Ken's Engine Project...

[vigman]

Wow...

I'm sooooooooo jealous

All those PARTS
All those Vettes

ALL THAT HORESPOWER


Wow


Mike

The only thing that beats cubic inches is

Cubic FEET!

 

[Ken]

Speaking of size...

When I snapped that shot of the dual-quad 409, Will informed me that the 409 bore is larger than a 454's bore, and that by using the 427 or a 454 crank (somehow he did it) they came up with something like 480 cubic inches for that 409 block. Pretty cool eh? :cool

Oh, by the way, I just got back from the Vette Set monthly meeting and guess who was the lucky recipient of a free ticket to the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona tomorrow. :gap

I wonder where I'll be tomorrow? :J

_ken

 

[Dave M]

Ken, How ya goin' ?
They say there is a fine line between brilliance and insanity. Corvettes take on that persona too, I reckon. It sometimes seems insane to spend so much money on a car particularly if using a credit card. (I'm guilty!) But, I figure if ya keep it under control it is absolutely brilliant when done. Now this is where things start to get real interesting. All that Horse Power and magnificent modifications are just insane! Deliciously dangerous I like to say ! The more dangerous the better, I think that is what keeps us young. A jolly good challenge.
Carry on with that mighty "Highway Star". This might be a bit silly - Is it going to be Deep Purple ? I used to love that band. Don't feel too guilty about the money, I guess guilt is just a natural handbrake in the real scheme of things. I think Richard Newton in How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette said "It's either spend the money on a Corvette or spend it on a good Shrink!" I was never much good at quotes but it was something like that.
And 480 cubic inches ? You might need a crowbar to get it in!!
Dave M

 

[Tom Bryant]

Ken,

Maybe you could swap for that '09. Now that would have them scratching their heads when you opened the hood.

Tom

P.S. Doesn't Dyno Don Nicholson run a big inch 409 in his '62 Bel Air match racer?

 

[89ZZ4]

Ken that 409 is a sight to behold. Dating myself I remember people who had those things when I was in high school. A friend of mines father had a wagon with the 425 two 4s in it and 4 on the floor. Doubt they made very many of those in 62 or any other year for that matter. Your project is coming together beautifully!

Wear ears plugs at Pomona.

Phil (aka 89ZZ4)

 

[Ken]

...Is it going to be Deep Purple ?

I may like the song Dave, but my Corvette is SILVER, aren't all Corvettes silver? Or is it just the best looking ones that are silver? :L

Oh, and the big-inch 409 is not for mine, it's going into a '58 Chevy that's currently on a rotisery undergoing frame-off restoration. My engine will be about 420 inches.

Phil, I like the thought of the four-speed, dual-quad posi-traction 409 wagon! Have you seen the new Hot Rod yet? They have a '62 Dodge Dart 330 station wagon "Pate's Music Box" that was recently uncovered after sitting since the closing of the 1970 season - untouched! :cool

Tom, the "409-in-a-Corvette" was a possibility "in consideration" until the 427 "Mystery Motor" came along, right?

_ken

 

[Tom Bryant]

There was some thought of it. I wish I had pictures of my friend's 55 Corvette with the 409 in it. I should email him to see if he ever took any.

Tom

 

[Ken]

Thanks for all of your help Mike (vigman), I'll probably still be bringing the digital display out there soon, and you can teach me more about it for future reference.

_ken

 

[devlboy]

Ken, not that this is a mopar website, but you all might get a kick out of this one (we're all motorheads....right?) About a mile from my house here in NorhternNY in the garage of one of my old time party buds dad, is his father's (get this) 1970 Challenger R/T 440 six-pack convertable , drag pack, the whole bit! I'll do that one better and tell you the car has 3500 miles on it , most in 1/4 mile increments from the early 70's. He bought it new and has been offered stupid money and WILL NOT SELL. I will mention how much i love my '89 CORVETTE so i don't get booted to the "other cars" forum.:nono

 

[devlboy]

I neglected to mention that I did research this car at one time and it was one of 7 or something in the six-pack, automatic, convertable R/T combo. Nuff said!

