The Truth About The Small Block Chevy 400
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- In this video I go over basics on the SBC 400 and how if put together correctly can be a very budget friendly and potent engine. These engines have been bagged on for years for alleged cooling issues and some enthusiasts not liking the Siamese bore.
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Back in high school I had a 77 nova with a 400 out of a blazer.
I swapped the cam, headers, intake and a 750 holly. In the early 90’s people thought a short stroke was the way to go but, I read a book called “power secrets” by Smokey unich.
It takes torque to move weight.
I had a lot of torque and no much weight. I had the fastest car in school. Thanks Smokey.
That is a good book and Smokey was a very smart man. Everything he says in there is right on the money. Everybody should read that book asap.
@@jsteganius6969 You guys know your stuff ;)
@@jsteganius6969 Agreed , millions of spot on tricks from Mr. Yunick, I re read it with every SBC I build and I always catch something new I over looked. But I am not a 400 fan at all, less issues with a 383.
YEAH, Smokey was a deviant, and the man.
I had 3 400s u had to keep them cool I blew 2 of them before I put a huge radiator in very thin walls and hard to find now
The olds 403 was a better motor when built right
Another difference to be aware of is that the 400 sb is externally balanced. Different flexplate and balancer than the 350.
Back in my memory, the only factory flywheel to be found for manual transmissions applications was in very few vehicles.
@@kcgarrigan4324 yeah so you have to get an aftermarket one
@@zAvAvAz - Nope, got one laying around here... LOL !
I thought it was the 400 big block.
@@martingarza3383, The "400" BB is the 402 AKA the 396 "turbo fire", this is the early 70's Caprices, the trucks just called it the 402
Damn right 400 is torque monster my Chevelle ran from 74 to 84 then rebuilt. Balanced , bored .30 over , 202 heads . Ran 84 to 2005. Put out 443 HP. 😮 Total miles 335 000 + 😊
400 small blocks were becoming rare by the late 80's for a number of reasons . The cylinders ran hotter due to the fact that there was no circulation between them . Due to the higher operating temps head cracking between the steam holes was also common . Also , due to the fact that the bores were so close to the head bolts , the head bolts would pull the bores into a hexagonal shape over time , resulting in poor ring seal . Finally , the short rods combined with the longer stroke would cause excessive side loading on the cylinder walls , resulting in excessive wear . That is why 383 strokers became so popular by the late 80's , because there were tons of used up 400 blocks with good cranks in them . I'm an engine machinist with over 40 years of experience , I will be retiring in two years .
WHEN BUILDING AN ENGINE DO YOU WASH OUT / CLEAN OUT ALL THE OIL HOLES ? DO YOU BEBURE THE BLOCK ?
GRIND, SAND DOWN AND POLISH THE OIL RETURN PATHS IN THE LIFTER VALLEYS ? JUST WONDERING, ALL MACHINE SHOPS AROUND ME DON'T, UNLESS YOU REQUEST IT AND PAY EXTRA !
I HAD 2 MOTORS REBUILT AT 1 SHOP , BOTH ENDED UP HAVING ROD AND CRANK BEARINGS PROBLEMS, I THOUGHT CLEARANCES MIGHT HAVE BEEN TO TIGHT. LATER I MET A GUY WHO BUILDS OVAL TRACK RACE ENGINES , HE LOOKED AT BEARINGS , SAID THE MACHINE SHOP NEVER CLEANED BLOCK AND CRANK PROPERLY.
@@daviddavids3468 heck yeah I'd request it to be cleaned and I still wouldn't trust it and do it myself.
Heck ,I worked in an engine shop and I'd still clean parts after getting em back for some job.
