Popular Hot Rodding engine article
11-24-2010, 04:38 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Popular Hot Rodding engine article
There is an article in Popular Hot Rodding this month titled "10 Engines That Time Forgot and Why They're Still Cool". The LT5 actually gets some cred. It was nice to see it in something other than a Corvette rag. I was at a car show a couple of years ago and Chevy had an engine display with a title of something like The History of Chevy Engines and there wasn't an LT5 in the lot. Everything else from small blocks to big blocks, a 409 and all the newer engines. I asked the guy at the display about an LT5 and all he said was We have 3 back in the museum. I said yeah but none of them are here! Another example of the redheaded stepchild syndrome. Maybe we'll eventually get a little respect.
11-24-2010, 04:59 PM
#2
NCM Lifetime # 982
11-24-2010, 07:31 PM
#3
Safety Car
Anybody that knows engines, knows that the LT5 is a masterpiece. The development of the engine is just insane. The LSX series would not be around if it was not for the LT5. I want one bad, maybe when I have the money.
11-25-2010, 09:38 AM
#6
No doubt a great truck engine back in its day however the 348/409's main contribution to the automotive performance world was opening Chevy's eyes to realizing they had nothing that could match up with the engines Ford and Chrysler were bringing out at the time and therefore forcing the bow tie boys to get off their butts and develop the 396/427 porcupine mystery motor or, as we know today, the big block Chevy.
Last edited by Jagdpanzer; 11-26-2010 at 03:47 PM.
11-25-2010, 10:52 AM
#7
Racer
It's like Jagdpanzer mentioned, the 348 and its later brother the 409 were for the most part truck engines. They made excellent torque for their time but would spin bearing like crazy when the "R's" were up and had a weak bottom end.
Thinking back to high school I can think of at least a couple 409's that were gernaded during the afternoon races after class was out! The Mopar's would just eat them up.
Many think the 348 and 409 were early Mark 4 big blocks but not the case. Chevy got it right when the 396, 427 and 454's hit the scene with a complete new head design and much tougher bottom end! :o
Thinking back to high school I can think of at least a couple 409's that were gernaded during the afternoon races after class was out! The Mopar's would just eat them up.
Many think the 348 and 409 were early Mark 4 big blocks but not the case. Chevy got it right when the 396, 427 and 454's hit the scene with a complete new head design and much tougher bottom end! :o
11-25-2010, 11:59 AM
#8
Racer
Yes it was a "truck motor", but the 409 held it's own in the streets of my home town, and at the drag strip.
And when "Dave and Grumpy" came to town there was no Mopar or Ford that could stand up to their old "Bubbletop'.
And when "Dave and Grumpy" came to town there was no Mopar or Ford that could stand up to their old "Bubbletop'.
11-26-2010, 04:27 PM
#10
During the twilight days of the 409 as far as the Detroit Big Three were concerned it was all about winning NASCAR races on Sunday and the 409 just couldn't make the power or hold together on the longer super speedway races like Daytona 500. Not to take anything away from "Da Grump" and Dave Strickler and their very successful "Old Reliable" series of W-motor powered Chevy drag race cars. I'm sure most will agree their success was more due to Bil Jenkins' extraordinary ability as an engine and race car builder combined with Dave's great driving skill. Next to the Beach Boys these two guys probably did more to foster 409's urban legend status than anyone else I can think of.