 

[Ken]

Don't worry about that here, we love 'em all! :J

Check these out. This one was from John in the UK: Bad news, good news...

A follow-up from John: Had a ride...

One from Len: What would it take...

And this from yours truly: Corvettes that live on...

Another of our members (Who hasn't been around in a while! ) Maxwedge, is also very much into the "Mopar Mystique". :love

Gearheads of a feather always get together.

_ken

 

[Ken]

I just had a thought while watching RPM Tonight about the change in sponsorship of the NHRA from R.J. Reynolds (Winston) to Coca-Cola (PowerAde).

I don't usually fall prey to the "power of suggestion" when it comes to corporate sponsorship, but in this case I think I'll try PowerAde sometime. I know as we all do that the corporations are only in it for the money, but Coca-Cola didn't have to sponsor drag racing; there are plenty of other money-makers out there for them to choose.

I just figure if the drink is adequate for my tastes, then I'll try it. Hell, I am a Coke drinker as it is, so it's not like I'm going out of my way to spend my money with them. I applaud them for sponsoring drag racing fever.

_ken

 

[devlboy]

I had a tenant who was a coke employee and when they first brought powerade to the market he would give me a case every couple weeks. I gave it away because I thought it was syrupy (sp.) sweet as I recall. Then I heard they reformulated because it wasn't selling well???? This was several years ago, and I never tried it again. Oh yea, you can be sure Coke is looking for marketshare!

 

[maxrevs85]

The Cuda's are awesome. I've always been a die-hard chevy man, but the Mopars have always held a spot in my motor-heart . The Chrysler engineers were something else, GTX, Cudas and old Furys and the Satelittes. Thanks for sharing, never gettired of the old ones. 1968 396/375, chevelle my favorite. Owned one,conv.too.

I love my vette

 

[JHL]

Hi Ken

Just been catching up on the lastest episode of your project. I see that you only have a 2 bolt block. I wouldnt be worried about it they can handle a good amount of horse power without any problems. Almost all the engines I have seen fail at the strip either threw a rod or rod bolts failed.

When I checked out the numbers on my engine it turned out to be a 327 block from 68 and I suspect that when I drop the oil pan to do the gaskets it is only going to be a 2 bolt block. One thing you might consider is a set of Milodon splayed 4 bolt caps which are available as a conversion for 2 bolt blocks. I enquired with my parts guy but no one over here has them in stock, if my block is a 2 bolt it`s something I might get from Summit just for peice of mind.

The Cuda looks awesome, have you heard it going. Have a look at the pic, this was an immaculate Challenger I saw at a show in the summer.

J.

 

[Ken]

John, I have a feeling that if we didn't have this passion for our Corvettes, we'd be sitting behind the wheel of a Mopar musclecar.

_ken

 

[devlboy]

You're on to something there Ken I've always had an affection for them, especially the B-body . There's a yellow superbird in my area as well, haven't seen the car out in years. Probably for fear some soccer mom will t-bone it at an intersection.:cry

 

[Tom Bryant]

I always liked the Cudas of the last generation the best of all Mopars. There was a black covertible in Ft. Wayne that I would have killed for. It had one of those half round engines in it.

I ran across a '66 Coronet 2 door hardtop in the tow lot one day when I was looking at a stolen Camaro. I didn't pay much attention to it until I was squeezing past it and noticed that tiny HEMI emblem on the fender. I whipped open the hood and stared for awhile. Yes I ran to the office. I had a real good relationship with these people as they had our salvage contract. I just knew I was going to drag that baby home for $350. Seems it had been stolen and recovered too. State Farm had paid off on it but the insured wanted it back. Just a rust free old Dodge, white, black vinyl bench seat with AT on the column. Needed paint and a good cleaning but was all there and unmolested.

Tom

 

[69MyWay]

Ken,

I helped a buddy build a 350 with a rather nasty blower a top that we shoe horned into a S-10 blazer. Ran like a screamin eagle, and in fact is still running today some 6 years later and gets used nearly every day. Long story short------ it is a two bolt block.

You don't have any worries there.

 

[JHL]

Ken, maybe one day.

I really like the look of the Cuda/Challenger from the early 70`s but it would be second to my Vette.

J.