I always did that myself you gotta get the oil back to the pump faster than you pump it to the top 👍
Brother you've been an automotive machinist for 40 years with a retirement wow great job 👍 & I had thought about becoming a auto machinist when I was younger but loved the water I ended up on oilfield yachts crewboats & offshore tugs engineer never got the package to retire on 😔 but yea great job brother. & let's get back to them 400s I've had one & it was in a Pontiac Catalina 4 door I want to say in the 70s and it was so smooth running engine with no hesitation what so ever. Period lol it sounded great with the right exhaust it was one smooth sounding 400 I've ever owned. Congrats on your 40 years. Now I'm mad @ myself but don't regret it tho I got to learn diesel along with gas living on a oilfield aluminum breaux hull built crewboat yachts. Good luck these days on your retirement brother 40 years you've earned it.
The thing about it. Even aftermarket blocks like the street SHP has the Siamesed bore design and absolutely no steam hole BS. The 400 running hot myth is on of the biggest myths of all time
I had one in a pickup. It got hot and burned a hole in a piston. I wasn't abusing it. Beware
If your 400 running hot it's either lean or low on coolant! Great engine!
Stupid mothers always run hot hard to start bad cooling system
@@davidjohnson6329 Then you had a problem with the cooling system, NOT the engine. I have a mildly built, stock block 400 in a GMC Sonoma that puts out around 400-420 hp. It runs around 170°175° normally and gets up to 180°-185° climbing a grade during a hot day.
It's not a myth! But it's way overblown .
Built a 400 small block in 1979 with stock bottom end and added 2.02 heads, circle track cam with .537-.555 lift 247/252 duration108 centerline, 750 holley double pumper, big tube 1 7/8 headers and stuffed in a 1969 nova with a powerglide. That thing had so much torque it would break the tires loose at 45 mph! Could not keep head gaskets in it very long but was fun as hell for a 19 year old kid.
An awesome combo. Sounds hairier than this daily driven pure street combo: 406c.i. lunati 230*in/230*ex O.455" lifts in & ex. RPM intake 9.7:1 compression stock vortec heads. 750 HP holley. 2500 stall. Makes 427 hp@ 5100rpm. and 525 tq. @ 3500 rpm. Just a simple short rpm stout daily driven combo without trying for cheap. It would take more money to accomplish the same on a 350 and the 355 combo i have makes 465 tq. and 410hp and has precision work in the heads. XR276HR mild roller cam combo.
Till the 318 dodge dart shut ya up
I was a BBC guy till a 340 dart beat me
Chevy's are cheap because GM is junk
@wildestcowboy2668 a 318😂😂 you must not know how to tune a muscle car!😂😂
@@wildestcowboy2668 obviously you never had a real car in the first place! 340 darts are not fast. Maybe if you said a cornet R/T with 440 6 pack. But regardless, Chevy has fast cars also. But at this point you obviously don't know much of much. Sorry you got your ass kicked. Maybe part of it is also driving skills. Either you had a shit car but probably bad driver or both.
Got two 400s. One street 427 6in rod 680hp 700lbs tq. One race 434 6.1 rod 750hp on 750tq trick flow heads. 750 dbl pumper. 1150 900hp 870lbs tq. Both Rev 7500 all day long and leave most in the dust. Best sbc ever!
700 ftlbs ,,, hmm ,, 13 degree heads with 15-1 ?
Amen
Lies, all lies.
Anyone who knows engines knows this is absolute lie. Your engines are not doing any of this.
I have 3 .040 400 sbc, found one when I was 17 years old in a 1968 chevelle deluxe 300. It was a one wheel tire burning machine and fun to drive. Wish I would have kept that car but young and dumb. Now 34 years later I have a 1982 Malibu wagon with a 408 sbc and it is here to stay. And it's a 2 wheel tire burning machine and yes it's fun to drive.
There's no substitute
For Cubic Inches.
Always remember this!
oh yes I can speak from first-hand experience that I still have my 509 2 bolt main 427 small block and she is a beast
I built three 400 small blocks. Loved them! The best combination was flat top pistons with a solid lift camshaft. I put sportsman II heads with 67 cc chamber . I did have to run AV gas due to compression. 3500 stall with 373 gear. 11.60’s in the 1/4 mile all day long. Very strong engines.
