61 409 block

[oldskydog]

I'm surprised none of you guys are bidding on this. Either nobody's found it or everyone thinks it's too far gone. Makes mine look nice even if it is 060 over. It will be interesting to see what it brings. I know this belongs on the Ebay thread but you just don't see these for sale that often.
Anybody have a spare set of old beat-up 586 heads they want to get rid of?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8045765857&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

[Impalaguru]

I saw that one last night. Its suffered some severe damage! I think the seller is hoping for a large bid. But, it that one is fixable I should consider buying back a 62 068 block I sold a couple years ago. It had layed on its side for a number of years and one bank had HUGE cracks in all 4 cylinders. There is a place here in Iowa that can do wonders with cast iron welding.
Ross

[real61ss]

Oldskydog.
Thanks for the link, I had not seen it. I would love to know on how many dates were these blocks cast. I can account for about four dates. The one listed on Ebay is April 27, 61. That's the same casting date as mine. That makes three that I know of cast on that date.

[DIV1RACER-2]

Had one a few years ago that was cast Feb. 23 , don't know if this in line w/ your other dates ?? :dunno

[oldskydog]

Tommy,
What I would really like to know is when production started on the 586 heads. What is the earliest dates you have seen. I have nothing to base it on but I suspect that the earliest 409s like mine may have used the 1147 heads assuming that the 586's didn't come out until early 61. Colvins book mentions that the "1147 head was used on high performance engines in 1960 and early 61 until the 586 head was released ". If that is the case then I should be lookng for 1147's instead 586's for my Nov 60 block.:dunno

BTW It's raining here today! What's the big deal you say? We have gone for over 145 days without a drop. We are really enjoying it.
:rofl :coffee:

[real61ss]

oldskydog,

The only 586 heads I've seen close enough to check the casting dates are the one's that are on my motor. They are dated Feb 21, 61 and Mar. 16, 61.

I don't know about the early 409's having the 1147 heads. If so, they are propbably easier to find than the 586's.

You might call Phil Reed and ask him what the earliest he's seen, he gets more chances to see them than anybody I know.

[Tom Kochtanek]

Thanks for pointing that one out, I hadn't seen it :).

First time I ever saw the date code on a 1961 409 block. Is that the latest they might have cast those blocks?

I must have a pretty early "068" block in that it is dated May 24, 1961. That's pretty close to the one listed on Ebay (but of course mine was cast for a '62 application).

That block on Ebay needs a lot of work, but just think what it was born in :). Wish I had the original vehicle to go with it!

Best,
TomK

[real61ss]

Tom,
I believe that April 27th, '61 may have been the last date that the 61 409 blocks were cast. I know of 3 that were cast on that date, never heard of any after that.

You said your 068 block was cast on May 24th, '61, my 61 409 motor was assembled on May 25th, '61. This is getting pretty late to be in a '61 car, with no vin number stamped in the '61's, it's about impossible to know if it was one of the 142 motors that left the factory in a car or if it was a service or "crate motor. " :dunno