Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder

ss wannabee · 03-22-2014, 08:45 PM

Greg, I think I see your point....Back in the day, there were at least 2 competitive 409
Stockers from CT that I can recall....one was a '62 409hp wagon called the "Dog-
catcher"...think it ran F/S...guy's name was Dennis Kutsavage? Another was a maroon
'61 Impala hardtop...can't remember the car's name...it was also a 409hp...and ran C
or D/S...think the owner's name was Tony...saw BOTH run at Conn. Dragway...circa
1970-71....Perhaps either ( or both) might have gotten the L & L "magic" treatment?

The "Dogcatcher" actually is still around...and competing in Div-1 Stock...think Alan
Peters is driving it these days? Not sure who does the engine today...maybe
Dave?

Since we're talking D1...don't forget that Denny Ford from PA has been campaign-
ing a '62 Chev 409 for the last several years....think he was a L & L customer when
he ran his '69 Camaro......

Tom P · 03-22-2014, 10:51 PM

What a cool Stocker idea. The old fuel dragsters will love it too since they almost all had those as push cars back in the day.

ss wannabee · 03-23-2014, 09:30 AM

Adrian, I don't know where you're located...but the location of the shop might make a
difference...especially if you have to ship the heavy engine pieces....

Lamar Walden might be the best bet as I think he's worked on (and run) these motors
since they were NEW!

Another guy that comes to mind is Tony Schaffer? Think I spelled his name right...
Believe he's located in the Midwest....maybe Kansas? He's a W-motor specialist.

Whichever route you take...I'm sure you'll find that it's best to have as many "friends"
as possible with the build...and make sure you got a good, solid frame too! You might
be the only 348 car out there today....

Willing to bet that photo....of the Casler Tire El Camino racing a '57 Chevy at Indy back
in the '60's...is part of the motivation for this!....The pic was in a magazine a few years
ago.....

Dwight Southerland · 03-23-2014, 09:33 AM

"Back in the day", Herman Chapman from CO built a '59 Chev 348-250 for SS. I'm not sure how much he campaigned the car, but it was reasonably competitive right out of the box.

Adrian, IMHO the 250 engine is worth considering over the 305. The camshaft specs are not significant with the current lifter-valve spring technology. You will have to determine if the difference in compression and the intake-carb is worth 55 hp. The AFB on the 305 will only flow around 575 cfm (unless you can get NHRA to allow an aftermarket Carter or Edelbrock replacement). Finding the preferred 3780540 intake is possibly an expensive endeavor unless you already have one. The more common 3770083 is easier to find, but it is PG only (if NHRA cares or anyone on NHRA's staff can figure that out).

Alan Nyhus · 03-23-2014, 10:32 AM

Here's a link to some pics and history on Herman's '59 348/250 SS/NA:
http://www.348-409.com/forum/threads...stocker.24119/

The 348/250 is hands down the best 348 combo, IMO. -Al

ss wannabee · 03-24-2014, 09:39 AM

Sad that the car ended up that way...Wonder where the stock frame went? No, I don't
need one!

I've never seen a W-motor SS car....but would imagine there were a few in the late
'60's...when the Super Stock class was introduced....probably mostly '09 cars....

But a 348-car built during that time frame...Wow! I'm sure Herman caught an earful
building that piece....

Is he still around?

ss wannabee · 03-24-2014, 09:52 AM

Looks like an older build....maybe the car was kickin' around the shop for some
time....I see that he let his Keystone wheels go...he always ran those!

Mike Jones · 03-24-2014, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Greg, I think I see your point....Back in the day, there were at least 2 competitive 409
Stockers from CT that I can recall....one was a '62 409hp wagon called the "Dog-
catcher"...think it ran F/S...guy's name was Dennis Kutsavage? Another was a maroon
'61 Impala hardtop...can't remember the car's name...it was also a 409hp...and ran C
or D/S...think the owner's name was Tony...saw BOTH run at Conn. Dragway...circa
1970-71....Perhaps either ( or both) might have gotten the L & L "magic" treatment?

The "Dogcatcher" actually is still around...and competing in Div-1 Stock...think Alan
Peters is driving it these days? Not sure who does the engine today...maybe
Dave?

Since we're talking D1...don't forget that Denny Ford from PA has been campaign-
ing a '62 Chev 409 for the last several years....think he was a L & L customer when
he ran his '69 Camaro......