In high school , mid to late 90s my good buddy had a 68 camaro with a 400 , had 186 camel humps , gm performance intake headers and an unknown cam that wasn't very lumpy , but heavy sounding , th350 no stall and a 308 rear gear . . . That thing would puuuuuull! Very fast car honestly it was almost scary never lost a race when I was present. Great video
I have a small block 400 that I've had since 1993 and used it in my 1970 C20 Chevy truck. I did have the cracked head issue 5 years ago and I had it rebuilt but I never put it back on the road again because the cracked headed syndrome freaked me out and I didn't trust it. Thanks to you video I now know how to get away from the cracking issue. Thanks for the great info!
My uncle had a small block 400 on a 53 Chevy.Pick up everybody used to talk smack about it.We went on many road trips with that vehicle.Towing and r v never had any issues like you said if done right small block 400 is a good engine
Smokey Yunick loved them. I abused one for 30 years, it's out for a freshen up and Dart heads
I had the only 400 Small block in Townsville North Queensland during the early eighties. The 60 thou over 511 block was an absolute hero and being well and truly worked over, I utterly enjoyed being the #1 street car in the city. That baby never got warm and it saw +6000rpm all the time. They were the best times ever and I dearly regret ever selling it. The 400 was the best kept secret in Australia. :D
😢 till they discovered that u were a switch hitter
My mate Manuel had a silver Mazda in 90s with 400 in Melbourne running 9.56 quater mile
Quarter mile
Code basha, Did you all get any big block pontiacs?
I had a 1973 Vega with good heads and intake ran 7:03 in 1\8 mile . Love those engines.
Ray. That is badass!!!
74 Z28 Camaro 400- 400 Turbo transmission. Raised the Compression ratio. Put 2 Elderbrock carbs. Hooker Headers. 10-5-1 compression ratio. Midnight Blue. No strips. Great Car!
S.b.c. 400 is a different beast than other small block chevys! Had one wish I'd kept it for my oldest sons 55 Chevy truck ! Even stock, there very strong !!
A friend had one in a 1954 Chevy pickup, he would call the 400 the little big block !!
i had one in a 1976 laguna great motor i also remember going through junk yards looking for a set of heads for it and i noticed the early station wagons had the 4 bolt main 400 in them and i know the flywheel and harmonic balancer a unique to that motor
Great video. A previous owner of my 1981 El Camino replaced the original engine with a 1980 400. Much fun!
I've had one that I built in1987. Still runs just as strong today, over 33 years later. I have had the pan off of it twice in 33 years to change out bearings and oil pump. 588 eagle cam . 106 lobe separation. Torqueer 2 intake and a 600 holly. Iron eagle heads. Yes stem holes are drilled. Have ran headers and old ram horn manifolds. Power on demand anytime. Most time steet raced in a lightweight chevy ll . Would not sell it for 2 Ls motors. Will run on alcohol as well as gas. Good little motors. Thanks.
U wouldn't sell for two.ls motors.lmfao well my ls 402 makes around d 1500 hp meth infected turbo.have fun going slow
@@ryangulley1082 I believe your brain is "meth infected" bro! Yes, the ls is an excellent engine that is better in volumetric efficiency because of the head design. First Gen small blocks with 14 degree large port/valve combos can support 8000 rpm and 700 to 750 hp n/a with about 13.5 : 1 compression very easily.
@@harrypalmer291 the stock.sbc head is trash as well.dz 302 vs a boss 302 .haha.you know tho.i have never built a sbc or any engine.
The key words in my original response to you was "14 degree heads" which were never made by Chevrolet or GM. They are purpose built race parts that cost thousands. Speed is only a question of money. How fast do you want to go?
@@ryangulley1082 let's see it last 33 years though. The guy wasn't attacking LS engines just loves his 400 and then you had to be a c#nt
Excellent information! I rescued a 400 / 400 combo out of my fathers 74 Caprice before it went to the wrecking yard. Destined to go into my 57 Chevy at some point soon but with a stick instead of the auto.
