I don’t think those number are bad at all. Hell look at the torque curve. Pretty solid if you ask me for a stock build.

----One point lower compression would drop the horsies about 30 to 40 with all else being the same. Puts your 409 right in the correct area. Should be a great all around driver, better as the engine gets more broken in!...….Bill S

Those aren't bad numbers at all for a pump gas friendly 409. I think someone's going to have a lot of fun rowing gears in the near future. Enjoy that, and thanks for sharing so much of this.

Fun to follow.

I agree with the others Jake. That torque curve is really nice! That is going to make a great street engine to pull that car with a 3.36 gear. I think the power numbers are spot on for an all stock combo with pump gas type compression.

Keep a skinny tire on it......................otherwise your Dad will get good at changing axles;)

Back in the day, when we raced it, that was a common occurrence! We even made a tool out of a coat hanger to retrieve the stub from the rear end. It was always the right axle. Whenever any of the club members went to the junk yard, the first thing they looked for and bought was a right side axle. I think it was the same axle from '59-'64. We always had 6-7 axles hanging around. Since I have had the car, no problems with any axles!

Re-create that coat hanger axle stub retriever tool for a car show display in the trunk! These early 8.2 rear axles have caused me (& decades of others) much grief. These cars should have been built with the Big Olds/Pontiac rear axles!

This is freakin’ AWWWESOME!!!!!!! Best thread out there!!!!!!!

Cheers:beers:
Dave

Some more progress yesterday in anticipation of the transplant. Got the engine on a regular stand and freshened up the Chevrolet orange. The existing engine is also ready to come out with everything removed and literally just shored up sitting loose in the chassis waiting to be lifted out.

Next Saturday the 1st we will move the car off the lift to remove the existing engine (not enough clearance for the engine hoist while on the lift). Dad will then take 2 weeks to clean up and get ready for the new engine which we plan on installing on the 15th. Then back on the lift and he can finish up installing the trans and accessories.

Made short work of the old engine extraction this morning. Dave and I arrived around 8 AM - Mom made breakfast for us all and by 10:30 the old engine was out. We spent more time moving the cars around in the garage then we did pulling the engine...…...but it was all ready to go when we got there.

Some clean up work over the next couple of weeks and hopefully the new lump goes back in on the 15th as easy as this one came out.

Love it!

All you need is some of your Mom`s Awesome Home Made Chocolate Chip Cookies :)

Thanks for sharing.

Dan

----Got that right, Dan!!!…...Bill S

Jake,
Keep up the good work and keep us posted.


I think we're almost twins!:shocked:


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Verne

Man that car is clean!

Engine went back in with no issues on Saturday. Thanks to Enoch here for sourcing some original hardware to replace the hardware store stuff we found upon disassembly. It's back on the lift and ready for the final phase of reassembly.


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That’s awesome!!!!!! It’ll be ready in time for nice photo weather!:headbang::naughty:

Looking good!

Cheers:beers:
Dave

----I miss those days with the Dykstra's. A lot of good times in Big Jakes garage!!!......Bill S

Gorgeous “9er”!!!!! Keep us posted guys!!!:headbang:

Bill - we were talking on Saturday that it is so much nicer now that we have the space and proper tools/equipment to do this. Back in the day it was outside or inside with no heat and limited/no access to the right equipment.

Update - no pictures but Dad's been working diligently on getting the bottom buttoned up so he can move to the top and begin re-installing the engine accessories. Trans is installed. I hope to have the hood hinges and latch complete soon as well...….will post pics when we have more to show.

Moving along...........


Mom just sent a quick picture update. Things are buttoned up on the bottom end mostly and started on the engine compartment late this morning.


Interesting historical side note......second picture shows a drift punch made by Cousin Eddie's (Dad's cousin, the original owner of our 409) father to line up the flywheel bolt holes. Eddie's Father Sy worked in a foundry and made the tool sometime back in the 50's probably.....

