no.3760262 (probably cast 3760263) for the 58-59 with hi-lift cam . I believe the 540 probably came out in late 60 with the 1147 heads and was probably the intake used on the 61 340hp 348and the 409. It was listed in the 61 parts catalog, but not the 60 catalog. I can't imagine using the low profile 579 on the 409 when the 540 was available. All the factory pics of the 61 409 I've seen look like the 540 intake, not the 579. I don't know where the info came from that is the basis for listing the 579 intake as correct for the 61 409 but I think it is a misinterpretation of some of the many erroneous factory charts and documents. Look at the 58, 59, 60, and 61 Service manuals and try to figure out the spec charts for the various 348 engines which contradict and omit some info from their other documents. There is no section on AFB carbs but the specs list it and the parts catalog show it as a 2897 S for 58-60 348 with H/L cam and high perf 348 . There is no reference to the 340 and 350 hp engines even in the 61 specs even though those engines came out in April 60. I wonder if there wasn't a supplement to the service manual which covered the high hp 348's and 61 409 that I haven't heard of. I'll bet Rick knows.
:scratch

ps
There is more discussion on the same subject in this thread.
http://www.348-409.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12152&highlight=intake+manifold

[petepedlar]

Thanks for the info Cecil........ that's what I kind'a thought.

Dave