I've got about 10 or 12 400 small block engines. Love them. Best sb ever built! I'd never waste time building a 383 with the 400s I have. All mine are standard bore and only bore .020 over if they clean up instead of .030.
@DFV Louderilk Good point but when comparing small blocks only, I'll take the 400 hands down.
@DFV Louderilk If only more people were aware of how truly incredible the big block chevy is. The Mark II "Mystery Motor" was developed as a race engine. The Mark IV big block we know today is almost identical in design. So yes, the Mark IV is a race engine. Canted valves make it a power monster. All these sheep that go with the crowd witj LS swapping everything are missing out. LS does not have canted valves, they are lined up next to each other causing harsh turns and reducing flow potential. The most powerful V8s on earth are all hemis or something with canted valve placement. The big block should not be ignored
I have starter problems with mine changed the flexplate and starter still starts like crap tried shims and still any advice what I can do would gladly be appreciated?
@@nyc1655 what problem, are you chewing the flywheel or flex plate, ok shim out side brings the starter closer to the ring, move the shims in the direction that it needs
@@shootermcgavin2819 A BBC is a poor man's hemi. No GM junk ever beat a MIGHTY MOPAR BIG BLOCK HEMI
I've been using the 400 small blocks in my stock cars, tow vehicles, and in my stop light to stop light boulevard street cars with great results for over 30 years. Show me a 400 that overheats and 99% of the time I will show you a plugged-up radiator. I race in the southwest where come race time in the hot summer nights when they throw the green flag the ambient air temp is still 95 degrees. I run a stock GM 4-core radiator with no overheating problems. In fact, it runs so cool, maybe I will put air conditioning and a cup holder in it next season.
Built many over the years,no overheating problems, currently have one in my Wife's 75' Chevy Vega 5 speed car,4.155 bore,n.o.s.TRW 2606-30 Forged pistons, 5.7 H-beam rods,Scat light weight 9000 series Crankshaft, Hydraulic roller cam .575 lift,248dur.with angle plug aluminum heads (a must due to header design), feed by a quick fuel 750 cfm carburetor on a G.M.performance single plane (Vortec stlye) eliminator intake,gets her to Wally world pdq,
First V8 I ever rebuilt for my 73 nova back in 76 was a 400 SB with camel hump heads bored 60 over Comp cam and 4 speed manual! And ran that for years with no heating problems and was my daily driver and weekend racer!
Good stuff man!!!!!
My favorite thing to do with 400's is turn them into NASCAR 377's. If the bore is good, (not barrel shaped or more then .040 over) use fat bearings and drop a steel 350 crank in it with 6.125" rods and forged pistons to reduce side loading, steam-hole a set of big valve double-humps with dual valve springs, solid lifters, a 106 cam with around 270 degrees duration and 550 lift. Thing makes nutso power and can handle 8600 revs all day long. The trans-am mustang guys hate us....
Built one of those for my sprint car back in the 70's. 400 block, 350 crank, roller cam and rev kIt, Chevy HP angle plug heads and Hilborn injection running alcohol; it was a stout engine.
Yes a destroked motor is awesome i have had several. My latest is a 351 cleveland destroked to a 330 like glidden dominated pro stock with it makes insane power the local camaro guys hate me.
Have read from some industry heavy hitters that a 377 with fill up to water pump holes and external oil cooler can actually help the stock block live a long time at higher power levels
Can you do this with 65 383 big block?
383 Mopar? Or 396 Chevy? Each can be easily turned into a 413 Max Wedge and a 427 Mk. III.
I have had several small block 400 chevy motors through the years, never had any running hot,over heating problems AT All. Damm good motors. Take care of them. Last for a long time.
I had good luck in my SBC 400 bought it from a Chevy dealer parts guy who was building a car from a wrecked new 71 . It had the earlier camel hump heads with weap hones drilled and a Sig Ersson TQ 20 cam. I bought the first Torquer intake Edlebrock came out with and used 650 holly in my 1936 Chevy delivery street rod. Absolutely no problem
I put a 400 CID in a 77 CIO in the mid 80's, that I used to pull a. 29ft TT and as you said do it right and you won't have any problems!!! It never ever over heated. I could pass anything but a gas station!! I love the power!!! I worked in amachine shop so dong it right was easy!
