1961 340 horse 348 four speed

[Tom Kochtanek]

Visited a fella not on our Forum today, looked at a few of his cars. Of particular interest was a 1961 Impala in Midnight Blue that was apparently born with a 340 horse 348 with a factory four speed. The owner states that the build came late in the year and that some parts for the 62s were used to complete the build. Valve covers were 1962 hue. Intake was I believe the 776 casting (wasn't able to examine closely). Car was nicely done a few years back in what I believe is Midnight Blue with the Blue interior. Had SS caps on it, but is not an SS car.


Here's an info sheet the owner was displaying:

and another pic:



Enjoy!

TomK

 

[Don Jacks]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting this Tom.

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

I was wondering what the production numbers might have been for the 340 build that year? Gotta be kinda rare, right?

He had some other real nice vehicles as well. Russ would have liked his 1965 Impala. It was a frame off restoration of a convertible car. Had a factory 4 speed, bench seats, 400 horse 409. Real nice car finished in what I think is called "Turquise Mist"? Only saw the dog house, looked perfect .





Cheers!

 

[real61ss]

Those valve covers on the 61 should be orange. Only the 409 had the silver valve covers. Looks like a nice car

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

He's telling me that as it was a "late build" that the engine came from the factory with those "silver" valve covers. Same for the intake, which I suspect would normally be a 540 casting, this was the 776 intake that went on the 360 horse 409 in '61.

That's what he claims. Knows the history of the car from back in the day.

 

[real61ss]

Tom, not doubting what you said at all, if you get the chance look at the cowl tag to see what the build date is, i supect someone was trying to make it look like a 409. That was one of the things about a 340 horse motor, without looking closely the only outward difference in a 340/348 and a 360/409 was the color of the valve covers. Both had single 4 barrel carbs with dual snorkle breathers.

 

[oldskydog]

The air cleaner base would be different though because the 3012 was a small throat AFB and the 3270 was a big throat.

 

[Phil Reed]

Tell me where it is Tom and I'll take a trip to look at it for you!!!
You know I love to travel!!!!!

 

[real61ss]

The air cleaner base would be different though because the 3012 was a small throat AFB and the 3270 was a big throat.

Well sure but you dont see that without removing the top. Thats why i said without looking closely.

 

[1958 delivery]

Those valve covers on the 61 should be orange. Only the 409 had the silver valve covers. Looks like a nice car

Absolutely. Paints cheap

 

[real61ss]

Real nice car finished in what I think is called "Turquise Mist"?

Can't tell from the photo but could that be "Evening Orchid", a 65 only color

 

[425/409ER]

61's with 348's were cool cars for sure. The 2nd car I owned was a 61 bubble top 348 3 speed car, it was a lot of fun. Nice cars there for sure, thanks for the pictures.

 

[Blk61409]

I had 3 1961’s, 348’s & 409.

I have learned to never say never on various combinations they built.

Mine all had orange painted 348’s, 2 with 3x2’s.

One was a Flattop 6 cyl I shoved the 409 in with the Z-11 top half and used chrome covers. One was a 4 door hardtop 348, 3x2’s 280HP 4 speed and the other was a Bubbletop Impala, 348, 3x2’s 4 speed.














Now, after pontifivating the net of all this is really nothing.

I can look up how many 340 HP engines were built if you know the RPO number.

Anyway, it’s kind of like the aluminum dash I have on the 62, complete with Chevrolet part number. I’ve never met anyone that has seen one because they were potmetal, but yet it’s on my car. I think it’s highly unlikely because they would have had to change the process of painting engines to accommodate the valve cover color. However, they did it in 62 and did they try it earlier? Who knows.

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

Is that your grandson beside the hardtop Pat?

 

[Blk61409]

Now that is FUNNY!!!!

 

[Blk61409]

I caught more HELL over buying that car.

All my friends, both of them, before Phil says it, called it a “thousand door”!!

No one expected it to be a 348, 280HP 4 speed!!

I had 62 bucket seats recovered in the same material, about $125.

Only had it about 18 months and then bought the Black 61 SS 348 car.

Hope I have successfully hijacked this thread like Phil told me to!!

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

Pat:

The nostalgia scent is all over this thread . C'mon, that's why we do this, right?

I'll try to get that RPO number as I'd like to follow up on this with the owner. I think it's kind of an interesting car. And I've got a thing for the 1961 full size passenger cars from GM...

Cheers! TomK

 

[real61ss]

RPO 590

 

[Tom Kochtanek]

Thanks Tommy!

 

[oldskydog]

As late a production as that car is, I think the vale covers are possibly original. It may be that by that date the engine plant had already changed over in anticipation of the 62 production requirements and valve covers were in stock already painted or they had changed the spec and were painting them silver green only. The late production changes were not without precedent as late 66 427's were being built with 351 castings instead of 942's and when the L-79 327 was re-introduced for the 67 Nova in June/July 67, it was built to 68 L-79 specs with cast iron intake, quadrajet and only 325 hp instead of 350.
JMHO