Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

I know its a shot in the dark, but I have a customer looking for a set of 4 bolt conversion caps for a 409 Chevrolet.
Just the center 3.

I have a call into Pro Gram, waiting for them to call back.

Maybe someone has an un used set laying around collecting dust???


PM me here.


Thanks, Keith

Straight or splayed??

Also have you looked at BBC caps??
The mains are close to the same just not sure of the blot spacing
May be worth checking

Aren't the 409 "W" mains at 2.50" vs the BBC's at 2.75" bore??

And I am here to tell that if you install light-weight pistons in a hopped up 409, it will rpm like a 283 SBC on Steroids!

pdq67

isn't dart making a aluminum 409 block now don't know what caps are on it but if you contacted dart maybe you can buy some from them..

sorry quick search found bill mitchell hardcore products lists block but set up for bbc mains

I bought a new set of Pro grams



Thanks

Oh, another off the wall question here..

What's a re-buildable long block 409 big truck engine selling for? Probably can't find a car 409 to buy is the only reason I asked about the old truck engine.

pdq67

pdq67 wrote:Aren't the 409 "W" mains at 2.50" vs the BBC's at 2.75" bore??

And I am here to tell that if you install light-weight pistons in a hopped up 409, it will rpm like a 283 SBC on Steroids!

pdq67

Just curious...why is that?

Jeff,

If you examine a 348/409/427 "W" engine closely, you will find out that they are basically, "scaled up", SBC's, except for their funky heads!

I ran the size ratio numbers once, BUT I forget on which engines?

I think a 409 vs a 283, but it's been years ago.

Also the "W" engines use SBC timing gears but not the chain;
A SBC damper;
A SBC fuel pump;
SBC lifters;
A SBC oil pump and driveshaft??? -- I'm not sure about this one....

And one very important thing is that the "W" engines dizzy is like 3/4" to maybe 1" longer than the SBC/BBC dizzies! So don't try to use a SBC/BBC dizzy in a REAL "W" engine block and intake manifold because the dizzy won't be long enough to turn the oil pump driveshaft!

If not mistaken, W/P's and Walden modified the "W" engine's intake manifold so that they can use regular SBC/BBC dizzies...

This and BBC main diameters, rocker arms, and water pumps due to the "W" engine parts becoming quite rare nowadays..

I have thought about 90 degree angle milling vs stock at 74 degrees a 409 block and installing an old pair of BBC -206 closed chamber, (just to hold the compression up there), large oval heads on it. Then use BBC pistons...

But I figure the deck would then need to be furnace welded back to make it thick and strong enough to do this. WHY, just because sorta deal is all.. Bore it at least .060" if not an 1/8th inch over and then see if a 4.25" or just MAYBE, a 4.375" stroked BBC crank with cut down mains can be fitted together to make a BIG engine out of a "W" block. It should be about a 541.3" sized engine using an 1/8" overbore and a 4.375" crank....

I'm just a dreaming right along here..

pdq67