The "more money than brains crowd" as you call them, have just about used up all the original 409 blocks. The main point of aluminum is from a manufacturing standpoint: it's cheaper to make the molds and tooling. Anyone can carve on a piece of aluminum. Same can't be said for high-nickel cast iron. As for cast iron heads, I've been offered a couple grand for my factory hi-perf castings. That guy had more money that brains too... but I kept them anyway. -Brad
Some people have more money because they have brains.Have you checked out the prices on a QUALITY rebuild on a 394 hemi or a flathead or the prices on run of the mill 572 Chevy crate motors?They are not cheap either.Hell,that is the price of a pack of cigarettes a day for 2 years.
All I'll be able to do is dream about one of these but it sure would be fun. We held the National Record in B/S with a 380 HP 409. I can only imagine what a 600CI aluminum '09 would run like in our old '62 2drht. Frank
More money then brains crowd... Ummmmm..... No market for them... Ummmmmm..... 5g's thats insane... Ummmmmm.... Why are all the 409's gone or the OEM blocks have insane prices if there is no demand?
Yea, I don't think Summitt or Jegs would keep $15,000.00-$22,000.00 engines in stock if there weren't some sort of demand for them. There's a whole nuther car world out there folks. And "cheapest" isn't always the main focus. Larry T
Brad, there are lots of us here that appreciate what Lamar has done. But, we also will kick the bushes and come up with 348/409 stock blocks to use. I could buy either today for far less than your figures. 5 Grand is just ***inine to many of us when there are other options. Yes, they will sell some.
If you keep your eyes open, you can still find W blocks for a couple of bills or less. I recently drug home both a 348 car and a 409 truck engine on the cheap. So long as that can happen, the aluminum 409 blocks won't tempt me. A 348 can nowadays be made into a decent motor besides.
348 engines are a dime a dozen. If you can find 409 p***enger car blocks and have them refurb'd and ready to go for less than 4 grand, you need to go into business. For the extra grand, you get 4-bolt caps, more cubes, and affordable oil pans and timing covers. Personally, I'd love to build a stroker 348 for my '62 Suburban... the 5-grand block is pretty far out of my price range too. -Brad
its a neat block for sure. BIG possibilities and we need this sort of innovation to keep the hobby alive and well. If he does in fact sell quite a few, maybe an iron version will be offered for sale at a lesser cost. It isn't easy to find a quality core to use for a build. I know. It took me a year to find a nice shortblock in need of a rebuild! We all are on budgets here so this block isn't geared towards us to begin with. Buts its innovative and thats what I like seeing for the W-motor supporters out there. There are a lot of guys that still beat the hell out of their W-motors and they are having a ball doing it.
That's right. Whatever it cost the guy to produce these blocks, I doubt that he just jumped into the project blind without trying to determine how many he thought he could sell first.
I would like to see one built, looks like a stout block. I wont be dropping 5 thousand on one but thats me.
Just thought I'd mention that Bob Walla's pretty close to having his new cast iron 409 blocks ready. I'm not sure how big that block will go but it'll go to 540ci for sure. It'll have four bolt mains and be built strong so I think it should be pretty popular with racers. I don't know if he's got the price nailed down yet but it will be around three grand. Here's a link to Bob's website. It's a little out of date but it does have contact info. http://www.409raceparts.com/ 348 blocks can still be found at reasonable prices. If you can find a 409 crank cheap you can get about 380ci or you can buy **** or Eagle stroker crank and get over 430ci. Here's a link to an article about a stroked 348 that made 650hp on pump gas. That engine's a little radical for everyday street use but it just shows that the 348 has plenty of potential too. http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_0911_chevy_w_series_engine_build/index.html
3x that Steve........ I got one too. Might see it in your home stable right now!!! I've watched the BS arguments at the w fan sight and it makes me ill. Yea I buy only original iron but that doesn"t mean the new HiPo stuff ain't cool. I think it only makes the GM stuff more valuble. I have a all GM HIPO W in my Deuce and all the makings of a second one on the floor. If you are going to beat the **** out of a W why not leave the rare GM blocks for those who want them for their originality. Race and hang the rods outa the new production blocks. Rant over.
Damn right I would, throw away the Impala's...... He He He I even threw away the 409 crank for a 454 crank and 454 rods.... Then I threw away the dual quad intake for a blower intake.... He He He Best of all, I ground the block down to look nice and clean, took all those numbers and casting marks off of the block........
Hey Candy man.. You guys feeling alright up there?..LOL Mr Norwell..keep that pencil moving.. It's Feb.and almost "show & tell time". Rick ====================================================
just got back from Moultrie,GA. swap meet last night, cold and wet!!! some good deals! seen a lot of 409-348 stuff,, 409 motors were going for $3500-$6500 some needing rebuilding some already built! 348 $1000-$2500 was alot of them there! lot of 348-409 cars there for sale $15,000 $45,000. meet a guy who said he was friends with the guy in Alt. doing the 409 blocks , he said the blocks were going too be around 3-5 grand , has not got the bugs worked out of them yet!! seen some pics. of one in the raw,then finished one,very nice! dont think i would pay that for one , i would build a 348 stroker first! just my thinking!! have a nice day!!!
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