Ok I was watching a U tube video. They dynoed two stock engines. factory parts. both had two 4 bbl carbs. The 409 made 405 HP. The 421 Pontiac made 485 HP and made more torque also.They are supposed to dyno a hemi and a FE ford in a up coming video.
To me a more valid comparison would be to dyno a 427 Z-11 against the 421 Super Duty. That way they both had the latest and greatest heads, intake manifolds that were not RPO pieces, the Chevy would be on an even par with the Pontiac’s 12.5-1 compression and the cams would have been the latest and greatest too. I would even give the SD the 2-4 bathtub intake, instead of the 180* early SD 2-4 version.
My dads youngest brother. My uncle Chuck. He bought a brand new 421 two four bbl four speed in 1962. He always claimed that the 409 was easy to beat. But he said he once was outrun by what he thinks was a 427 W engine. He raced at the US 30 drag strip near Gary Ind. I was always of the opinion that if it really was 1962 Falfas 55 would of had a tin indian mill.
Less then sexty Z11 impalas were ever built. They was going for what was seen on the roar in 1963. I wish I was there in 1963 to see all these cars for real.
Wow. Can't see the video until I get home, but probably a 1962 era SD 421 ?? I have a 1965 GTO that runs good with a '64 Catalina 421, but NOT that good ( as the video ). More sedate 421 for me .... near 270 hp ... think 276 factory ?? The Super Cat 421's are wicked beasts. Bucket list car being an aluminum clipped 1962 Catalina post or hardtop. Love to have one.
How dare you insult the 409 like that! Ha ha interesting stuff. Both great motors Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
'62 421 production mostly 385 HP & 405 HP. My "Special Equipment" '62 brochure has 410-420 & 450-460 penciled in over the factory ratings. The 276 HP is the 8.6 comp. ''Economy" 389 ..
It has been discussed on other boards in the past, and it was revealed(on SpeedTalk forum I believe) the Pontiac engine was a ringer, specially "prepared" for this test by Butler Performance(Yeah, no agenda there ). Real world it was not vastly better than the dual quad 409.....it mostly can down to tuner and driver skill to determine which was faster in the real world. Video says "no ringers", but the Pontiac engine had the equivalent cam to the dealer service installed "McKellar" aftermarket grind from back in the day. it was also revealed to have a custom valvejob and low tension rings IIRC. The Hemi that is in the test after this one was also revealed to be massively cheated up.
W motors have a one of a kind look. A little more performance to me doesn't make up for the loss in looks. Kinda like choosing a woman that cooks a little better over a hot one that cooks ok.
Well Ive owned both Pontiac and W engines . Started out with a 348 tri power. Real dog 283,s could beat it. Overheating problems. Learned the sane lesson again with 409 engines in dump trucks. not reliable would pop the heads off the valves. I at present still have several Pontiac mills. Back in the late sixties and early 70,s nobody wanted the W engines.
The hemis were "massively cheated up " from the factory. They were rated at 425HP but years later a Chrysler engineer smuggled some dyno sheets out of the test lab which revealed they were getting 475HP in 1965. They down rated them for better "luck" at the drags where cars were classed by HP/weight ratio.
The Jalopy Journal
