Super Mean and Nasty 409-Powered 1962 Chevy Bel Air
Bodacious Bel Air: Git-r-done on an over-the-top bubbletop
While the Beach Boys crooned about a “really fine ... 409,” how about a totally refined 409? That’s the lyric of this Bel Air bubbletop owned by James and Sandy Eudy. Its fuel-injected mill is thoroughly modernized, boasting 484 cubes and 557 ferocious horses. Not only that, it has an array of other superb upgrades.
Before covering the remarkable craftsmanship that went into the car, here’s some background. In 1961, the Turbo-Fire 409 bubbletop (so named for its abundance of window glass) launched the era of muscle cars. Before there was ever a Chevelle, Mustang, or Charger, before the 454 LS6, 427 FE, or 426 Hemi ever thundered down the streets of America, at the front lines was a new 409 big-block V-8. This engine would instigate a horsepower war among the Big Three auto manufacturers lasting well into the 1970s.
Initially putting out only 360 horses (and fittingly, 409 lb-ft of torque), the 409 offered 19 more cubes than Ford’s then-new 390ci engine. This bigger displacement inspired the Beach Boys tune noted above, but the siren song of horsepower would soon get a whole lot louder.
Originally, the 409 was supposed to be simply a stroked and punched-out 348 Type W truck engine but ended up having a number of differences. The 409’s crank required heavier counterweights, and its shorter connecting rods had more angularity and thus extra side-thrust on the pistons. Due in part to this additional stress loading, the 409 had forged aluminum slugs, allowing it to rev big time, topping out at 6,200 rpm. The higher spin rate required beefier valvesprings for better seating, and the cam was hotter as well.
As for carbs, in 1961, the 409 had a thirsty four-barrel Carter, but in the following year had dual four-barrel Carters. It also received some significant upgrades in the form of a recast block and improved heads with larger valves, plus a better intake and higher compression ratio. The 409 soon blasted out 409 horses, and in 1963 would hit a peak of 425 horsepower.
Which leads us to the Eudy’s bubbletop, built by Neil Lea of Rods and Restos (Centre, Alabama), from a concept drawing penned by Eric Brockmeyer. As noted at the outset, this restomod’s engine offers a quantum leap in both displacement and output, courtesy of Lamar Walden Automotive (LWA).
