The 348 was intended to be a low RPM, high torque medium duty truck engine- - - -never intended to be installed in passenger cars. Above 5500 RPM, the valves start to float. Then in 1957, the supercharged Ford 312 engines started eating the 283 Chevy's lunch at the drag strips. GM cast a 3-2 BBL intake, stuffed a hot cam into the 348, and shoved it into the 58's to buy a little time while they got the 327 into production. They made good anchors for big boats back then- - - -60-something years hasn't changed that much, if any. The 348's 409's and early 427's with the W valve covers all had an oddball angle between the pistons and the heads- - - - - the "combustion chamber" is actually a part of the cylinder. The only recess in the head is a tiny depression where the valves fit. The heads are notorious for getting heat cracks due to uneven cooling.
Jerry
In addition to the tripower, Chevrolet offered a Carter AFB single four barrel on an engine they called "Super Turbo-Thrust".
The posers bought the tripower.
The racers bought the four-barrel.
The engines produced more power (regardless of the marketing dept.) and had less heat cracks due to better A/F distribution with the four-barrel than with the tripower.
Jon.
