World Products is now making new 409 blocks....ALUMINUM! Just read this in the Engine Builder e-Newsletter. Here is the link to follow: www.worldcastings.com Spinout
There has been some threads on this in the past with a lot of valuable info and answers about availability and cost. I believe Mr. Walden has had a lot of input on the design and launch of this venture.
Here's a thread from a while back with a ton of info on them: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420877&highlight=409+blocks There is also mentioned in the thread of an aftermarket cast iron 409 block too!
Somebody else is making 409 blocks too, someone also said the world blocks are just remachined big block castings, I dont know anything about 409 myself, but just relaying info i read on here a couple months back
SPINOUT...there's no such thing as REASONABLE when it come's to aluminum block's. and i'am very surprised there's a market for 409 engines. realy the 396-454 mill's are much better, in my view...POP.
That is true the new generation V8's are better in the performance department, however; do you have the great looking 'W' heads/valve covers? Some times it is not just about performance. Now saying that, have you ever watched Mr. 409, Wooly Bully, etc. launch their cars and the times they are turning? I would put any BB up against their cars with the same build......
"Damn, now I know I put that hacksaw somewhere, God I wish my nut would stop hurting....maybe he's just lonely now....."
excellent. the stupidly rich can now blow 5 G's on an aluminum 409 block. that ought to impresss the hell out of those guys with the aluminum Ardun head flatheads.
I agree with 49ratfink - I dig the 409, but 5 grand. JEEEEZ. That is more than I have tied up im my whole car. The Rock
Barry Camp has #1, Lamar Walden is using it to replace the used up cast blocks he keeps breaking. It will be a lot cheaper in the long run, but then again there are not a lot of people running mid 9's in th quarter with their 409 powered 62 Bubble Tops like Barry!
Hell for 5grand you can buy a Donovan 10.200x4.600 aluminum block delivered to your front door anywhere in the US! And I'm sure you can build alot more inches with that one, but the 409 block looks really cool!
The people on here that are *****ing about the price have never looked into actually building a 409. Try buying a 409 truck block some time... $1200 gets you in the door, if you find a deal on one. P***enger car blocks start at $2500 and go up from there. Then you've got the machine-shop costs, which isn't going to be cheap. At a bare minimum, you'll have $3,000 in a bare block with 2-bolt mains, and an area between the deck and the freeze plugs that's prone to cracking. Sleeve a cylinder (which is pretty common), and maybe add some 4-bolt caps and ARP studs, and now you're at what this new block is going to cost ready to go. You'll actually end up saving some money with the new World block: It has dual oil pan rail mounts, so you can run either an original 409 pan (expen$ive) or a standard big block Chevy pan, which is available at every swap meet. The Al. block also uses a BBC timing chain cover, which are a dime a dozen, versus trying to find one of the two styles of 409 t-chain covers, that are getting harder and harder to come up with. You'll also be able to use a BBC cam, rather than the special 409 cams. Stronger, lighter, and cheaper in the long run, plus it comes ready for 509 cubic inches. I know so much about these because I watched Lamar build the prototype and did the story on them for Super Chevy, and I've seen the two that have been cast down at Lamar's shop. -Brad
Barry Camp. But this ain't Lamar's first rodeo. He's been building '09s since he raced one in A/Gas in the early '60s... including one with twin turbos and a billet block and billet heads he made in the '80s. -Brad
No, they're not. They're entirely new, dedicated castings. Lamar STARTED with a World BBC for the prototype work: cam and crank location, oil p***ages, bore spacing, etc. The deck is completely different than a BBC, and Lamar thickened it up. The water pump mount is 409, and it has a dual oil pan rail for 409 or BBC. -Brad
Coming soon: Twin turbo'd, stroked, polished top-to-bottom-inside-out 1500 HP Power Tour Top Ten Pick! But really, a blown (12-71) 600 cu '409' FED would rule. Hey Poteet, whadda ya say?
I don't see the market for them... except the more money then brains crowd. the main point of an aluminum block is weight reduction. that being said most of the cars that would get a 409 really don't have any good weight distribution anyhow. and at 5g's thats insane... Hmm howbout a aluminum 409 with cast iron heads. Call it the upside down 409
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