Great day today. Got everything back together and running. Even took for a couple of shake downs runs.

A few things to button up like installing the correct fan (Thanks Verne - need to clean up and re-paint), adjust the hood, adjust the driver's side exhaust system.

Very pleased with how things turned out. Corrected a few more things under the hood with this project like heater hoses, battery topper, hood hinges and springs, hood latch, and many fasteners.

Shout out to this site and the sYc community for your support and help with the car from the beginning back in 2009. Thank you all.

Here is a video of the start up. No drama - started on the first try.
https://youtu.be/niFZ2zg9jcc

Got the car cleaned up and went down to the lake for some photos

Here is some more video from behind.......

https://youtu.be/AXwzjOnaUJk

Fantastic, Jake!!

“No drama - started on the first try.”

....sniff, sniff......that’s what I’m talkin’ bout’!!!:scholar::haha:

PM sent......:drool:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

Doing the initial run-in on the dyno took most of the variables out of the equation and turned out to be a real time saver with the install. We were able to leave the carbs on and in the distributor in. Literally hooked everything up and I don't think it turned 3 teeth on the flywheel before it was running - the choke even worked as it should. Sometimes we'd rather be lucky than good LOL.

Great times! This whole process has been a blast!! Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way!

Forgot to mention yesterday - but need to send another shout out to Eric (Crash). The trans rebuild made a huge difference in the drivability and fun factor on this car. It's like a different car now - thank you!

----Can't wait to see some more video. Good job, Dykstra's!!!!!......Bill S

Smokin' fellas!! Looks great!! Love it when a plan comes together!! :smile:

What a fantastic car, and it couldn't possibly be in better hands. CONGRATS! :beers::beers:

Back in late March of this year Bill Wente (67since67) reached out to us after seeing this thread and offered up some original (as delivered from GM) hubcap bags that he saved from a 1962 Impala that he once owned that still had the bags with it. Bill sent them to us at no charge - a real class act. I've never seen these before. Sorry for not acknowledging this publicly sooner Bill - but thank you very much!

----Jake,,,Take one out for a pic when you get a chance......Bill S

Wow...I say it all the time...the folks on this site are the best!

Just the bags Bill - no caps........

Thanks Jake!!

I had been saving these for years, just couldn't toss them. After reading the thread on your Dad's car I knew that was a proper home for them.

When I bought that '62 SS from the OO he gave me the original SS caps, still in these shipping bags, 2 each. He had never installed the caps because he didn't want to scratch the rims. He had removed the seats to cover the carpet with matching seat vinyl, the carpet was spectacular and still smelled new!

Last I knew, that car was in the Chicago area, White/blue int, 300hp 4 speed.

Bill W

Couple of updates on the 409......

Like most old cars there is always something to work on. Last fall when we put it away for the winter we were having an issue with the generator light staying on - usually a 5k RPM blast would clear it up though...

This spring when we took it out for the the first time we decided to address the problem. We had the generator re-built (was not charging at all) and installed a working voltage regulator (the one on the car was not functioning correctly) and also installed a new AC Delco battery to replace the dead 11 year battery in the car. Installed some correct GM hardware (Thanks Rich!) for the generator to replace the hardware store stuff that was on there and some new correct Quanta belts as well. Generator light no longer stays lit. We also took out the clock to have it repaired as it stopped working over the winter. We will continue to improve things as we find them and enjoy the ride in the meantime.

We have been fortunate to have enjoyed a few rides already this spring - and yesterday was one of them. We have burned enough fuel this year to need to top off the tank.

Love this car!! :biggthumpup:

Beautiful!!:headbang:

Story / Car
 

Sometimes the stories of such cars are almost as cool as the car itself.

This one is a toss-up.

Great read and Awesome 409.

Thanks for sharing.

Chris.

Chris - not sure where you got that picture but I am certain it was taken of our car's fender back when we owned it in the early 80's.