OK I feel bad asking this but.......when looking at a 348 or 409 what makes them different other than the stroke and bore? I have traced the heads on what I thought was a 348 in my 55 and they are 409 heads. Now I am trying to figure out the rest of the engine. This is a stupid question but I had to ask....... mike
A 348 has the oil dipstick on one side and a 409 on the other side ... I just do not remember which is which ...
thats not always true, I've got a replacement 348 dated 9/62 that has the dipstick on the passenger side like the 409s have. But if you see a dipstick on the drivers side its going to be a 348..
The dipstick is on the left but the protrusion is sticking out on the passenger side if you want to drill it out to shock the gold-chainers. Owned a real 409 with dual quads this year and it had a radical cam with a turbo 400 behind it. I couldn't get it to break the tires loose with a 3.50 rear end. They look cool but very doggy.
409 heads can be used on a 348 if you weld up a coolant passage directly in front of each spark plug. If you have the heads off of your motor, flip over the heads and you should see a small coolant passage approximately the size of a pea welded closed.....
Oh ya, the back of the 348 crank is round and the 409 crank is spade shaped where the flex plate / fly wheel bolts on.....Easiest way to distinguish the motors without remembering casting numbers....
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