dean409
Well Known Member
Hello everyone! I've looked in on this sight in the past but didn't feel I belonged yet. And now, a long story; My older brother and I bought a garage full of 348-409 parts from a guy going through a divorce back in 1986 for $700. Under the pretense of each building a W(my first car was a 60 Impala 348 powerglide which I still had at that time), we divvied parts up. A couple of the blocks, one 348 and one passenger 409, had major bottom end damage that was unrepairable so those went to the recycler.
My brother purchased a recently departed lady's 1958 Impala and proceeded to build his 409. Bore was clean,so stock pistons went back in,a Crane solid cam(113.5 seperation? ugh!), 7/16" studs and Comp 1.72 magnums went in it,all balanced nice and pretty. Also in the parts pile was a ultra rare '61 small port aluminum intake! Throw in a close ratio Muncie and cast aluminum bell housing! Of course he got those, so I found an Offy dual quad for $50 in a salvage yard. That'll show him. We stabbed the 409 in his '58, his wife got pissed about the time spent on it, threatened divorce, so he sold it. He regrets it to this day, especially that intake. I put the remaining parts in storage, built a nitrous-fed 468 cid '71 Chevelle, then a '71 SS Nova that I later tubbed. I bought the Nova with a frozen 350 for $400,sold the small block for $250,the 12 bolt 3.08 Posi for $300,and spent the next 20 years finishing it. With only paint remaining,some richie kept knocking on my door about buying it. After 3 months of contemplation(one day he showed up with two wads of $100 bills!), I gave in. My only reason: to finally build the 409. Current parts availability for these motors was a huge influence.
Started buying parts like I was possesed or drunk,took the truck block,crank,heads,6.135 h-beams,Ross pistons,2.19/1.72 valves,guideplates,7/16" rocker studs and 6-3/4" damper to my builder. Two weeks later I get a call that the block is cracked 1-1/2" down parallel to the deck surface and about 7" long. I'm devastated! He says he can repair it with pins and JB Weld filler with the head torqued on, then proceed with the build. Everyone I've spoke to(guys who've done this type of repair)tells me the same thing: eventually the spot starts weeping and you're lucky if it never pulls apart. Wha???!!! Any one out there ever go thru this? I am absolutely beside myself!
My brother purchased a recently departed lady's 1958 Impala and proceeded to build his 409. Bore was clean,so stock pistons went back in,a Crane solid cam(113.5 seperation? ugh!), 7/16" studs and Comp 1.72 magnums went in it,all balanced nice and pretty. Also in the parts pile was a ultra rare '61 small port aluminum intake! Throw in a close ratio Muncie and cast aluminum bell housing! Of course he got those, so I found an Offy dual quad for $50 in a salvage yard. That'll show him. We stabbed the 409 in his '58, his wife got pissed about the time spent on it, threatened divorce, so he sold it. He regrets it to this day, especially that intake. I put the remaining parts in storage, built a nitrous-fed 468 cid '71 Chevelle, then a '71 SS Nova that I later tubbed. I bought the Nova with a frozen 350 for $400,sold the small block for $250,the 12 bolt 3.08 Posi for $300,and spent the next 20 years finishing it. With only paint remaining,some richie kept knocking on my door about buying it. After 3 months of contemplation(one day he showed up with two wads of $100 bills!), I gave in. My only reason: to finally build the 409. Current parts availability for these motors was a huge influence.
Started buying parts like I was possesed or drunk,took the truck block,crank,heads,6.135 h-beams,Ross pistons,2.19/1.72 valves,guideplates,7/16" rocker studs and 6-3/4" damper to my builder. Two weeks later I get a call that the block is cracked 1-1/2" down parallel to the deck surface and about 7" long. I'm devastated! He says he can repair it with pins and JB Weld filler with the head torqued on, then proceed with the build. Everyone I've spoke to(guys who've done this type of repair)tells me the same thing: eventually the spot starts weeping and you're lucky if it never pulls apart. Wha???!!! Any one out there ever go thru this? I am absolutely beside myself!