Yeah, besides anything with a load of weight, too much compression, too much timing, too poor fuel grade= heat build up and premature detonation conditions in anything.
400 and a 350 also have two different sounds coming out the exhaust
Good video. I had one in an 81 Impala, I don't know if it was factory but it was a damn good engine. Very durable and tons of torque I miss that car.
I don't care what everyone says the SBC 400'S are the best sbc engines ever made,I have 3 of them now running and will buy more if I can find them over a LS engine any day!!!
I have a 79 chevy 3/4 4x4. Everything that came on that truck from the factory minus the carb is still on the truck. Bone stock 400 that still runs great
I have always run my SB 400 with huge circle track alum radiator duel electric fans on thermo coupler set to 170F and no thermostat- high volume water pump use anti corrosive additive in water cooling system. Cruise and idle all day 85 degree weather at 180f. never had an issue, I also reused my original cast heads after a home done by hand port- polish match up and these baby's flow, amazing after to rebuilds the cast heads never cracked like so typical SB 400 used in trucks doing heavy hauling back in the day. Bottom end is some fairly basic moderate to do list- running a duel P Edebr intake from junk yard 23 years ago used to run a
268 Comp HI 268 cam with a 600cfm Carter- 3 years ago swapped cam to 272 Isky with a 650 Edlb AVS 2. very little change to the out of box carb- changed the throttle response lever for secondary's to kick in a bit faster. I just love these 400s. I matched that up with a very old street- drag race TH 350 with all the 1970s tricks, as my dad used to say. 3500 stall B&M hole shot, running LOL get this 272 rear gears- this thing rolls to 70mph in first gear before auto upshift I love big body cars and "tender SB 400s.
I like the 1971 impala s.b.400,;they were all 4 bolts in that year. Mine has a virgin LT-1 steel crank, as you couldnt get a factory 400 steel crank. mine with a slight punch for straightening finishes at 377 cubes, with alum. brodex 205 intake valves. Had running 18 years now, runs good, never runs too hot. Use two 750 doubles on a crossram! Never had a lick of trouble all these years, and havent even had to reset valves. Solid Lunatti, 302 dur. 547 lift.
Yes Chevelle's. I had a Laguna S3 with a 400 from the factory. The last one I built was a stock bore with longer 350 PM rods and Vortec 062 heads drilled for the steam hole. I had to replace the pistons and used a set of KB's with a relocated pin hole. A Crane dual pattern cam, springs, locks and pushrods finished off the long block. That engine just hauled ass, I had it in a '78 Monza with a 4 speed and it was unmanageable. I finally settled on a built 200r4 out of a Grand National and a tight converter to soften the bottom end. The only thing I did for the cooling system was an aluminum radiator and water pump. Never got beat by a big block car and never had to work on the motor. There really is no better combo that a 400 small block in a light car. Now a days it's the LS Mustang's.
67 SS factory over. 030 block took the 11: 1 highdome pistons out. Went to 10: 5 and closed chambers with biggest valves you could fit. Ran good for a 396. Canary yellow and black with a 411 limited, torker mani and a 850 dual feed double pumper. Break the tires lose at 55 mph.
I had a high compression 421 solid roller. Ran extremely well. Being in Phoenix I had NEVER wanted a 400 block
Great vid, I have a 400 .040 which I’m excited about building now. It’s in a 1970 c/10 .
The 400 blocks and cranks were good,.... we use to take the cranks,... and stroke them from 3.750 to 3.812,... (13/16's) ,... ending up with a 2 inch rod journal,... then using a 327 dimension connecting rod,... it allowed you to take a lot of weight off the cranks counterweight,.... these motors were extremely quick accelerating on the dirt tracks,.... as long as the balancing was done properly,... they were as tough as the 406's,... even with a 8 inch balancer,..... we turned them 72 or 7300 rpm's,... on every straight-a-way,.... but you have to do your homework on them,...they were good........