The 62 wagon Al Sr.drives belongs to Ray Whitney (203) 804-0349

ss wannabee · 03-25-2014, 09:45 AM

Newine:

Believe Ray was a partner when Dennis ran it...or so I've been told.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 03-25-2014, 08:17 PM

An interesting site is the 348/409 forum. I frequent that one from time to time. There's members with parts for sale, advice and tricks to go fast, plus lots of special stuff from time to time. The 348/250 engine has the best chance of being the best combo. I have a friend from New Jersey that had a '61 impala, 250 horse 348 with a 4 speed, and it ran in O/S. At the time, the index was around a 13.30, and he got it to run 12.95 at 100. That was in 1980-82 at Island Dragway and Englishtown.Definitely interesting. That also was with the early rear end.He said that it was a car that shouldn't have worked, but it did.

03-22-2014, 08:45 PM	#1
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Greg, I think I see your point....Back in the day, there were at least 2 competitive 409 Stockers from CT that I can recall....one was a '62 409hp wagon called the "Dog- catcher"...think it ran F/S...guy's name was Dennis Kutsavage? Another was a maroon '61 Impala hardtop...can't remember the car's name...it was also a 409hp...and ran C or D/S...think the owner's name was Tony...saw BOTH run at Conn. Dragway...circa 1970-71....Perhaps either ( or both) might have gotten the L & L "magic" treatment? The "Dogcatcher" actually is still around...and competing in Div-1 Stock...think Alan Peters is driving it these days? Not sure who does the engine today...maybe Dave? Since we're talking D1...don't forget that Denny Ford from PA has been campaign- ing a '62 Chev 409 for the last several years....think he was a L & L customer when he ran his '69 Camaro......

03-22-2014, 10:51 PM	#2
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder What a cool Stocker idea. The old fuel dragsters will love it too since they almost all had those as push cars back in the day.

03-23-2014, 09:30 AM	#3
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Adrian, I don't know where you're located...but the location of the shop might make a difference...especially if you have to ship the heavy engine pieces.... Lamar Walden might be the best bet as I think he's worked on (and run) these motors since they were NEW! Another guy that comes to mind is Tony Schaffer? Think I spelled his name right... Believe he's located in the Midwest....maybe Kansas? He's a W-motor specialist. Whichever route you take...I'm sure you'll find that it's best to have as many "friends" as possible with the build...and make sure you got a good, solid frame too! You might be the only 348 car out there today.... Willing to bet that photo....of the Casler Tire El Camino racing a '57 Chevy at Indy back in the '60's...is part of the motivation for this!....The pic was in a magazine a few years ago.....

03-23-2014, 09:33 AM	#4
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,999 Likes: 64 Liked 772 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder "Back in the day", Herman Chapman from CO built a '59 Chev 348-250 for SS. I'm not sure how much he campaigned the car, but it was reasonably competitive right out of the box. Adrian, IMHO the 250 engine is worth considering over the 305. The camshaft specs are not significant with the current lifter-valve spring technology. You will have to determine if the difference in compression and the intake-carb is worth 55 hp. The AFB on the 305 will only flow around 575 cfm (unless you can get NHRA to allow an aftermarket Carter or Edelbrock replacement). Finding the preferred 3780540 intake is possibly an expensive endeavor unless you already have one. The more common 3770083 is easier to find, but it is PG only (if NHRA cares or anyone on NHRA's staff can figure that out).

03-23-2014, 10:32 AM	#5
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Here's a link to some pics and history on Herman's '59 348/250 SS/NA: http://www.348-409.com/forum/threads...stocker.24119/ The 348/250 is hands down the best 348 combo, IMO. -Al __________________ "That'll never work....."

03-24-2014, 09:39 AM	#6
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Sad that the car ended up that way...Wonder where the stock frame went? No, I don't need one! I've never seen a W-motor SS car....but would imagine there were a few in the late '60's...when the Super Stock class was introduced....probably mostly '09 cars.... But a 348-car built during that time frame...Wow! I'm sure Herman caught an earful building that piece.... Is he still around?

03-24-2014, 09:52 AM	#7
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Looks like an older build....maybe the car was kickin' around the shop for some time....I see that he let his Keystone wheels go...he always ran those!

03-25-2014, 09:45 AM	#9
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder Newine: Believe Ray was a partner when Dennis ran it...or so I've been told.

03-25-2014, 08:17 PM	#10
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Re: Need Help on a Stock Eliminator Motor Builder An interesting site is the 348/409 forum. I frequent that one from time to time. There's members with parts for sale, advice and tricks to go fast, plus lots of special stuff from time to time. The 348/250 engine has the best chance of being the best combo. I have a friend from New Jersey that had a '61 impala, 250 horse 348 with a 4 speed, and it ran in O/S. At the time, the index was around a 13.30, and he got it to run 12.95 at 100. That was in 1980-82 at Island Dragway and Englishtown.Definitely interesting. That also was with the early rear end.He said that it was a car that shouldn't have worked, but it did.