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27K views 98 replies 21 participants last post by  painted jester 
#1 ·
Hi All,

Just have a few curiosity-driven questions about the 409, somewhat inspired by TucsonJay's post here (#316).

What ever happened to the Chevy 409? Was it trumped performance-wise by the 427 or the 400? I see this engine has a few die-hard fans, but there don't seem to be very many engines out there. Also, if anyone could shed some light on its strengths and weaknesses.

Any members still own one?

Thanks in advance! :thumbup:
 
#32 · (Edited)
yep no converter (fluid coupling) I ran the stall with a turbo 400. Im typing faster then remembering and I type slow


I also think that when I ran the 4 speed I ran a nodular iron bell housing at the track not cast. (I never ran the aluminum ) But I dont remember if the nodular was by GM or aftermarket? I dont think GM ever offered a nodular housing?
 
#34 ·
Hey Jester,
painted jester said:
LOL Hey I didnt say dead (wow :D ) gone meant here there every where, Ive lost contact with them all & a few passed away. The smilly :( meant Im sad about the club being gone and all of us moving into other areas of the country! Fond memories!!! by gone era!!! Im having a heart attack here!!!!! :sweat:

LOL, Just funnin with you :D Thanks for the thoughts :thumbup:

..

I tried to get more info on these transes but cant come up with much, These computers :confused: but then Im old LOL and gona be gone soon LOL :D It was fun writting this post(Im laughing now & I hope you are too) :D

Ive been off here since spring been too busy Short days & cold brought me back!! Last time I said I was old on here a bunch of people climbed down my throat So I hope every one takes this in fun :D


Jester
Oh man, did I misunderstand what you wrote, or what. I am so sorry, yikes... :pain: On the plus side, I'm glad to see you found it funny and that, well... I think I'll just stop there. :D :sweat:




painted jester said:
:welcome: hope you had a good summer :thumbup: Dont know about the gear ratio . Did you really keep that drawing since high school,I dont have anything from high school but I used to draw cars like that!!! :thumbup:
If you like that one, you gotta check out his work here: "High School Drawings"




lg1969 said:
Man that thing sounds mean!
 
#36 ·
I Had One

I Had A Beautiful Red 63 409, 400 Hp. They May Have Not Been The Most Efcient Or Tunable But Just Brute Horse Power. They Were And Still Are A Legend, If There Was One In Town Everyone Would Point And Stare As It Would Go By. The Beach Boys Said It BeSt, Merry Christmus, Garrell Patterson
 
#38 ·
i had one

i had a red 63 impala, 4 speed 400 hp. car but you could get one in a belair, and biscayne. they were legions in this part of the south. i drag raced lot of the fast cars i owned but never my 409, but it was run hard with never a problem. there is a man in rockmart, ga. called mr. 409. he has 4 cars and one is a factory light weight 62 impala complete and very nice. it is setting on wood blocks and i am pretty sure he has turned down $200,000.00 for it . one of the best known factory 409 drag racers was dyno don nicholson racing out of atlanta in maybe a 1961, 62, and 63. original valve covers, timing chain cover, air cleaners, etc. will bring $300.00 to $500.00. i sold mr. 409 a bare, cracked, rusty block years ago for $200.00 and i understand he has it running in a car now.
 
#40 ·
1930u said:
Here's an old pic of a 63 car. Aluminum nose and Z-11
Diggin' the "430 HP" on the fender :D




garrell.770 said:
i had a red 63 impala, 4 speed 400 hp. car but you could get one in a belair, and biscayne. they were legions in this part of the south. i drag raced lot of the fast cars i owned but never my 409, but it was run hard with never a problem. there is a man in rockmart, ga. called mr. 409. he has 4 cars and one is a factory light weight 62 impala complete and very nice. it is setting on wood blocks and i am pretty sure he has turned down $200,000.00 for it . one of the best known factory 409 drag racers was dyno don nicholson racing out of atlanta in maybe a 1961, 62, and 63. original valve covers, timing chain cover, air cleaners, etc. will bring $300.00 to $500.00. i sold mr. 409 a bare, cracked, rusty block years ago for $200.00 and i understand he has it running in a car now.
Sounds like you've got some history with these motors too. What happened to the Impala?
 
#41 ·
I have history- my story, at the age of 3, I began living with my grand parents. In October 63 they ordered the white 409-340 SS that I posted earlier in this thread. My grandpa passed away in 1972 and willed me the car but grandma continued drive it until 1975. I then drove it all through high school until 1977. It's just been garaged since then and has 66,000 original miles. I'm very lucky to still have it.
 