Thank you RatMaro, for the 411 on the 400 Small Block.
Have a 2 bolt 511 block and just picked up a 2 bolt 509 virgin block yesterday. Hearing alot of good on the 509. Thanks for the info.
I picked up a 67 Camino with a mild built 400 in it. I love it !!! Looking for one now to put into my 85 C-10 truck. They hard to find with a stock bore now !!
Great video you got a new subscriber just picked one up 2 bolt main for pennys painted and cleaned!!
The 400 sure does a good 50yd burnout Into a curb😂❤️
Great video! Thanks for all the info!
I have A 406 sbc.Just now taking off these ported 202/160 camel hump and putting on these AFR’s 195.Torque monster that’s for sure.Pulled the motor out of A 1973 station wagon 2 bolt main 511 block.Put TRW flat top pistons with A 6 inch H-Beam rod and with A 64cc chamber can you say TORQUE MONSTER.Steam holes are drilled and never had the motor go over 190 temp.Can’t wait to see what these heads offer.I want experience the transition from camel humps to AFR’s.Cam is A Old Crane hydraulic roller lift if 550/570 with duration at 248/253 lobe is 108.Muncie 4 speed with 373 rear gears in my 1968 Camaro.Ooooooo boyyyy can wait to back this car out again.Love you videos man keep up the good work.And Ooooo yes I am now building A 454 30 over and can’t wait to see what that will do.
Someday AFR heads are in the plans for my 406! It pulls very hard even with the ported and polished camel humps right now. But I was on a limited budget when I built this haha.
@@RatMaro I totally understand that lol.Same boat that why these hump were on my 406 for so long….but they work.Like you said and my friend said ya the humps are small for that motor no doubt but the torque from the displacement and compression alone is what I was going for and I hit that mark.They we’re some head issues that came up and I did not want to dump any extra money on them so I some how squeezed out enough for these AFR’s.I never thought I would get these.With great power comes great responsibility lol.Tell you what you set A fire under my ass when I watched your big block video and I was looking over my shoulder looking at my 454 covered up :-)…..To be continued lol.High 5 man keep up the great videos.
My mechanic talked me into getting a 400 instead of a 383. All of the work is done is done. I just need to get the headers, intake and a carb. Steam ports drilled, cam, pistons, crank is all there. Thanks 👍🏾
I have a 73 S3 Laguna chevelle that came with a 400 from factory, I love that motor
My 406 SBC powers my light bodied car it goes like a truck on steroids no heating issues it is an everyday car since 1986 cast 400 heads coupled with a Rochester 800CFM.
Back in the day my buddy had a 400 with a fairly aggressive cam,headers,intake and a Holley 750 on it..it was very stout.
I have an old school 434” (4.155 bore x 4.00 stroke), splayed cap factory 817 block with a short fill… sitting in my bedroom closet for the last 17 years! Has Brodix-12 heads, T&D shaft rockers, set of Lemons headers, Jesel belt timing set, Hogans sheet metal intake with a Brandywine dominator on it. Crowder crank and steel h beam rods, Wiesco pistons with total seal rings, Stephs oil pan and pump, ATI balancer, 30lb Hayes flywheel. It was fun! One of these days I may find another 69 Z-28 to put it in.
I thought the 69 Z28 only came with the 302??
@@mekanik911 that motor was long gone when I bought that car. It did have a 327 with an M22 and Dana 60 with 456 gears.
@@trevorjarvis3050 wanna sell it?
@@BEANS-O-MATICtransmissions dammit…. Not yet…. Your name looks familiar but I don’t know why.
