I agree that Jerry is right that the 409 was meant to be a truck engine. Hundreds of them hauled grain from the Texas High Plains to Texas ports during the 60's. They ran over 3,000 miles a week and engines would last a year. They seldom blew up. Just wore out and the guys would go to the Chevrolet house and buy a new long block and run another year. But they are big. They are similar in size to the Olds Rockets. The only project I can remember giving up on was putting an Olds into a 1951 GMC. I decided there was too much modification.
I don't like to do what every other one does. Therefor I don't care for small block 350s. The 283 is a small block, but there aren't many of them around any more. They are good performing motors. They were pretty tough competitors against my Y-Blocks.
I wouldn't mind putting a 283 in an AD Chev. The big issue is the steering box. But thousands of them have been moved to accommodate a SB.
