409/427 versus 396
Fran, I had a 65 409/400HP car, new. Impala SS car. Traded it on a 396/425HP Impala SS when they came out. I don't have any track numbers, but only seat of the pants to talk from. I believe the 409 would walk the dog on the 396. Sure seemed like it to me.
Several years ago, Zora was at Indy at a good guys or Super Chevy show. This is at least second hand, so I have no direct knowledge of the conversation. Someone was talking to Zora about the 409, and what it would take to get it to run better. He told them that he had worked on a new piston design, among other things. He described what he was going to do to the piston to get better flame travel. I wasn't thinking about racing or anything except restoring a car to original, so didn't pay enough attention to the details. He did tell them there were more development ideas on the 409/427 type motor, but GM pulled the plug on them, and that stopped all new ideas from coming to production. We know that happened. I don't even remember who told me this story! Phil Reed might have some ideas, as I think he met Zora more than once. I would think Phil might have talked to him about this. Not positive, though. The gist of the story was that there was more power to be had from the 409 style engine, but GM said no.
The biggest problem was that not enough of us had the smarts to jump in like Dick Harrell, and some others, and build our own high performance Chevells and Novas. Jess Tyree still carries the words on his car " Us GM owners would rather fight than switch". Dick took his Z-11 engine out of his 63, and put it in a 64 Chevelle, and went Hemi hunting. He shot a lot of them down, too. And Thunderbolts. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda, but DIDN'T do it.
Too soon old, too late smart.
Fred
Fran, I had a 65 409/400HP car, new. Impala SS car. Traded it on a 396/425HP Impala SS when they came out. I don't have any track numbers, but only seat of the pants to talk from. I believe the 409 would walk the dog on the 396. Sure seemed like it to me.
Several years ago, Zora was at Indy at a good guys or Super Chevy show. This is at least second hand, so I have no direct knowledge of the conversation. Someone was talking to Zora about the 409, and what it would take to get it to run better. He told them that he had worked on a new piston design, among other things. He described what he was going to do to the piston to get better flame travel. I wasn't thinking about racing or anything except restoring a car to original, so didn't pay enough attention to the details. He did tell them there were more development ideas on the 409/427 type motor, but GM pulled the plug on them, and that stopped all new ideas from coming to production. We know that happened. I don't even remember who told me this story! Phil Reed might have some ideas, as I think he met Zora more than once. I would think Phil might have talked to him about this. Not positive, though. The gist of the story was that there was more power to be had from the 409 style engine, but GM said no.
The biggest problem was that not enough of us had the smarts to jump in like Dick Harrell, and some others, and build our own high performance Chevells and Novas. Jess Tyree still carries the words on his car " Us GM owners would rather fight than switch". Dick took his Z-11 engine out of his 63, and put it in a 64 Chevelle, and went Hemi hunting. He shot a lot of them down, too. And Thunderbolts. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda, but DIDN'T do it.
Too soon old, too late smart.
Fred
It's always nice to hear from new members, or at least it usually is. 
: Just kidding. 
Although I can't help but wonder if you're not one of those evil Mopar owners just trying to stir up trouble. 
: :takethat Roy
