Projects 409 Chevy II Station Wagon

When I was newly married we had a 62 Chevy II and my dream was dropping in a 409. Now I can see what it takes, thanks for the vision and the "can do" attitude. This will be interesting.

 

Thanks! I admit, it would have been much easier to go the leaf spring/solid axle route, which was way more common back in the day but I like a challenge.

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Dyno Don was a big motor guy
http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/t...t-before-they-were-famous-dyno-don-nicholson/
This is his 61 409 car. Below that his Z11 car

 

Engine and trans in. Verified header fitment. Great part about fender well headers is I dont have to go through any girations to take them off. Makes working on this thing a dream compared to under chassis headers.




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Very sanitary engine compartment.

 

Long overdue update.
Car is running but some bugs to work out.





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Wow talk about a SLEEPER a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

I love the stance. I have had many 409s and commend you on a job well done.

 

It sounds like some settling may happen during the grocery gettin trip.

 

oh yeah.... pretty sure you'll be the only guy to volunteer to go shopping

 

Great job, do you think the exhaust header will create a problem with the master brake cylinder?

 

Wild!

 

Headers are HTC coated and so is the Master Cylinder so i think I will be ok... One of my winter projects is to fabricate a heat shield of some sort under the master cylinder.

 

Great, I was a little concerned about stopping that bad boy. It's too cool to wreck.

 

Looks and sounds Great!

Ryan

 

That is one sweet sleeper.

 

Ha ha, man that thing turned out awesome, to freaking cool !

 

Amen to what everybody else said. So cool that you kept the originality. What Grumpy Jenkins would have built for his wife??? Ha!
These wagons have ALWAYS been on my bucket list. Love it

 

I read the entire thread cause this thing is just plain insane.
Did I miss discussions of the rear axle and gear ratio taking the 2 speed into account?
Boy you weren’t putting it lightly about the use of some filler.


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What rear end and gearing is going in? What's done to the Glide? I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Nicely dressed engine bay.

 

I have to go hide under my bed after seeing that video...

 

Not settled on a differential yet. My first choice would be a early 60's Pontiac 9.3 but they are really expensive and hard to find. Second choice would be a 12 bolt from a 65 nova but again very rare and costly. Last choice is a 12 bolt truck rear end from a 64-66 c10. They have 30 spline axles and are pretty beefy.... gears should be in the 3.73-4.10 range.

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The later, 1973 on 8.5 10 bolts are pretty strong having a pinion shaft diameter the same as the 12 bolts. Nova's and other "corporate Nova's", Apollo's, Ventura's, etc from 73 on. I sold a 57 Olds rear end, axles, and two Eaton Positractions, about a year ago; I'd had them for years and decided I'd never use them. I bought the rear end originally from a second hand/junk store, and they had it listed as a 9" from a truck (I figure it showed up in a Ford truck) for $25.00! Sold the third member to GMC Bubba. Later found a pair of older Strange axles, and bought the Eaton Posi's, one a 4.88, the other a 5.38 geared setup. I broke even when I sold everything.........for $500.00! I hear a lot of hands impacting foreheads, but I really needed the room. There used to be an old wrecking yard around here, that had 57-64 Olds/Pont rear ends stacked high. I think we used to call it the good old days. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Looking at your car and listening to it reminds me about my introduction to sleepers, a humbling experience indeed. That sleeper was a '63 Dart wagon with a hot 340 and 4 speed (found out later). The big block, 4 speed muscle car I was driving had nothing for it. Loved sleepers ever since.
No doubt your car is gonna cause a few drivers to get their panties in a bunch when a grocery getter leaves them in the dust.

 

My '59 Ford is a sleeper and has surprised a few other drivers so far. The only way to go!

Have you thought of a Ford 9" rear? Those are pretty generic these days. You may even find a housing for the Chevy II already made up.