1958 1961 Turbo-Thrust 4 barrel 250 hp (190 kW) engine
1958 1961 Super Turbo-Thrust "Tri-Power" 3x2 barrel 280 hp (210 kW)
engine
1958 1961 Special Turbo-Thrust 4 barrel 305 hp (227 kW) engine
1958 1960 Special Super Turbo-Thrust "Tri-Power" 3x2 barrel 315 hp (235 kW)
engine
1959 1960 Special Turbo-Thrust 4 barrel 320 hp (240 kW) engine
1959 1961 Special Super Turbo-Thrust "Tri-Power" 3x2 barrel 335 hp (250 kW)
engine
1960 1961 Special Turbo-Thrust 4 barrel 340 hp (250 kW) engine
1960 1961 Special Super Turbo-Thrust "Tri-Power" 3x2 barrel 350 hp (260 kW)
engine
The first iteration of the "W" Corvette engine was the 1958
"Turbo-Thrust" 348 cubic inches (5.7 L) originally intended for use in
Chevrolet trucks, but also introduced in the larger, heavier 1958 passenger
car line. Bore was 4.125 in (104.8 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (82.5 mm),
resulting in a substantially oversquare design. This Corvette engine
was superseded by the 409 as Chevrolet's top performing Corvette engine
in 1961 and went out of production for cars at the end of that year. It was
produced through 1964 for use in large Chevrolet trucks.
With a four-barrel carburetor, the base Turbo-Thrust produced 250 hp (186
kW). A special "Tri-Power" triple-two-barrel version, called the "Super
Turbo-Thrust" produced 280 hp (209 kW). A "Special Turbo-Thrust" upped the
output to 305 hp (227 kW) with a single large four-barrel. Mechanical
lifters and the three two-barrel carburetors brought the "Special Super
Turbo-Thrust" up to 315 hp (235 kW). For 1959 and 1960 Corvettes, high-output versions
of the top two Corvette engines were produced with 320 hp (239 kW)
and 335 hp (250 kW) respectively. In 1961, power was again increased to 340
hp (253 kW) for the single four-barrel model, and 350 hp (261 kW) when
equipped with three two-barrels.
A 409 cubic inches (6.7 L) version was Chevrolet's top regular production
Corvette engine from 1961 to 1964, with a choice of single- or
dual-four-barrel carburetors. Bore and stroke were both up from the 348 at
4.312 in (109.5 mm) by 3.50 in (88.9 mm). On December 17, 1960, the 409
Corvette engine was announced along with the Impala SS (Super Sport)
model. The initial version of the Corvette engine produced 360 hp
(268 kW), with a single-four-barrel Carter AFB carburetor. The same
Corvette engine was upped to 380 hp (283 kW) in 1962. A 409 horsepower
(305 kW) version of this Corvette engine was also available,
developing 1 hp per cubic inch with a dual-four-barrel aluminum intake
manifold and two Carter AFB carburetors. In the 1963 model year, output
reached 425 hp (317 kW) at 6200 rpm with the 2X4 setup, 11.25:1 compression
and a solid lifter camshaft. This
Corvette engine was immortalized in
the Beach Boys song titled "409". The Corvette engine was available
through mid 1965 when it was replaced by the 396 in³ 425 hp (317 kW) Mark IV
big-block Corvette engine. In addition, a 340 hp (253 kW) version of
the 409 Corvette engine was available from 1963-1965, with a
single-four-barrel cast-iron intake mounting a Rochester 4GC carburetor, and
a hydraulic-lifter camshaft.
A special 427 cubic inches (7.0 L) version of the Corvette 409
engine was used in the 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe ordered under
Chevrolet Corvette Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11. This was a
special package created for drag racers, including aluminum Corvette
engine
and body parts and a cowl-induction air intake system, along with the
427 engine. The aluminum body parts were fabricated in Flint, MI at the
facility now known as GM Flint Metal Center[1]. Unlike the later second
generation 427, it was based on the W-series 409 engine, but with a longer
3.65 in (92.7 mm) stroke. A high-rise two piece aluminum intake manifold and
dual Carter AFB carbs fed a 13.5:1 compression ratio to produce an
under-rated 430 hp (321 kW) and 435 ft·lbf (590 N·m). Only 57 Z11s were ever
produced.
