348 or 409 "W" engines

[68Stepbed]

Has anyone ever installed a 348 or 409 "W" engine in a 67-72 or seen one installed? Do they bolt in? Are there amy clearance or fitment issues? Are there any headers available?

I was thinking it would be really cool to step outside the box of standard sb and bb Chevy engines and install one of these in a truck. Any info or pics would be great.

[c10addict]

I like the way you think...I think I saw one on here once.. I had a 409 mocked in to a 67 Nova I was building once but sold it before it was finished..

[woodridge]

I don't think there would be any problem. The only thing I would question would be the mounts. BH is the same, the only other issue would be brackets. I think it would be a really cool install. Something different. I know a fellow in Knoxville that did have some 348/409 stuff. Let me know if you need anything and we will give him a call.

Any parts for these will be big $$$ though.

[steelhorse]

On horsepower tv they just had a show about a guy specializing in 409s.

[ksjh1316]

Thats the only bad thing is parts are really hard to get. I was just speaking with the guy who is doing my seat and he had one he was trying to get ready for his Chevelle

[Jtrux]

In Peterson's 4wheel magazine I saw a 69 or 70 4x4 with a 409. I'm guessing they modified the hell out the firewall to make that thing fit in it or just moved it up a lot.

[cwilli84]

There is or was one around the metro detroit area in a burb, it was silver and the guy looked like he was a GM goodwrencher. I'll see if I have pics. I think it needed to have the airbox on the firewall removed for clearance possibly some brake booster issues too.

[ChevLoRay]

Those things started life as truck motors, so putting one in a truck ain't no big thang.

Putting one in place of a 235 or a 265 in a '55 was one way to get some oohs and aahs when you opened its mouth. In todays times, a W-motor is a relic and certainly a conversation piece. Those big old Edelbrock aluminum valve covers look wild, especially when there's a triad of deuces on the manifold, covered with a set of Stellings helmets. Impressive.....to say the least.

Go for it. After all, wasn't the first 427 made from a W-block? Didn't Smokey Yunick have something to do with that? Lotta history in those engines. "She's Real Fine, My 4-0-9" had them for the inspiration for the lyrics. Gotta love 'em.

[streetstar]

I saw a streetrod in OSR magazine ('Ol Skool Rodz) about a year ago that really piqued my interest in these things.
I was talking to my dad about those because he had a '59 with a tri power 348 and he said it would "run all day"
Which i think is good if i put my Old Timer car jargon translater to it

Probaly twice the cash or more than a big block -- but the wow factor would be huge

[69halfton]

hotrod magazine just finished a story about all these new trick parts for the 409's and 348s. including new heads. cant remember, i think it might have been two months ago, ill see if i can find the issue.

...yeah, im really behind on my reading.

[kdailey4315]

I just saw a craigslist ad for a 348 today and thought that would cool to put in my 70

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/pts/795913094.html

[68Stepbed]

Did anyone know that in the Beach Boys song 4-0-9, the engine revving at the first of the song was actually a 348. They couldn't find a real 409 in time for the recording, so they used a car with the smaller version instead.

I had actually thought about this when I tore my truck down for the resto, but money was an issue. I also had a good engine and just couldn't justify spending any more cash on another engine. The episode of Horsepower TV this past weekend got the old wheel turning again. I probably won't be able to do this anytime soon, but I just wanted to see if I could find any info.

The aftermarket has finally opened up for the W engine family. Edelbrock makes new aluminum heads. JE, Ross, and a few other piston companies offer new pistons. Eagle, and Callies offer stroker cranks and rods. The list goes on. The hard to find commodity is the blocks and real vintage parts. If I decided to go this route on a truck, I would probably lean torward a 348 since the 409 blocks are so rare.

I'm glad to see there are others sharing interest in this. Hopefully soon we will be able to see something come of it.

[haysonj]

I put a 409 with duel AFB's in a 1963 1/2 ton it bolted right up to the Muncie 3 speed. I learned real quick how to replace gears in that transmission. Later changed to a T-400 and ran fine. Bell housing and motor mounts all worked.

[drivethechevy]

i wish i had a scanner just for this post, in my dads old photo albums from whe he was in high school in the 70's there is a picture of a truck, it doesnt show any of the truck just under the hood but i know its one of our trucks and its got a 409 tripower acording to the valve cover logos and the 3 duces it looked like it fit fine under the hood

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

Did anyone know that in the Beach Boys song 4-0-9, the engine revving at the first of the song was actually a 348. They couldn't find a real 409 in time for the recording, so they used a car with the smaller version instead.

