The 348 Turbo-Thrust motor was introduced in 1958, intended as a bigger engine for the larger Impala. Unusually, the combustion chamber was wedge shaped and located in the block. The combustion chamber surface in the head was flat. Never intended as a performance engine, it was in production till 1964. The 409 V8, introduced in 1962 replaced it as Chevrolet's big motor.
I've never had to work on a 348 or 409 but I've always wondered how you get the piston/ring assembly in the block since a standard ring compressor wouldn't work with the angled deck surface . I would guess you have to buy a special tool for this one application that wouldn't work on both engines and may not even fit for an overbore?
ReplyDeleteInterestingly there is no such thing as a two-barrel carbureted 348 or 409. Single four, two four or three deuces were all factory supplied.
Here's a short video of a guy using just his fingers to install the pistons; we were taught in auto tech school that that's a good way to score a bore but hey if it works then great. Like the old-timer who taught me lots of what I know used to say "We ain't flying it."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAg8fIWXlr4
Was that "We ain't FLYING it" or "WE ain't flying it"?
ReplyDeleteHe was a soft-spoken guy and the emphasis was barely on "ain't." Come to think of it, he was an Army motorcycle mechanic during WWII which is probably where the saying came from.
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