Re: the "W" engines,348,409

[Joe C.]

Clem:

I didn't know about the cc's heat transfer issues. I always believed that the engine's Achillies heel was poor head design which limited RPM. Probably a combination of both which caused Chevrolet Engineering to kill it in 1965 in favor of the much stronger MKIV. God knows, both Chevy and Ford needed a "Mopar Killer" because nobody could touch those Chrysler wedges in the early sixties.

Joe

[Clem Z.]

Re: the "W" engines,348,409

i owned a brand new 58 impala with a 348,3X2 carbs which i installed a solid lifter cam,mechanical carb linkage and 4 speed. it was quick for street drag racing. the flat combustion chambers allowed the valves to be unshrouded which should have let it breath well but even with work on the valves and valve pockets in the heads the heat problem limited the performance. i also had a 59 impala with a 348 and this one came with a solid lifter cam but i wrecked it soon after i got it so i bought a new 59 corvette and as they say the rest is history.

[David Van Weele]

Re: the "W" engines,348,409

The 348 also made a great engine for a tow vehicle. We put one in a Willys panel truck and towed the race cars and boats around the country.

[Clem Z.]

the 425 HP 409 was a powerfull engine

a friend had one in a 57 corvette. the carbs had to stick out thru the hood but in a straight line this corvette was tought to beat