67 Caprice 427 - Any thoughts?

[Shevelle]

[ QUOTE ]
All '62 409s were solid lifter engines - 380hp or 409hp. No Powerglide with the '09 until '63 when they introduced the hyd lifter 340hp.

[/ QUOTE ]

We are getting so much conflicting info on this car. I'll be happy to get all the weddings, funerals , and business glitches out of the way so we can start digging through this car. So many things make it look like a real 409 car, yet some say there's no way it could be because of the tranny and some say the opposite. So far we have found it to have the right radiator, the right fuel line routing, the little white ceramic box on the firewall (don't remember what that's called), the right front shocks. One thing I think I haven't mentioned yet is that the people we bought it from bought it 30 years ago and have had it in storage for the last 20. It only has 16k miles and has original interior and paint. Even the exhaust looks original and it still has the paper tags on the springs. Looks like it was seldom, if ever, driven in the rain. Once we get that Caprice out of there tomorrow I will reveal some info on who it is that owned these cars. I have a feeling a lot of you might know of him.

[MosportGreen66]

Ballast resistor?

[Shevelle]

[ QUOTE ]
Ballast resistor?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's it. Thank you!

[RPOLS3]

According to the site below - no automatic with any 409 in 1962. I learned something here myself, I did not know that the 380 HP engine was a solid lifter engine in 1962.

http://www.oldride.com/library/1962_...t_bel_air.html
(Thanks to my Dad for the information and the link)

No comments from Verne yet?!

Jake

[Verne_Frantz]

I've been following along but waiting for the casting number from the block before commenting. It's definitely not an original '62 passenger car 409. The 5J suffix doesn't show up in any of my literature. QJ was a 252hp truck motor though, so perhaps its a glitch and the 5 is just a place holder or a mistake.
The CFD on the back of the block is Central Foundry Division. They started casting blocks in mid-'62. All CFD casting use julian date coding, so there should be a number from 1 to 365 on the bellhousing flange.
It's not normal to find a build sheet in a Los Angeles '62, but I'd look in the rear seat back springs first, then possibly glued to the top of the instrument cluster (above the speedo). Also pull the rear ash trays out and look inside the upholstered panel for one.
Correct that all '62 409s were solid lifter motors and not offered with a Powerglide. That alone might be the only answer you need, providing you're sure the 'glide is original, and not converted for "Mom" from a stick.
Check that ballast resistor and the harness for it. A repro harness will have solder dipped terminals. An original won't.
The fuel line appears to be the correct type, but looks new. That 3/8th line routed under the A arm was also used on all 327 cars.
Back to the Powerglide: '62 was the first year for the alum 'glide and it's a one year only 'glide. Rather than having assembly numbers stamped on the pan, they're stamped in the aluminum bottom flange in front of the pan. If those dates agree with the build date of the car, its a pretty sure bet it's the original which means no orig. 409.
As for the indentations in the radiator top tank, they came with and without them. Full sized Buicks from that era used the same Harrison top tank, only the Buicks had bolts soldered upside down in those hexes for the fan shield to attach to. The hex tops had to be separated out for the Buick radiators, but both types found there way onto Chevy radiators. (it didn't matter)
As for the exhaust appearing original, the 300hp 327 would use the exact same exhaust as the 409. (heads pipes and all). Also, if it's original, the head pipes are welded to the mufflers (one piece)

BY the way, the base trans for the '62 409s was the 3-spd (column) and you didn't get the tach.

Neat car. Great colors, SS convertible, low mileage and solid.

Verne

[Shevelle]

Hi Verne

Thank you for the additional info on what to look for. Looks like it is what we originally thought...an Impala SS Convertible but not an original 409. Most of the drivetrain is looking like it is 1964. In addition to that, the new things you said to look for...Exhaust is not welded, ballast resistor has solder, not converted from manual trans. And here's the numbers:

Block 3844422 - 324 - X
Heads 3819333 - GM3 - CFD - 289
Intake 3767578
Trans Pan C0904N
Trans Tail 3789080
Rear GM T3 - 3726899 - E2366
Carb 01-552 - 6-1518
Alternator! 1102174 - 1E17

Still a cool car, but I don't think we are going to be retiring any time soon...



Oh, yeah...and too!

[Shevelle]

The Caprice is in Oklahoma She's still in the trailer (going through the spider extermination process ) Thought I'd share a couple of pictures of her out in the sunlight and going in the trailer....





And here's one of me with the original owner, Sue Hardy. Although she doesn't look like it in this pic, she was a little sad to see the old gal go. We talked about ordering the car new and how the dealer at Valley Chev in Roswell, NM told her how rare the interior would be... and she had some very interesting stories... about how she used to drive the car to the drag strip where her husband, Don, was every weekend, about the racing days in places like Carlsbad, KC and Indy, and about how she would like me to get a message to Helen letting her know "Sue says Hi" .



Steve, can you decode the Protecto Plate for me??
BTW...Anyone around here ever heard of her husband - I mean ex--husband??




Just kiddin' - I know you have.

[budnate]

Must be the one and only Don Hardy, used his kit to build a V-8 Vega waaaay back when.

[CC Rider]

Sure are a lot of hand prints on that car!

Thanks for posting these pictures, great story.

[67Z24rag]

Jacquie, looks COLD down there in Texas ! WOW what a find ! Cant wait to see it clean !!


Jon.