This has to be your favorite day, James! Mine is coming up! I get two days in a row! That’s one of the many benefits of being a Ford man! Lol Bones
Sometimes I wish I still had my 61 Impala with a 409, T-400/switch pitch trans., in it. Fun car. Mike
Back in high school,I had a buddy Arnie ,that had saved $ from 12 years old for a car,he didn't know what car really,but knew he'd buy something cool in high school. He talked a lot about doing it,whenever he was over helping me work on my own 28A hot rod,powered by Ford Y-block T-bird,I'd let him clean parts or sand stuff for paint ect. He didn't buy his own car tell 1962,his Mom let him drive her old car for 60 n 61 high school. But Arnie did find his dream car in 1962,it was a super clean 58 2d hard top White with red inside,an best part a 61-409 stuck in it. Was bad ass. To this day,I can't hear the 409 song,with out thinking of Arnie's super big ear too ear smile the day he came over to show me his 58 with a 409 in it !!! Yes it was awesome.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-60#post-12504602 ...As Moriarity says...Bitchen... Credit to Photographer, Owner
The 409 is my personal favorite engine. It is not the best but was the most powerful Chevrolet engine when I graduated from high school in 1962 and started attending drag races every weekend. It was a very special time to start sewing your wild oats. I don't need to mention all the Bel Air and Impala drivers of the '62s that are legends today. My first was a '50 Chevrolet coupe I purchased in 1964 that had a 348 engine. I switched it to a 409-425 4-speed and thus began my very long journey of automobiles and pickups powered by this engine including a running '63 Z-11 engine out of a '60 Impala in 1965 which I planned to put in the '50 Chevy but a 100% profit changed my mind. I sure wish I had it back today. I have owned dozens of 409s since but the rarest was a '64 Impala SW with the original numbers matching 409-425 4-speed with factory power windows which I sold about 10 years ago. It also had the original black paint with red interior. Some of you may remember it when I sold it on ebay. The new owner did a body off frame restoration and I was in contact with him right up to the completion. I have not heard from him since. Do any of you know anything about it?
I love the sound of a 409, they just have a unique sound that no other engine has. I cant seem to save enough nickels and dimes to buy a 409
Great story on the fully loaded 1964 Impala 409 station wagon. Brings back memories of a local dermatologist in the Dubuque Iowa area in the 1960's-1970's . Dr. Frost......he was a real car guy and always had new Corvettes and later some foreign exotic stuff......but he would always buy a fully loaded station wagon from the local Chevrolet dealer almost every year for the family grocery getter.....always 348... 409....427 etc.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/30-ford-coupe-build.995152/ @Fitnessguy's 409 powered Hotrod looking giddy-up fine... Credit to Photographer, Owner
Here are some excerpts from other earlier posts: Hello, In our class of 1962, the latest in June of 62, was a new, 409 Biscayne 4 speed. He was the fastest, but did not race too many people. They all knew what was coming at them. That was the topper. We helped our friend select his first car. It was a whopper of a car. A 1962 red Chevy Biscayne with blackwalls and small dish hubcaps from the dealer’s showroom floor. The 62 Impala hardtop was very popular and with the 409, it was a long wait for them to arrive at any of the three local Chevrolet dealers. The big, red 409 Biscayne came rolling into Grissinger’s Drive-In and Ken’s Burgers just around the corner, for some stare downs. That 4 speed, Biscayne was looking rather “bad boy” with red rims on blackwalls, small hubcaps, and black upholstery. We spent weeks showing our friend how to shift fast and stay in control. That car was fast… It had the look of the era correct street race car, with a big 409 and 4 speed as part of the package. It looked like a mild, meek businessman’s sedan for daily driving. But, the big 409 gave other options for daily cruising. This was the fastest car in Bixby Knolls by far. The look said it best, small hubcaps and all… This look and that small 409 emblem, kept all comers at bay for several years. You might be asking if our modified, 58 Impala ever raced the 409 Biscayne on the Cherry Ave drags…? We raced several times. Each time the Impala was out in front for approximately 1/8 mile. At the first sign of the big 409 coming up on the outside lane, I shut down to let him see the brake lights. I knew the modified 348 could not last the whole ¼ mile against 100+ more horsepower. But, I was happy for my friend, as he also allowed me to drive his 409 many times during that summer of 62. It was his payback for me teaching him how to shift that 4 speed and be safe. Jnaki So, from a businessman’s simple car to one of the terrors of the street, this Biscayne was fast. Our friend was just starting to learn all about the 409 and what it was capable of doing. He learned how to shift the 4 speed, get good starts off of starting line and become the best in the neighborhood. That is some title to have and he wore it well. In driving the 409, it was obvious that a new motor gave us all that we could handle. It was very fast, had power to move with the slightest touch of the throttle, and it looked good doing it. The 4 speed was just perfect for smooth speed shifting. It was the start that gave our friend the most trouble. With so much power, my under-powered 58 Impala always got off of the starting line first. Starting with the C&O Stick Hydro, the modified 348 and the 4:56 Positraction, it held the lead ½ way down. I knew when to show the brake lights for the victory. It was a legend in our minds as we were part of the learning process for our friend. He liked all of that power, but he never took it to Lions Dragstrip to race against the myriad of 409’s that showed up, (weekly) like it was the last attraction on the Westcoast. These 409s ruled and were very difficult for anyone to be successful against them. It was a first teenage car that was the envy of everyone, even for an owner of a black, pristine, fast, 58 Chevy Impala. Another friend convinced his dad to buy a 63 two door Impala as soon as they came out, but the look of the red 1962 Biscayne 409 had already won our hearts over.
This a 1964 Chevy SS from a collection here in Fort Worth. It is the 409/425hp, 4-speed, radio delete, 4:56 posi. My wife and I showed at the Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance last May winning all the top awards. It’s is a really nice car.
Happy 409 Day Salty Building another Shaker? With a cross ram? With a roll cage so you can unleash it, giddy up 409