The photos in this edition are black and white.Chevy's W-series 348 and later the 409 became legends on the street, and in particular the 409 also became a legend on the track. In the early 1960s, these engines powered a variety of GM vehicles and the Z11 Impalas at the drag strip. While these engines enjoyed a hay day in the early 1960s and pop culture status in the hot rod community, especially with the Beach Boys and their hit song "409", higher horsepower Mark IV Chevy big-block engines overshadowed these W-engines by the late 1960s. But recently, the 348s and 409s have enjoyed a high-performance renaissance and many speed manufacturers are making heads, blocks, and virtually every part for these engines.Veteran magazine writer and author John Carollo provides insightful instruction for rebuilding a stock engine and also how to build a sound performance W-engine as well. The reader is shown how to select a strong clean block, free of core shift and fatal cracks, select the best heads for a particular build, and increase the compression ratio. Selecting a camshaft and a strong connecting rod and piston combination is also an important aspect of the engine build, and all options are examined.Guidance in this book will allow you to select the right cam for a high-performance aftermarket package and a cam that won't over power a stock engine's valve train. In addition, building a large displacement stock engine of 427 inches or aftermarket block to go to 509 inches is covered. From mild to wild, from stock to modified, the book covers everything you need to know about the legendary 348-409 engines.

Tabel Of Contents:

Introduction

 Chapter 1: Development and Design 

History 

Internal Specifics 

Chapter 2: Engine Block 

Block Identification 

Washing and Magnafluxing

What to Check on W Blocks 

Inspection Process 

Block Preparation 

Oiling System 

Aftermarket Manufacturers

Chapter 3: Crankshafts, Rods and Pistons 

Crankshafts 

Connecting Rods 

Pistons 

Machining 

Chapter 4: Cylinder Heads 

Design Features 

348 and 409 Differences 

Machining 

Head Selection 

Stock Head Modifications 

Aftermarket Head Manufacturers 

Chapter 5: Camshafts and Valvetrain 

Stock Cam Timing Specs 

Flat-Tappet Camshafts 

Roller Camshafts 

Lifters 

Cam Selection8

Aftermarket Manufacturers 

Pushrods 

Rocker Arms 

Valves 

Valvesprings, Retainers and Locks 

Timing Chain Set 

Chapter 6: Induction and Ignition 

Intake Manifolds 

Carburetors 

Ignition 

Chapter 7: Headers and Exhaust 

Header Development 

Exhaust Design 

Chapter 8: Cooling System 

Design Factors 

Cooling Capacity 

Radiators 

Water Pump 

Fans 

Airflow 

Chapter 9: Stroker Engines 

Stroker Math 

Clearancing 

Cam and Head Selection 

Four-Bolt Main Bearing Conversion 

Stroker Kits 

Popular Combinations 

Chapter 10: Teardown and Inspection 

Removal 

Inspection 

Cleaning 

Testing 

Measuring Parts 

Chapter 11: Engine Assembly 

Proper Lubrication 

Subassemblies 

Block 

Valves and Hardware 

Cam Bearing Installation 

Main Bearings 

Crankshaft 

Camshaft 

Pistons 

Degree the Camshaft 

Front Dampener 

Oil Pump, Windage Tray and Oil Pan 

Cylinder Head 

Intake and Ignition 

Source Guide