1961 623 block

[Phil Reed]

Well Cecil............I finally took time tonight to pull the pan on the 61 409 that I bought recently. This engine is a true 61 only shortblock but had Jan. 62 690 heads. Story was........you know how those are......this engine was taken out of a totalled 1962 SS in 1965. It was then put in a pulling tractor where it stayed until the last year or so. Well.......being in a pulling tractor, even tho it was raced, it didn't get a lot of "miles". So.............after pulling a main and rod cap.....the crank is still standard!!! And it looks great!! PLUS........there isn't ANY ring ridge!! I'm expecting this whole short block to go back ALL STANDARD!!!! I'm excited!!

Anyway.........has the correct 7 "stamp" in the casting number. Casting date is
L2060 which is right. The block has been decked so there isn't any assembly date. On the left hand side of the block are two number 2 in the mold. I don't remember ever seeing that before.

The pistons are the correct 1961 only pistons. This was a one year only design. But when this motor was rebuilt, I could tell the rods had been resized, they duplicated the intake valve relief of 1962 for the 690 heads on the 61 pistons. Wished they hadn't done that but the fact that I can rebuild this engine using the original pistons, I'm still very happy. The oil pan and timing chain cover are both high-horse 409 but the windage tray wasn't there. Also, the harmonic balancer was a 348.

All in all........I'm off and running with this project!! I've located a set of correct 586 heads and I already have everything else to completely build the engine. The only hiccups to this block is it has been welded on both sides from freeze cracks. But I'll try to get it repaired correctly.

In baseball terms.........this was a 3 run homerun. If the block hadn't been decked or welded...it would have been a grand slam!!!!

[Phil Reed]

One more picture.........

[oldskydog]

Like this only mine are 6's.

[Tom Kochtanek]

Phil:

That's great that it is in decent condition. When I first spotted it I darn near hit the "Buy it now" button, but held back and posted the listing to the Forum. I figured if I did buy the parts I'd pass the heads and other non-1961 parts along and then sit on the block for a jillion years, just like all my other projects :).

I'm glad that you got it, are willing to commit to saving it, and hopefully some lucky person will use it properly (not for a pulling tractor!).

Funny, I found my 1963 QB block sitting in a pulling tractor -- what up with that?

Keep us posted as the project develops :).

Cheers!
TomK

[Phil Reed]

Phil:


Funny, I found my 1963 QB block sitting in a pulling tractor -- what up with that?


Cheers!
TomK

The very first engine I bought out of a pulling tractor...........had a 62 409 truck block and a Z-11 top half!!!!!!!!!!!! That was probably 20 years ago. And right in Floyd Horton's back yard!!! But that doesn't count because I didn't know Floyd then!!!

[Phil Reed]

Phil:

That's great that it is in decent condition. When I first spotted it I darn near hit the "Buy it now" button, but held back and posted the listing to the Forum.
Cheers!
TomK

I had been out in the yard working that Sunday afternoon. Came in about 4 or 4:30 and just "decided" to see if there was anything new on eBay. When I saw it...I couldn't believe it!! Told Candy I couldn't pass this up...too rare. So I called the seller and asked some questions and then Hit The Button!!! It was about an hour or two later that I checked into the Forum and saw your post.

That was just a stroke of luck for me. Not many of these blocks left anymore.

[SS40965]

r there any 409 wagon owners out there

[62impala409]

Whats the deal on all the cracked 409 blocks? I have seen quite a few welded 409 blocks all cracked in the same place, between the cylinder head gasket near the front above the motor mount. I can't recall seeing any 348's welded nor any small blocks. Never a 396/427/454 either. Can these cracks be verified as FREEZE cracks or are the blocks thin in this area. I can see cyl. head torque and temp. cycles causing a stress crack over time. Just looking for some feedback. Thanks. Leo:scratch:scratch

[raymar58454]

Whats the deal on all the cracked 409 blocks? I have seen quite a few welded 409 blocks all cracked in the same place, between the cylinder head gasket near the front above the motor mount. I can't recall seeing any 348's welded nor any small blocks. Never a 396/427/454 either. Can these cracks be verified as FREEZE cracks or are the blocks thin in this area. I can see cyl. head torque and temp. cycles causing a stress crack over time. Just looking for some feedback. Thanks. Leo:scratch:scratch

Leo, I bought a 58 w/348 one time ,block was cracked same place and it eas known to have froze and broke there. Dont have an answer why they'd be froze in Texas, GLOBAL warming and all.:rofl
Ray

[Tom Kochtanek]

I can show you a cracked 348 if you want to see one :).

I don't think it's the block, it's more the way these were treated in "storage".

Best,
TomK

[Phil Reed]

The weakest spot, and thinnest spot, on the 348 and 409 blocks is along the side about 1" below the head surface. When the blocks are outside, without the proper amount of anti-freeze, this is the area that cracks when the water freezes. I have a 62 068 block that froze so hard........it is also cracked inside the valley right under the head and AND RIGHT THRU THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFTER GALLEY!!!! Don't think that could ever be repaired.

The freeze cracks are more common the further north you go. On the other hand, Cecil shouldn't have any problems with his!!!!

[oldskydog]

The weakest spot, and thinnest spot, on the 348 and 409 blocks is along the side about 1" below the head surface. When the blocks are outside, without the proper amount of anti-freeze, this is the area that cracks when the water freezes. I have a 62 068 block that froze so hard........it is also cracked inside the valley right under the head and AND RIGHT THRU THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFTER GALLEY!!!! Don't think that could ever be repaired.

The freeze cracks are more common the further north you go. On the other hand, Cecil shouldn't have any problems with his!!!!

No problem with freezing here unless your'e referring to the time I put my beer in the freezer to speed up the cooling process and forgot it......what a mess.:eek:
115 last week and cooled down to 109 today. No Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, or flooding though. Did I mention it's a dry heat?
The only problem we have with blocks here is that if you leave them out in the direct sunlight too long they melt.
Actually my 63 block that I bought from Idaho was cracked on both sides and when I took it to Tony to fix he found a crack in the lifter valley too. All fixed.:p

[Tom Kochtanek]

Cecil:

At those temps, wouldn't the crack in the cast begin to fuse back together? :) :) :)

It's been impossible here as well, 90% humidity and mid 90s temps. Unfortunately I am block sanding a GIANT Bonneville in the garage, and I bet I've lost 10 pounds each day (and then put it back with 6 beers each night!). I forgot how sucky it is to do a paint prep :(.

Fun!

TomK

[Brian Thompson]

I forgot how sucky it is to do a paint prep :(.

Fun!

TomK

Tom-

I feel for you!!! I am so glad my car is painted. I do still have an original 62 409 car that needs to be restored, but that won't happen for a while!!!!!

[WENGINE]

First 348 I got was cracked in the same place. And I've got a 327 in my basement that I am using as a table stand that has that same crack in it. Must be a weak area in the cooling jacket:dunno.

[oldskydog]

Cecil:

At those temps, wouldn't the crack in the cast begin to fuse back together? :) :) :)


TomK

Sure, like putting a broken Hershey bar in the oven.:p