What happened to the 409 engine?

This engine was superseded by the 409 cu in (6.7 L) as Chevrolet’s top performing engine in 1961 and went out of production for cars at the end of that year. It was produced through 1964 for use in large Chevrolet trucks. With a four-barrel carburetor, the base Turbo-Thrust produced 250 hp (186 kW).

Was the Chevy 409 a good engine?

Chevrolet’s 348/409 engines were good performers and they were dependable engines. The zenith of W engine development came in 1963 in an almost mythical full-size one-year-only Chevrolet built strictly for drag racing, the Z-11 Impala.

What cars had the 409?

Chevrolet brought muscle car power to the people in the early 1960s, especially with the 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409. The mid-1961 introduction of the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport option package showcased another new arrival, the 409-cid V-8. A bargain at just $53.80, the SS “kit” was offered on any Impala.

What is the best engine for drag racing?

The big block Chevy is one of the more popular engines among bracket racers and sportsman-level racers, in part because bigger sometimes is better. The trend in recent years has been to go bigger. One of the reasons, say industry experts, is that it’s the easiest way to achieve big horsepower.

Was the 409 fast?

Motor Trend tested a ’61 409 Impala SS on the drag strip for its Sept. 1961 issue. With the factory-installed 3.36 axle gears, the car ran a 15.31-second quarter-mile at 94.24 mph. When fit with “dealer-installed” 4.56 axle gears, Motor Trend’s test car ran the quarter-mile in 14.02 seconds at 98.14 mph.

How much horsepower did a 409 have?

The top-trim versions of the street-car 409 churned out an astonishing 425 horsepower, while the Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins-tuned NHRA cars could run the quarter mile in under 13 seconds.

What is the difference between 348 and 409?

There are a few visual differences that distinguish a 348 from a 409. The most obvious is the dipstick location. The 348 has it on the left, or driver side; the 409 has it on the right, or passenger side. However, since the pans are interchangeable, it’s a simple matter to make one look like the other.

Is a car a 409?

“409” was inspired by Gary Usher’s obsession with hot rods. Its title refers to an automobile fitted with Chevrolet’s 409-cubic-inch-displacement “big block” V8 engine.

Are V12 engines street legal?

You can use any car as long as it can use a V12. -if you are using NOS, putting it on full will cause the car to do wheelies even in 6th gear. So I suggest putting it on half, or even just none at all. -use this engine for night drag races on very straight roads like the ones on the freeway.

How can you tell the difference between a 348 and a 409 engine?

What engine is a 409?

Chevrolet V-8
“My four-speed dual-quad, positraction 409…” The 409-cid big-block Chevrolet V-8 is the engine made famous on drag strips across the country and celebrated by the Beach Boys’ 1962 song, “409.” It began life as the Turbo-Thrust 348-cid engine that debuted for the ’58 model year.