How to Rebuild & Modify Chevy 348/409 Engines (S-A Design) - Softcover

Carollo, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1934709573 ISBN 13: 9781934709573

Publisher: CarTech, 2012

Synopsis

Chevy's W-series 348 and later the 409 became legends on the street, and in particular the 409 also became a legend on the track. In the early 1960s, these engines powered a variety of GM vehicles and the Z11 Impalas at the drag strip. While these engines enjoyed a hay day in the early 1960s and pop culture status in the hot rod community, especially with the Beach Boys and their hit song "409", higher horsepower Mark IV Chevy big-block engines overshadowed these W-engines by the late 1960s. But recently, the 348s and 409s have enjoyed a high-performance renaissance and many speed manufacturers are making heads, blocks, and virtually every part for these engines.

Veteran magazine writer and author John Carollo provides insightful instruction for rebuilding a stock engine and also how to build a sound performance W-engine as well. The reader is shown how to select a strong clean block, free of core shift and fatal cracks, select the best heads for a particular build, and increase the compression ratio. Selecting a camshaft and a strong connecting rod and piston combination is also an important aspect of the engine build, and all options are examined.

Guidance in this book will allow you to select the right cam for a high-performance aftermarket package and a cam that won't over power a stock engine's valve train. In addition, building a large displacement stock engine of 427 inches or aftermarket block to go to 509 inches is covered. From mild to wild, from stock to modified, the book covers everything you need to know about the legendary 348-409 engines.

About this title

About the Author

John Carollo is an established freelance writer and photographer. He contributes to Engine Builder Magazine, Muscle Car Review, Super Chevy, and a number of other magazines. He also writes for several NASCAR magazines, including Stock Car Racing magazine. He lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

From the Back Cover

The 348 and 409 were Chevy’s first big-block production engines, and the unconventional cylinder and head design put these engines into a class of their own. The design produced scalloped valve covers, and the 348 and 409 became known as the W engine. But the engine made history by delivering impressive performance in full-size cars and trucks, and even more impressive performance in drag-racing performance of the early 1960s. And of course, the Beach Boys song, “409” immortalized the engine. But in 1964, General Motors released the Mark IV big-block Chevy and it effectively replaced the 409. It seemed that the W engine would be relegated to a brief chapter in the annals of V-8 engine history, but recently, it has enjoyed a high-performance renaissance. Many speed shops are making heads, blocks, intake manifolds, and virtually every part for the venerable W engine. Author John Carollo provides insightful instruction for rebuilding a stock engine as well as building a high-performance W engine from stock and aftermarket parts. Carollo shows you how to select a strong stock block, free of flaws, core shift, and fatal cracks. He also covers in detail the aftermarket block options from World Products and Bob Walla Racing. The wide range of stock and aluminum aftermarket heads from Edelbrock, Lamar Walden Automotive, and others is explored, so you can select the best heads for a particular build and application. The W engines used heavy pistons so you’re shown the ideal connecting rod and piston combinations. In addition, the book covers building a stroker engine as well as upgrading the induction system and ignition system. If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to the W engine, you’ve found it.

Edition details

• Publisher: CarTech
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1934709573
• ISBN 13: 9781934709573
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144