Projects 409 Chevy II Station Wagon

I'm suggesting putting the bottom higher, and adding "saddle tanks" or the equivalent to make up the oil volume, but keeping the bottom 3-4 inches higher.

I had a car with a low oil pan once. The second week after I put it in, I tore it up, which ****ed bad. Hit a hub cap in traffic.

 

Proximity to the ground does worry me... I will have to see what my options are... the pan is not "done" yet so I do have time to change the configuration. Thanks for the words of wisdom!

 

I love your Wagon project ..... is it going to be street driven?

 

Something vaguely like this:

 

I wouldn't have thought it would fit that well, I look forward to seeing it finished.

 

Yes street driven and occasional strip use. Want to bring it to events like the meltown, Bowling Green reunion etc...

 

What is the weight difference between the 409 and the small block? Any modifications to the suspension other than bigger springs?

Looking forward to the rest of thee build.

 

Depending where you are in CT, New England Dragway in Epping NH has a few nostalgia events over the summer. Be cool to see this car in person!

 

I'll keep an eye out......I'm pretty sure I don't wanna be the "victim" in the other lane![emoji4]

Keep it up,this car is going to be too cool for words!
I bet you're going to surprise quite a few guys with it too....When you get the holeshot,then just keep on pulling away.[emoji4]

Scott

 

A full dress sbc weighs ~450-500lbs. The 409 weighs ~600-625lbs. I am trying to save weight where possible. I'm using an aluminum water pump, aluminum intake etc... I'm also planning on running fiber gl*** bumpers and hood eventually.

My suspension upgrades are pretty tame. In addition to the heavy duty springs I will be using a pair of tubular upper control arms... I know it's not period correct but because of the shock tower surgery I needed a lower control arm with a smaller diameter cross shaft.

 

Making slow progress on the 409. The block has been cleaned and the oil shedding epoxy was applied to the lifter valley and timing chain area. Cam bearings were installed and the crank was installed and oil clearances were set.


We also installed the pistons on the rods. I will be running total seal rings and we will be fitting those shortly


Sent from my SM-G920V using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

It's all progress, (even at the glacial speed of my project.)
Good idea w/ the slippery slopes of the lifter valley.
Going w/ stock bore & stroke?

 

~ A little to late oil pan side note - Jenkins built a 'shoe-box' shaped oil pan for his '66 Chevy II, with a 350hp 327 - it had a hole straight thru the pan with 'quick' disconnect drag link. It was just a mild annoyance to unhook it, when pulling the motor. He said he really like the Chevy II as they had no cross member interference

 

It's a stroker... .047" over-bore

Sent from my SM-G920V using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I'm revisiting the oil pan issue. I think I will be shortening the sump and building kick-outs to pick up some ground clearance.

Sent from my SM-G920V using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I love this build. Nice work!

 

A little dust off after discovering some unwanted body filler. I think I'm on the right track....



Sent from my SM-G920V using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Car is looking good.Shouldn't be too long til it's moving under its own power.
This car is going to be a serious celebrity at the Meltdown.Can't wait to see it there and say hello.

Scott

 

Unfortunately I missed the deadline for the Meltdown... I will definitely be there next year!

 

Just shoot them an email and get on a waiting list....I'd bet a dollar you can get the car in

 

Short block is done. Compression is going to abut 11.25:1. Pistons are .004 out of the hole. Starting to think about cam profiles now.





Sent from my SM-G920V using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Any more news?Dont leave us hangin!

 

Just got in on your thread and saw that your rods were not detailed any reason why, did you get them checked for cracks along with the crank ?

DND

 

The rods are new **** rods. They are bushed for floating pins. They were clearanced and checked during the balancing proccess.

Sent from my SM-G920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I have been dealing with some health issues but i am back in the saddle again. I will try to get some pictures up soon.

Sent from my SM-G920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

always liked Nova's had 2 65's yrs ago

 

Finally have my wheel and tire combination settled. Im extremely happy with how it looks. I also finished my headers and mocked some engine accessories in the engine bay to make sure they fit. I have to send the headers out to get coated but that part lf the project is done.



Sent from my SM-G920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Many years ago my cousin put a 409 in a '67 Chevelle ss396. I built the headers for it and they looked a lot like yours. I have a pretty good idea of how much work you put into them.

 

A little late now, but we'd glue screening across those gaping holes over the cam. Break a valve spring and it'll stay up top. We'd build 2 deep sumps for the oil pan and join them with -10 or 12 hose, steel male AN fittings welded to the pan. Had the pan the tierod went thru, it wasn't all that bad once you figured it out and knew what to take loose, the hoses were better. I think I went thru 6 engines one summer, I got pretty quick at getting them in and out.
I believe I had one pan with a notch, that might have been the easiest, just took the little idler arm off the frame and tie rod dropped out of the way. That was 30years ago.

 

That header pipe is damn close to the MC, a lot of heat there that needs to be eliminated!