Chevy 348 & 409 motors

Ted Brown
@ted-brown
14 years ago
34 posts
I wonder if anyone remembers the "other" small block Chevy, the 348-409.They were a cool looking engine, with those scalloped valve covers.I don't remember seeing too many of them in race cars, but I remember one in my area.Dick Watson ran a modified at Waterford ,with a (I think)409 in it, # diamond S., in the late 60's.Anyone have any racing experience with these motors?I think some of the internal parts such as oil pumps were the same as 283-327 etc.They used a lot of these in Chevy big trucks, I always heard they had a lot of low-end grunt.
updated by @ted-brown: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Ernest Sutton
@ernest-sutton
14 years ago
181 posts
As I understand it, the 348 (with the curved valve covers you describe) was originally a truck engine & Chevy first installed the engine in a passenger car in '58. I had a friend whose family had a '58 Impala w/the 348 in it..........also had a friend who had a '59 convertible w/the 348 3x2bbl. version w/4 speed (nice car). They also used this engine in the '60 models and first installed the 409 in a few '61 models, but I understand they had some problems with that '61 409 version. I believe they corrected most of the problems in the '62 & '63 versions of the 409............they also first installed the 427 in some '63 models, but I think this was a totally different block from the earlier 409 models. I don't personally know anyone who had racing experience with these engines.........with the exception of that '63 427 2x4bbl. version. I had a friend with one of those who modified it into a drag car......all aluminum front end, etc. & it was pretty quick on the strip at that time.
Ted Brown
@ted-brown
14 years ago
34 posts
Thanks Ernie, I used to work in a junkyard, I rember seeing them in early 60's Impalas, and one in a big c60 dump truck.I think one of these would make a good-looking street rod engine.