67 Caprice 427 - Any thoughts?

[al8apex]

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I followed the link you provided Jake and I see a couple of things that would rule the 62 out as being originally a 409 car...It's an automatic and doesn't have a tach.

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an automatic and no tach is not a "no go" for the low HP 409

the 409 had a unique radiator that had a
"slant" to the top of the tank

[Tarrytown SS427s]

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Thanks for the offer to decode Steve, I just might take you up on that. Here are a couple of blown-up pics of shocks. Can you tell from these if they are Pliacells? What is F41 option?

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They look like the could be pliacells. but it is difficult to tell without a clearer picture or the number itself. Pliacells were not spiral shocks, and the ones in the picture definitely appear to be Delcos but not spirals. F41 (RPO F41) is the Special purpose suspension option. This gave you a heavier front sway bar and added a rear sway bar which was visible in one of your pictures.
Steve

[Shevelle]

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an automatic and no tach is not a "no go" for the low HP 409

the 409 had a unique radiator that had a
"slant" to the top of the tank

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While researching the 62, we ran across this this on Wikipedia. Because it was on Wiki, we took it with a grain of salt...until you made the above post:

The 1962 model featured new "C" pillar styling for all models except the 4-door hardtop "Sport Sedan." Sport Coupe models now featured the "convertible roof" styling, shared with other GM "B" full-size hardtop coupes. This style proved extremely popular, and contributed to the desirability of the '62-'64 Impalas as collectibles. The "overhang" roof style of the sedans was replaced with a more attractive, wider "C" pillar with wraparound rear window.<font color="blue"> Engine choices for '62 settled down, the 348-cubic-inch (5.7 L) V8 discontinued and replaced by the 340 brake horsepower (250 kW) 409-cubic-inch (6.7 L), which could be ordered with any transmission.</font> The small-block 283 was enlarged to 327 cubic inches (5.4 L), which added more engine choices for small-block fans. The Beach Boys produced a hit single, "409," referring to the Chevy, which became an iconic song for these cars.

So maybe it could really be a 409 car? Glenn has been crawling all over it and has been saying all along that it just doesn't look like the engine has been out. We figured that it must have...because of the funky deck stamp suffix, the automatic, the tach. LOL - This info lit a fire under Glenn's butt...he's on his way now to get casting numbers and pop the valve covers.

BTW...The radiator does have a slant to it. It slants to the the front (lower in the front). Is that the correct slant you mention??

[MultiMopars]

I had a 64 Impala SS 409/340 with console powerslide. The car was sold new at Rudolph Chevrolet in Phoenix, AZ. The car was loaded with options and was supposedly ordered as a dealer demo.

[RPOLS3]

Radiator should have (2) indented 5 sided markings on top tank.

No tach if automatic.

Where does fuel line run?

I believe casting # for 62 block is #3788068(both 409 and 380 HP)
I believe heads should be #3814690 (both 409 and 380 HP)

Again - Verne is the expert I might be incorrect.

Jake

[Shevelle]

I'm waiting to get the casting numbers before contacting Verne for some help. He is having a hard time finding them. The radiator does have the indentions. Here are some photos of the fuel line...can you tell anything from them?

[RPOLS3]

Radiator looks correct. I should have said (2) 6 sided indentations not 5 - my mistake.

Fuel line looks like it runs outboard which would be correct as well. I have also heard that all V8 dual exhaust cars ran the fuel line outboard though.

If nothing else it has many of the correct features - but it is certainly looking like it might be real? If you run the VIN# on the 348-409 site decoder it will tell you some more information. Trim tag only indicates if it is an SS or not (which yours was confirmed as an SS). That's part of the problem with older cars, not much hard proof without any owner history or real paperwork.

Looks like an outstanding car regardless - and if a real 409 then that is icing on the cake. Good luck.

Jake

[Shevelle]

Thanks for the info Jake. The vin 21867F decoded as:

Your car is a: 1962 Impala 8 cylinder convertible built in Flint, MI

[RPOLS3]

So from all this we know that it was orignally a V8, SS, convertible, Maroon with black buckets. Everything checks out there.

With a little more investigation maybe even a real 409 car. Sweet find.

Jake

[Xplantdad]

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So from all this we know that it was orignally a V8, SS, convertible, Maroon with black buckets. Everything checks out there.

With a little more investigation maybe even a real 409 car. Sweet find.

Jake

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With numbers matching spiders