Definitely something to consider on these old heads; I had hardened seats put in a good set of 292 "turbo" heads...turned them into scrap iron, leaked coolant.
Current update on the 409 impala. Had to source up a block as mine was not repairable. Bought a pair of Bob Walla aluminum heads for it, and had to get 1 piston. The engine is currently at the engine builder that did the engine in my racecar. Block has been fully deburred, bored, decked, thoroughly cleaned, lifter valley screens, etc. Should be getting assembled this week as long as the main bearings show up from federal mogul. More to come as I learn.
Beautiful car... and watching the video brought back a long-dormant memory. What's with the hood? I spent a summer in Tennessee in '67 and saw a fair number of cars with the rear of the hoods lifted up like that but never got a clear explanation for why. Was it a poor-mans cowl induction, or just a way of exhausting underhood heat? Never saw this locally at home (the Pacific NW) or in any of the magazines, seemed to be a regional thing.
probably a little bit of both. Could also be thought of as a way to keep the nose more planted and down. As air rushing into the engine compartment and if forced down with a fully sealed hood it would cause lift, where with someway to let it flow out from the top can in some cases create downforce to push the nose back down. Kind of more common in road racing, think of like the little scoops on a charger daytona or superbird on the fenders. Or on the nose of a GT40
The Jalopy Journal
