Thread: help - info on 409 truck motor...

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I got a 409 W-block motor out of a 1965 heavy-duty truck (it was actually a grain truck used on a farm). The engine was mated to a 9-speed truck tranny and had a huge air-compressor on the front for the air brakes. Is this engine block any different than the 409s used in the cars of the time? I'm trying to sell the motor and am hearing rumors that the truck blocks were different and are not worth any money. I've heard of folks pulling 350's out of school-buses all the time, so I'm just trying to find out if the engine I have is actually worthless or if someone is just trying to convince me to sell it cheap. Any info/help is greatly appreciated!

I am not an expert, but had several hipo 409 cars, and many extra motors and speed parts, so I have built a couple and read all of the period articles on them.

I would assume the block was as good as a passenger piece. I would also assume the heads and intake are small port, but I would bet the crank was steel. All 409 rods were weak, especially with heavy out-of-balance 11:1 pistons. Word was that even the hipo rods were not as good as the standard lopo 396 rods.

This site is listed on Roadsters.com under "348-409 racing engine builders". http://www.show-cars.com/

it cant be worthless .. the coolness of the way it would look in something is worth its weight in gold .. dont let someone steal it from you .. could it be a V6 lots of old big trucks and school busses from around then had a huge v6 that resembled a 409

im no expert but alot of that bodystyle trucks used w block 6 cylinders gmc motors, last year of the 409 was 65,

The main diff in truck 409's was the pistons, 4-ring in the heavy duty jobs. There wasn't a whole lot of different heads for them, as I recall. I think all 409's had steel cranks. There are a few in trucks around here, awesome looking engines!

Cool - thanks for all the info, especially the show-cars.com link. It's def not a V6. Does anyone have any idea what an unrestored motor like this would be worth?

I sold a 1965 409 block about a year ago,so I did a lot of research,cars and trucks used the same block casting in 1965,they were machined differently ,truck blocks have extra cresant shaped notches at the top of the bore,car blocks are worth more,truck blocks are preferred for high perf use,I sold my car block for $2500,truck block is worth at least $1000,a complete motor is worth $1500 and up