In the day, 1965. I bought a used 1959 Impala sport coup, with the stock 348, 4 barrel, and the awful Turbo Glide transmission. That all changed when a friend that raced a 348 on a short circle track, gave me suggestions to improve the 348 Chevy engine. The engine was pulled and over bored .030 , fitted with Jahns Power Slot pistons, forged rods with a full balance. Late 1961 heads with dual valve springs, late 1961 tri-power intake, along with 1961 exhaust manifolds. Solid lifter Chevy 348, 335 HP cam, 409 oil pump, dual point distributor with out vacuum advance. Muncie 4 speed transmission with fitted bench seat T handle reverse loc out shifter.
Rear gears from 3.08 open to 3.70 posi. The only problem I had was on first start up, it wouldn’t. When the stock AC 44 XLS spark plugs were pulled, every one of the electrodes were smashed because of the different style piston tops. I ended up using the AC 44 XLS with 3 spark plug washers under each spark plug after that. I had no idea except for some speculation, that HP could have been around 345 to 350 at the time. It was a fast car and a real sleeper, one that I let get away sadly. How I wished I could have stored it away for some day in the future. Gone but never forgotten. Drop dead gorgeous car in the video, thanks for the memories.
