Was the Chevy 348 a good engine?

The 348 should be remembered not as a mighty powerhouse, but as a smooth and reliable big-block for the new, larger Impala. Its 10-second 0-60 mph capability was about the norm for 1958 - hardly the kick-in-the-back acceleration provided by the FI or dual-quad 283s.

How much horsepower does a 348 Chevy engine have?

The Turbo-Thrust 348-cubic-inch engine had 4.125-inch cylinder bores, and a stroke of 3.25 inches. With a four-barrel carburetor, the Turbo-Thrust produced 250 horsepower.

What is the difference between a 348 and 409?

There are a few visual differences that distinguish a 348 from a 409. The most obvious is the dipstick location. The 348 has it on the left, or driver side; the 409 has it on the right, or passenger side. However, since the pans are interchangeable, it's a simple matter to make one look like the other.

Are 348 and 409 heads the same?

There are three different styles of 348 and 409 heads, each with its own intake port configuration. 348/409 intake runner differences, from top: rare Z-11; high-perf, large-port 409; and 348/low-perf 409. The three different configurations have different size ports and intake manifold bolt patterns.

What year did the Chevy 348 come out?

First appearing in 1958, the 348 was available through 1961 in cars and 1964 in trucks. It had a bore of 4.125 inches and a stroke of 3.25 inches and was offered in an assortment of horsepower ratings.

The reveal of the problems with the Chevy 348 in the 1958 Chevrolet Brookwood

Why was the Chevy 409 discontinued?

But in stark contrast to the Methuselah-like life span of the Chevrolet small-block, as early as 1963 it was clear that the 409 had reached the end of its developmental rope, due primarily to shortcomings in the design of its iconic scalloped heads.

What is the smallest big block?

396 Big Block. The 396 ci is the smallest of the big block engines, which is easy to confuse with a small block. However, it's as heavy as a big block, and it has the same architecture as a big block, although its displacement is under 400 cubic inches.

What is a Chevy Rat motor?

Chevrolet Division, General Motors. That 454 was a member of the engine family known by racy types as the Rat Motors, so called because the small-block Chevy V8s were known among the same gasoline-scented folks as the Mouse Motors.

How much horsepower did a Chevy 409 have?

The 409 featured a 4.31-inch bore and 3.5-inch stroke. The intake valves were 2.06 inches and fit next to 1.72-inch exhaust valves. Both actuated by a mechanical camshaft that fed air and fuel to forged pistons that created more than 11:1 compression. With its single four-barrel carb, the engine was rated at 360 hp.

What year did the Chevy 409 engine come out?

Introduced in 1961, Chevy's new 409-cu.in. engine was made available to the public in any full-size model; as so often happened in those days, it satisfied both competitors and the governing body rules of NASCAR and NHRA.

What Chevys came with a 409?

Chevrolet brought muscle car power to the people in the early 1960s, especially with the 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409. The mid-1961 introduction of the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport option package showcased another new arrival, the 409-cid V-8.

Who made the 409 motor?

That is, 409 cubic inches, 409 horsepower, one horsepower per cubic inch. More than 15,000 of these powerplants were produced by Chevrolet's Tonawanda, New York engine plant, just north of Buffalo.

How much HP can a 396 make?

The average power numbers from 4,000 to 6,250 rpm (where it carried over 400 lb-ft of torque) were 438 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. While power peaked at a high 6,400 rpm, low-end torque was still plenty respectable with the motor peaking 483 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm.

What cars came with a 327?

Although the 327 was eventually superseded by the 350 across the entire Chevrolet product line, the intermediate displacement 327 was used in just about every Chevy on the market between 1962 and 1969, including the Malibu, Impala, El Camino, Chevelle, Chevy II and Corvette.

Is a big block better than a small block?

Big block engines are larger in size and weigh more, but they produce more consistent power and torque to overcome the weight. Small block engines are smaller for better acceleration and handling, but more recently built models can be just as powerful as big block engines.

What is a porcupine motor?

The "Mystery Motor" or "Porcupine", as it was called back then, was NOT an early production Mark IV 396-427 called the "Rat" by many. It was a 1963 Chevrolet 409-427 with special heads designed for "high speed" (rpm) operation on the NASCAR speedways such as Daytona.

What is the most powerful big block?

2021-10-20. DETROIT – Chevrolet Performance today introduced the ZZ632/1000* crate engine — the largest and most powerful crate engine in the brand's history. The naturally aspirated 632-cubic-inch V-8 produces 1,004 horsepower and 876 lb-ft of torque.

Is there a Chevy 350 big block?

The 350 is 4.00" by 3.48". There is such a thing as a 350 big block, but it is NOT a Chevy. Pontiac, Olds and Buick each made a 350 and all three are considered big blocks (same blocks as their respective 400 and 455 engines).

Is a Chevy 283 a good engine?

Even after the 327's debut, the 283 made such a good base engine that it soldiered on through 1967. With its short 3-inch stroke, a 283 can rev as if there's no tomorrow, but the small bore restricts adding really large valves and, hence, ultimate breathing potential.

Is there a 396 small block Chevy?

396 Small Block Chevy Crate Engine, 491HP, 509 Ft. Lbs. Torque, 1.22HP Per Cubic Inch.

Why is 409 so hard to find?

The company eventually took Formula 409 to a 55 percent share of the spray-cleaner market, and six years later, Harrell, Woodcock & Linkletter sold the company to Clorox for $7 million. In early 2020 Formula 409 became impossible to find in stores and disappeared from the "products" listing at the Clorox website.

Are big block engines still made?

Last week marked the end of production of GM's big block engine. The last of the legendary powerplants – the L18 – rolled off the line at GM's Tonawanda plant in New York amid whistles and applause from onlookers.

What car came with a 572?

For 2022, the COPO Camaro is available with a gigantic 572-cubic-inch (9.4-liter) big-block V-8, which Chevy says "channels the spirit of the original 1969 COPO Camaro." Chevy didn't reveal horsepower figures for the 572, but said that it uses a cast-iron block with aluminum heads, a forged steel crankshaft and ...