Chevy's 427 MONSTER That Ford Was Scared To Race - The 1963 Impala Z11

[Kenmojr]

I've known of the Chevy 348 and 409 but I was not aware of a 427 based upon the 409 until I stumbled upon this video on youtube and thought I should share it with the fine crowd and community here.

 

[Mark]

There was a 1962 version also.  The Round 2 reissue '62 BelAir coupe kits (Northwind, Don Nicholson) and AMT/Ertl drag versions (Nicholson, Dave Strickler, Hayden Proffitt) include the engine parts for the Z-11 version.

[TarheelRick]

The Chevy "mystery engine" is the one Junior Johnson ran successfully in the '63 NASCAR season. Well, as successfully as he could be before blowing them up, he did grenade a few during the season. But, when they were running he gave Freddie, the Silver Fox, and the other blue ovals a run for their money.

[bobss396]

NASCAR Mystery Motor article:

https://over-drive-magazine.com/2022/08/19/1963-chevrolet-mystery-motor/

It caused quite the stir for the '63 NASCAR season too,

[DustyMojave]

But they were unreliable and the NASCAR engine as well as the Super Stock engine (not the same engines) were not available to the public and even the racers who got them were not allowed to open them up at all. Thus they were not production engines. Whereas the Ford 427 any Joe Schmoe could go to a Ford dealer and order one and they were in the cars sold from the showroom floor in sufficient quantity to qualify for the rules. The Chevy Mark IV 427 wasn't sold to the public until the '67 year model.

In Super Stock classes, Mopar's 426 Max Wedge engine and car were common enough that my older brother had an early 64 Wedge engine car (they got Hemis in early 1964/late 64 year model) that he raced in 67-68 until a crash destroyed it. And it ran 11.27 @ 127mph on its last run even though it was crashing into the opposite guard rail then hit by the competitor, both while in the lights. So it was going 127mph while spinning 270° and backing into the guard rail. Still as it came from the factory with cheater slicks on the steel rear wheels and the 2 into 1 single exhaust still hanging underneath. So, close to 2 seconds quicker than the so-called "Hemi Destroyer" Chevy. Which is no quicker than my old co-worker's 65 Mustang 2+2 with a 289 with dual quads and tubular headers with no traction bars that ran 13.1 through the mufflers as he drove it to work. About the same as that touted for this killer Chevy with aluminum bodywork and bumpers and factory cheater 427 engine.

[espo]

9 hours ago, DustyMojave said:

But they were unreliable and the NASCAR engine as well as the Super Stock engine (not the same engines) were not available to the public and even the racers who got them were not allowed to open them up at all. Thus they were not production engines. Whereas the Ford 427 any Joe Schmoe could go to a Ford dealer and order one and they were in the cars sold from the showroom floor in sufficient quantity to qualify for the rules. The Chevy Mark IV 427 wasn't sold to the public until the '67 year model.

In Super Stock classes, Mopar's 426 Max Wedge engine and car were common enough that my older brother had an early 64 Wedge engine car (they got Hemis in early 1964/late 64 year model) that he raced in 67-68 until a crash destroyed it. And it ran 11.27 @ 127mph on its last run even though it was crashing into the opposite guard rail then hit by the competitor, both while in the lights. So it was going 127mph while spinning 270° and backing into the guard rail. Still as it came from the factory with cheater slicks on the steel rear wheels and the 2 into 1 single exhaust still hanging underneath. So, close to 2 seconds quicker than the so-called "Hemi Destroyer" Chevy. Which is no quicker than my old co-worker's 65 Mustang 2+2 with a 289 with dual quads and tubular headers with no traction bars that ran 13.1 through the mufflers as he drove it to work. About the same as that touted for this killer Chevy with aluminum bodywork and bumpers and factory cheater 427 engine.

Chevrolet offered a 427 cu in displacement engine in both the Corvette and full-size Impala/Biscayne& Bel Air models. They had an advertised horsepower rating of 390 & 425. They shared the 3.76" stroke with the 396 cu in engine but had a bore size of 4.251" as opposed to the 396 engines 4.094 bore size. These two engines were readily available on the showroom floor. During the 1966 model run there were additional variables made available to those who knew about them and even some aluminum cylinder heads that were truly racing parts.