Back in my day, Milwaukee Wi. 60's, neighbor young couple had 62/63? Red Impala SS, 409, 2x4, 4 speed w/ Street slicks, King of local Street racing until the Mopar Hemi, BBC Chevelle, Camaro cars showed up. Best part was the 100# wife drove the car when racing for $$$, husband would miss shifts, think I remember the name "Night Train" on side. Alot of Street racing back then, did some myself, but had to pick and choose my races, did not have the funds to be a top dog, just a puppy having fun !
Just as I said. Not ONE taker to run one of our Boat Anchor powered cars at the NHRA HRR. It's easy to be a key board bully and post something you know nothing about. Gary
...I don't know much about them, but I know they have a sound of their own flyin thru the lites at the big end,...music!
I wonder how the new 409s are as compared to the original. You can buy new heads, new block (they sell a all aluminum block and heads) new internals.
I would guess they fixed that heat spot. If I win the Lotto, I'll have one built and drop into a very wicked 55 Chevy, and then go hunting for a piss yellow, puke green deuce coupe. Suppose to be hot stuff.
The 409 had the shortest stroke of the day in 400+ cu inch motors so you would think high RPM. The draw back to get high compression from the odd combustion chambers the factory pistons were heavy. You've heard speed kills at high RPM reciprocating weight kills.
This long running thread proves they are a legend. It always brings out swinging, both sides of the argument.
Of course they are legendary......As I recall, they were unbeatable on the drag strip until they came apart. My only personal experience with one was when I was 20. I sat in the back of a 57 Chevy 150 business coupe with no back seat. The kid that owned it just pulled a 409 engine complete with 2 fours and four speed out of a wrecked Impala and installed it. When he punched it I thought I was going to go through the trunk. Awesome torque. I was a Ford guy at the time, but that was impressive, had a sweet spot for them ever since. I now have a 348 in a 34 truck but I know there is a world of difference in them.
I owned a 1962 Impala SS 409 4speed from 65 to 67. Black on red with bucket seats 2 door hardtop. Got married with that car. Traded it in for a 66 chevelle when our son was born. Got so many tickets they cancelled my car insurance.
I used to tune a black '63 Impala 409, Muncie 4 speed, 4.11 car, later traded a car and some $$ for it. Ran Fremont drags, 13.30s, won a few, lost most. Then... As most of my competitors were 'cheating'(Imagine!) I went for the Elgin cam, Jardine headers, E series AFBs, and did some close match work on ports. Suddenly...I was in the 12s!!! (high 12s, but 12s nonetheless.) Casual pal Tommy Groves suggested I trade the 'family car 409' in on a 426 Dodge... I did, but before that: Jimmy Liebermann had a '58 Chev Biscayne with a '62 409 in it. He hung around Goodies Speed Shop, was always begging for 'a ride'... He got one, or two...LOL Anyway, he had a beautiful black '57 Bel Air that he and his Dad installed the '58's 409 into. He asked me to help with headers...I did. The '57 had an M21 behind the 409, and a 4.56 posi. Traction Masters were fitted, and Jimmy took me for a ride. Not impressed...too-low gears cancelled out otherwise notable torque factor, car climbed gears fast, but "Can you have too many gears?" Jimmy asked me this, he was working on fast shifts... The same Jimmy had this high voice, 'Ramar of the Jungle' was airing on TV at the time. I joked with him about his voice sounding like actor Johnny Weismuller, ('Ramar', and previously star of 'Jungle Jim' series. I called him 'Jungle Jim', he loved it. At the time, he had talked Richard Guess (owner of Goodies') into driving chores in 'Brutus', original name of Rich's wife Toni's Chevy ll with the Courtesy Chevrolet factory experimental 327 kit. Jungle Jim is now legendary, Never said I 'taught him everything he ever knew', nothing like that... But I did teach 'Mr. 409' how to play blues harmonica... R.I.P., Jungle...
I think stock nothing to talk about if you do some work they are ok. Me if i could afford one it would be 427 or 454
You shit'n me????????? My hemi out shines any 409/348 in looks any day of the week. Built a 348 once in Wichita for a buddy. Wasted time and money as far as I was concerned.
James, you keep putting me in the movies! ( pictures)! That’s my wife and I on the top row between the umbrellas, watching you do your thing! That was some good racing, for sure! Bones
I just read all 21 pages in one setting, and the best post was right here... thank you for sharing. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app