'63 with a 409?

[Verne Frantz]

I've read that Zora tried a 409 in a '63 Vette, but obviously decided against it for production. Too bad the Vette had to wait till '65 for it's first big block. I was just curious if anyone knows if such a car got "kept" after it was built. Does anyone know any more about this experiment?
Please, save the snide comments about a "truck engine". Thanks.
Verne.

[Clem Z.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

i know nothing about a 63 but i helped put a 409/425 HP in 57 corvette. this car went like a bat out of hell in a straight line with a 4 speed and 4:10 gears

[Richard T.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

There was just such a car on ebay about a week or so ago. It was a saddle/saddle 63 coupe with a 425 HP 409. I'm not sure if the car sold or not but I think it was in Florida. It appeared to be a nicely done back yard installation.

[Leroy Lemmerhirt]

Re: '63 with a 409?

Got a 65 Convertible in my shop now with a 425 HP/409--M21 close ratio, 4:11. Not ready yet--hope to finish in 2003. Super strong engine---.

[Jerry Clark]

Re: '63 with a 409?

I hear the 427 crank shares the same main bearing spacing as the 09. With a bit of learning it will net 474 inches with a much stronger bottom end
jer

[Clem Z.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

the crank will fit but those 409 pistons weight a ton.

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

I'd be interested in knowing where you read this. I have never seen any published reports that would indicate Chevrolet ever installed a 409 in an early Sting Ray as an engineering experiment.

Duke

[Clem Z.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

since the mark 4 was used in mickey thompsons 63 sting ray at daytona, so it was under developement before that, there would be no reason to put a 409 in a sting ray.

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '63 with a 409?

Duke, I honestly do not remember where I read that. It was a loooong time ago. Possibly in Ludvigson's (sp) book. At least I know it wasn't some dumb magazine article. It was a well researched piece.
As for the earlier development work on the MkIV, there was a MkIII, known as the Daytona mystery motor. It was basically a hybrid of the '09 and the 396.
Yes, I saw the '63 coupe with the '09 on ebay a couple weeks ago. It sold for $27,100. I wish it was in my garage, but then, taking a car like that to a Corvette meet would have about the same effect as breaking wind in an elevator.
Verne.

[Clem Z.]

Re: '63 with a 409?

the BB that were used at daytona in 63 in mickey thompson corvette and the NASCAR impalas were the so call mystery engines but one big problems was that the tappet bores were still all in a line like a SB chevy which caused valve train problems. the later mark 4 engines had the tappet bores at angles to better aligning the valve train parts for more reliability

[Dave Henderson]

BETTER GET SOME TOUGH CONNECTING RODS *NM*

[Dave Suesz]

No reason? Yeah, well...

I have seen the photos of the 2+2 'Vette the style guys mocked up, even though they had been told not to...

[Verne Frantz]

Re: '63 with a 409?

Gentlemen, I'm posting this to pop to the top again. Just wondering if anyone can answer my original question. I'm already familiar with the rest of the 409's history (and it's folklore). i'd like to know more about the Vette experiment.
Thanks
Verne.