I just got a lead on a 409

[tripower]

I just got a lead on a 409. We just moved into a new home and I had a HVAC guy come up to give us a bid on upgrading our heating system. He noticed my car and said that he had a 61' in high school. He took all the information he needed to calculate his bid on the heating system and said he should have a price for me in about a week and left. Well about a week later he calls and says he is in the area and would like to stop by and give me his bid for the heating system. Well he stops by and says that he was telling his brother about my car and his brother knows where there is a 409 and the guy just wants it out of the garage. Well as you can expect my ears percked right up...:brow. I told him I would be interested. He said he would talk to his brother and find out more about it. That was this last friday. Well he just called this morning and said that its a tall block and would I still be interested. I asked what the guy wanted for it and he said around a 100.00 bucks but, would confirm that.
My question is, if indeed it is a tall block is that something that would be worth pursuing and, would there be parts that could be sold or used for my 409 project should I decide to swap out my 348 for a 409?

Thanks to all you guys I have 409 fever now...:bang Thanks Dan

[No409]

even if its a 348 thats a deal!

[MK IISS]

"he said it was a tall block"

What does that mean? The Mk IV truck engines (366 & 427) are "tall deck" blocks but I can't remember the term "tall block" being applied to a W engine.

[tripower]

I'm new to the W blocks so, I don't really know anything...:dunno Thats wy I thought I would post it here and get some input...:hug I am hoping to get a look at it in person this weekend and will know more once I get the suffix and casting #'s. Thanks for the input. Dan

[SS425HP]

All 348 and 409 blocks are the same height. Tall block only refers to the BBC blocks. Standard block is 9.8" tall, the tal block, or truck block as it was also known, is 10.2" tall. Don't get too happy just yet. Sounds like it might be a BBC instead of a 409.

When you look at the block, the 409 deck is not 90 degrees to the crank. It's 74 degrees I think. The BBC is 90 degrees to the crank. Like almost all other engines.

Good luck, though. Hope it is a 409 for you.

[tripower]

Fred, I have had lots of BBC Motors and are familar with them and when I started getting the responses back I stareted wondering if indeed it was a BBC tall deck. I am hoping that it is a 409 W and that these guys just don't know. Thanks for the reply. Dan

[rstreet]

I also think he has a 366-427 truck block if indeed it is a tall block. But your eagle eye will figure that out in about 15 seconds.
It is amazing that this morning someone stopped me at the local coffe stop to ask if I would be interested in his old 409 complete motor!!!! But it's better...He lives on my road and I go by his house everyday. He is my age but moved here 15 years ago. I never knew he had a 65 ss 409 impala!!!!!! He sold it without the motor before he moved here he said he put a 427 in it because of them being new and more powerful. I can't wait to check the numbers tomorrow when he gains access to the back wall of his garage.(He needs the space). I am sure I will get it but damn if I know what I will do with a 409-425 1965 motor.

[MK IISS]

Chevrolet built/sold only about 2800 1965 409 cars and about 2100 of them were the 340 horsepower version. A 400 horsepower version has to be quite rare.

[rstreet]

before everyone "smokes" me on my earlier post I had an old age pause. I had just talked to a friend of mine here who has a 63 409-425 32K mile survivor about this motor and typed the post wrong. It is a 400 single 4bb not a 425 because they didn't produce a 2 X 4 409 in 65 from what I remember. (Tommy don't send me a nasty gram on this one):dunno :dunno
Stil even if it is a 400 I don't what I'll do with it because my 61 probably won't be happy with all that horsepower

[SS425HP]

I can help you out of your dilemma. Don't worry!

[Ronnie Russell]

rstreet, That old ragtop would love a 409-400. If your car is a powerglide, slide a turbo 350 in it and you will have much good fun. If your car is 4 sp, well, it dont get no better than that. Either way, it is mandatory that you proceed with this project. :brow

[dq409]

Tripower,,, maybe you will get lucky and what he meant by tall block is/was long block !!:brow

Either way get it !!!!,,dq

[tripower]

Dq, I likethe way you think...:brow its still a deal...:deal. I will keep eveyone posted. Also I wanted to mention that I am about ready to start turning the horse barn in this new place into a car barn. Just got my new concreat saw and am ready start some demo work. Out with those damn hay burners and in with the tire burners...:clap. I'll post some pics with the dust flying in a new tread. Thanks everyone for your input and, remeber it way more fun looking through the sideglass.