I had actually thought about this when I tore my truck down for the resto, but money was an issue. I also had a good engine and just couldn't justify spending any more cash on another engine. The episode of Horsepower TV this past weekend got the old wheel turning again. I probably won't be able to do this anytime soon, but I just wanted to see if I could find any info.

The aftermarket has finally opened up for the W engine family. Edelbrock makes new aluminum heads. JE, Ross, and a few other piston companies offer new pistons. Eagle, and Callies offer stroker cranks and rods. The list goes on. The hard to find commodity is the blocks and real vintage parts. If I decided to go this route on a truck, I would probably lean torward a 348 since the 409 blocks are so rare.

I'm glad to see there are others sharing interest in this. Hopefully soon we will be able to see something come of it.

BTW, I fully support your outside of the box idea on this. There's no doubt that newer LSX engines and even newer EFI 350's are more efficient and more powerful, but they're everywhere. That kind of powerplant would add even more to your already great truck IMO. This same kind of thinking is what attracts me to the old GMC V6's.

[LUV2XCLR8]

I got a buddy looking for a 409, does that count?

[Longhorn Man]

there used to be a cat on here that had one... but I can't remember his name, and it was at least 3 or 4 years ago

[Stocker]

When I was in my early teens (in the early Sixties), there was a kid in town with a straight-axle '55 Shoebox, with a lumpy 409 and two four-barrel carbs. He said he only got 3 mpg (yup, three) so he switched to a single four-barrel and doubled his mileage to 6 mpg.

Maybe a bit off-topic but I couldn't help passing it along...

[69TowRig]

Help a "youngster" out. What's the hype with these engines? I've never heard of a "W" block before. Something of an "original" Big Block?

[Longhorn Man]

google is your friend
http://www.348-409.com/

[original_balzer]

I would LOVE to put one in my 61. But after some research I dont think it would fit in my budget. These engines are SPENDY!

The cool factor is super high though.
I would settle for the 348 as I would like it for the looks more than anything.

[Huck]

The 348 was originally designed as a work truck engine. The 409 was commonly used in farm and work trucks. Neither was a very strong long lasting block. First out in mid 61, the 409 was used to try to run with the mopars but usually came up a bit short. They are neat but when you consider that today, a core can cost you $2,000. ---and a good running one might be $3,000.++---that's a lot to throw at a truck. You can get more power out of a 396-454 for a whole lot less money. Street rodders love the 348-409 W blocks for the looks--not necessarly for the performance.
In fact, I personally don't believe GM ever made a big block that will last as long as a good set up 350---010 short block. Power per cube and life of motor!!! Ever hear about a 200-300,000 mile big block???
My 2nd car was a 58 Impala 348 and my best buddy bought a 63 409--400hp. Noisey as hell with solid lifters and my brothers worked 327 would run with it all day long!! huck

[sweet70beast]

Originally Posted by Huck

They are neat but when you consider that today, a core can cost you $2,000. ---and a good running one might be $3,000.++---that's a lot to throw at a truck. You can get more power out of a 396-454 for a whole lot less money. Street rodders love the 348-409 W blocks for the looks--not necessarly for the performance. huck

Wow I didn't realize they were that much. I bought my running 60k original miles 348 for $150 minus the carb and flywheel. It came from a 60 Impala that the farmer had pulled the motor from to change the gaskets and put the engine in a corner of his shop and forgot about it. He sold the car a few years later then I came along a few years after that and got the motor. I'm going to put it in my 50 Chevy 3100 for the looks aswell backed by a 700r4. It has every thing distributor. exhaust manifolds, water pump, even the power steering generator but with out the pump tho.

[Longhorn Man]

warren, I do know for a fact the new roller cam big blocks (generation 4 is it?) DO in fact last hundreds of thousands of miles with no work. I have a buddy who has 3 of them, all in between 200 to 400 thousand on them, and the fleet of 3500HDs we work on for the city of columbus all have 200k+ on them pretty much all unopened too.
As for the OLDer big blocks though... I'll agree with you.

[No3Fan4Ever]

It was the August issue of Hot Rod Magazine that had the article on the new 409 heads from Edelbrock

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...olet_409.shtml

definately would amp up the cool factor with one of these engines in the truck