#42 · (Edited)
1930u said:
I have history- my story, at the age of 3, I began living with my grand parents. In October 63 they ordered the white 409-340 SS that I posted earlier in this thread. My grandpa passed away in 1972 and willed me the car but grandma continued drive it until 1975. I then drove it all through high school until 1977. It's just been garaged since then and has 66,000 original miles. I'm very lucky to still have it.
That is history! And a very sentimental one. :) I wish I could claim that I had a car that my Grandpa bought and passed on to me. Based on the picture you posted - and Im sure the answer is obvious, but I have to ask - did your Grandfather race it?

I'm sure you're gonna hold onto it and pass it on. Now, you say its been garaged since '77. Any plans to bring it out soon?

Btw, I absolutely love the personal stories everyone shares. :D



-----




EDIT: Since you guys have good memories of you cars, I wanted to mention a thread : "What Are Your Fondest Memories of Your Favorite Car(s)?" It would be very cool if you guys added you stories there. :thumbup:
 
#43 ·
red 63 409

my wife says i traded my mint, red, 63 to a chevy dealer for a new 93 chevy indy pace truck, a huge tree fell on top of the truck in 1995 when a hurricane came inland all the way to n.w. georgia. i have pictures of it mashed flat as well as my 2300 mile 1993 1le Z28.
 
#45 ·
I do drive the car a few times a year. I bought a new 77 Trans Am and thats when I stopped driving the 409. I do plan on leaving the 409 to my kids. I get goose bumps when I drive it. I remember the day the salesman delivered it to our house and drove off in our trade in, a 55 Mercury. Grandpa never really raced it except a few times goofing around at a stop light. My high school buddies can't even believe that I still have it.
 
#48 ·
That hurricane wouldn`t have been named Opal would it?
Who showed up on the evening of October 4th 1995 with a real nasty attitude. I know plenty about her and I should, she crushed my place and my sisters with trees. I`m not afraid of much, not much worries me. I`m afraid of hurricanes. Never knew what one could do until Opal. She taught me plenty.
 
#49 ·
Thanks For The Memory, Double Vision

A LITTLE MEMORY PROBLEM PROHIBITS ME FROM EVEN REMEMBERING THE STORM, BUT THATS HER. I HAVE PICTURES FROM MY FRONT YARD AND YOU CAN NOT SEE OUR HOME OR THREE AUTOS FOR TREES ON THEM. NOT ONLY DID CRUSH MY INDY PACE TRUCK AND MY 2,000 MILE Z28, BUT IT CUT A NEW OLDS, IN HALF. MY WIFE SAID I HAD SUCH A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER( THE SAME ONE I TRADED THE 1963 409 TO FOR THE INDY PACE TRUCK) THAT WE DROVE AWAY WITH A NEW BLACK IMPALA, THE GOOD ONES, AND A NEW CHEVY TRUCK WITHOUT EVEN SIGNING A NOTE, CONTRACT OR ANYTHING. HE TOLD ME TO COME BY WHEN WE SETTLED WITH THE INSURANCE CO. I AM LIKE YOU, NOT AFRAID OF MUCH EXCEPT WHEN THERE IS A HURRICANE IN THE GULF. WE LIVE 60 MILES DIRECTLY WEST OF ATLANTA ON THE GA, ALA. LINE AND STILL HAD 90 MPH WINDS. GARRELL :confused:
 
#50 · (Edited)
Off topic

Heres a good one about weather & Hag. ins.

A friend of mine, John, was washing his Nova (in his drive in front of his garage) before a show. A heavy wind came up and a limb came down on his hood & fender. When he called Hag. ins. they denied his claim because of the garage clause!!(it was not in the garage :eek:) . Hag. ins. lost a lot of customers that knew john and many people that were thinking about getting Hag. ins. changed their minds after hearing what happened to John!

I know this was off topic but reading about the storm brought it to mind.
 
#51 ·
Say What!

I Have A 20,000 Mile, Never Seen A Raindrop C5 Corvette And A 1939(don't Call It A Rat Rod) Chevy Truck, 350 Ci.,350, Polished Aluminum Intake, Chrome Sanderson Street Rod Headers, A Hilburn Type Scoop Air Cleaner, And Flames, Red Steel Wheels 10" On Back And 6" On Front With Stainless Baby Moon Caps. Guess What, Is Hag Insurance Possibly Haggerty Insurance. Guess Who Also Uses Hag. Ins. On The Above Described? The 39 Is Painted Hotrod Primer With No Patina, No Rust Holes, It Does Have A Floor With Carpet And A Leather Seat Cover And Glass In All Windows. Also Hase Electric Fan, Front Disc Brakes, A Mustang Rack And A Tilt Wheel And No Mexican Blanket. I Tell My Family Every Day To Not Refer To As A Rat Rod But A Hot Rod Truck. I Do Like Rat Rods Though And The Different Ways People Improvise And Personalize Them. Happy Hoidays, What Was The Subject We Started Out With A Few Days Ago? Garrell
 
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