Tom Kochtanek
05-24-2003, 12:27 PM
Bob, thanks for creating this "slot", and giving some a chance to discuss these other internal combustion designs!
I have several drivers and parts cars with X frames (all '61s and '62s) that have these motors and to date do not have the mighty "W" engine built and ready to pop in, so I may lurk here a bit as well...
Some of you know that my new every day driver is a 1962 SS with its original 283 and a 2 barrel, putting out a whopping 170 HP (or something like that). When combined with the Powerglide it makes for a real reliable but very boring combination, but at least I get to drive the car around.
My go-fast buddies are giving me a lot of crap about the "stance" of the car, since I redid the front and rear suspension using the HD (or "409) springs and shocks. With the 283 PG in it, it sits OK in the rear but the front is perched up so high (seems like at least 4-6 inches) it looks weird. Their solution is to stick a big block in it to bring that front down, but to them a big block is a 396-427-454 or a GM crate motor (like the 502). It would solve the problem of stance, add lots of performance, but it's not a 409!!!
I now have several 348s (2) and several 409 blocks (3) with complete sets of heads, intakes and exhausts (plus all the flat metal goodies and stuff that hangs onto them) but the block I want the most is in terrible condition.... :(
I recently got my 1962 QB block back from the shop and after testing it had sooooo many markings on it from the inspection that the fellow urged me to "find another one". I refused, and we are going ahead and sleeving the three really bad cylinders, and seeing what that does to the dimensions of the adjacent holes (I am told it tends to make them "out of round"). We shall see!
I look forward to learning a bit more about those of you who also have the small V-8s, as I still have that '63 SWC with its 327/340 HP stock motor. Since I am keeping that car forever, at some point in time I will taking its motor apart as well. First things first, so I plan on moving over to the 348-409 slot and seeing what's going on there!
Enjoy!
Tom Kochtanek
back in action after being out for a few months :)
I have several drivers and parts cars with X frames (all '61s and '62s) that have these motors and to date do not have the mighty "W" engine built and ready to pop in, so I may lurk here a bit as well...
Some of you know that my new every day driver is a 1962 SS with its original 283 and a 2 barrel, putting out a whopping 170 HP (or something like that). When combined with the Powerglide it makes for a real reliable but very boring combination, but at least I get to drive the car around.
My go-fast buddies are giving me a lot of crap about the "stance" of the car, since I redid the front and rear suspension using the HD (or "409) springs and shocks. With the 283 PG in it, it sits OK in the rear but the front is perched up so high (seems like at least 4-6 inches) it looks weird. Their solution is to stick a big block in it to bring that front down, but to them a big block is a 396-427-454 or a GM crate motor (like the 502). It would solve the problem of stance, add lots of performance, but it's not a 409!!!
I now have several 348s (2) and several 409 blocks (3) with complete sets of heads, intakes and exhausts (plus all the flat metal goodies and stuff that hangs onto them) but the block I want the most is in terrible condition.... :(
I recently got my 1962 QB block back from the shop and after testing it had sooooo many markings on it from the inspection that the fellow urged me to "find another one". I refused, and we are going ahead and sleeving the three really bad cylinders, and seeing what that does to the dimensions of the adjacent holes (I am told it tends to make them "out of round"). We shall see!
I look forward to learning a bit more about those of you who also have the small V-8s, as I still have that '63 SWC with its 327/340 HP stock motor. Since I am keeping that car forever, at some point in time I will taking its motor apart as well. First things first, so I plan on moving over to the 348-409 slot and seeing what's going on there!
Enjoy!
Tom Kochtanek
back in action after being out for a few months :)