Loved those 69 Z-28s all them years body style is a head turner until the new styles came out like naw I'll stick with real older cars & trucks body styles lol
400 sbc good motor in My opinion steam holes are a must. My sbc 400 Had steam holes and with the 3 row radiator from summit 95 degrees outside and it would not overheat. Mine was not a rocket but it was a good street engine. Thanks for sharing
I put one in my 68 long bed with a granny low it was freshly rebuilt it was the baddest engine it never got passed 180 that I remember I still have it I think it came out of a station wagon it's been sitting in my shed I hope to rebuild it one day
I had a 72 Kingswood station wagon back in the early 90's.............a rusted out piece of junk from Indiana, but the 400 small block, was bad ass............Right up there with my rebuilt 350 i had in a 72 Nova...........I sold it, the entire car, for 225 bucks and you could tell the four guys that bought it, knew they just got a great great deal
Good presentation of the 400. When we were building them in the 80's the biggest thing we had to do, was running a bypass hose from the REAR coolant crossover when possible, or the front if you couldnt do the rear on some aftermarket manifolds... with the bypass routed through the radiator we no longer had cooling issues...
Could you fill me in on where to direct that water? Do I use a heater hose on that crossover, and where does it go from there? I don't want a mix-up.
@@davidbaldwin1591 We drilled a crossover on both sides (rear) and connected them, then t'd that into the heater hose going to the heater core. Which then pumped the hot coolant through the heater core and back to the radiator. That was usually enough to keep them running cool. I am running a supercharged 434 Dart block with siamesed cylinders in my camaro. An aluminum rad, with a flex fan, and electric fans on the front. WITH a hose from the front crossover is enough to keep it cool.. unless its near 100 degrees AND I run the AC, then it very slowly heats up when idling, but cools right back down when going down the highway. One day i will have to add the rear bypass so I can sit in stopped traffic and keep the AC on wow....
@@kniteprince3798 Thank you for that explanation so clearly!
My buddy built a car to run in gasser class he used a 400 block with 327 crank for 348 Ci it would rev like crazy.
One of the guys at our local track runs a .030 over 400 in a 1980 stock body Camaro, with AFR heads the car is a high 9 second car.
Friend had a Chevelle with 400 SB also. It was an early 70’s. Lots of people call them Malibu’s but it still said Chevelle on it too. Another friend had a Nova with one. He was only able to bore it to .060 do to it’s already large bore. He did have heating problems but probably for reasons you said. I had one in a 72 Caprice.
Everything you say here is right on the money!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
He's back!
Absolutely yes to the splayed main cap 4 bolt
Glad I bought a reasonable priced New 540 Big Block Chevy short block a few years ago. All forged and internal balanced bottom end. 9.3 compression with 119 heads, with stock big oval iron heads I have and mild hydraulic roller cam. 540 HP 600 TQ across the board is easy. Good street and strip engine, 2,000 stall and with a 114 lobe separation cam will be a great 250-400 big shot of nitrous will help do the job. Lower compression makes bigger nitrous overall gain than higher compression and adding a smaller nitrous kit overall.
My favorite engine, raced a 406 many many years.
Great video! Love my 406 4bolt main with 202 heads also
Those 400SB were great engines.I had two cars with them. A75 Monte carlo and a 76 Caprice estate wagon. They both lasted over 500k miles.😊
Back in the day, 1990, I had a 79 olds cutless 2dr with a 305 sounded good but wouldn’t get out of its own way but I loved it. My older brother had a 69 Camaro with a 400 sbc don’t know what heads he had but I know he had an aluminum intake and 650 double pump Holley headers 350 trans with a shift kit and he would smoke me. He even ran it against our buddy with an 86 I-roc tpi and another buddy with a 1990 ss454 truck and he smoked them too. That 69 would fly. Brings back memories.
Have a 70 nova ran 7.20s with a 400. Had 1970 lt1 heads, team-g intake, 850 holley, and a .532 solid lift cam. 373 gears, th350. 1.54 60ft times.
7.20 ? 1/8 MILE ?
@@daviddavids3468 sure hope!!!!!!
Sounds like a damn good time!!!!
Thank you you for this video I have a 75 caprice 400 sb ❤ All I ever heard was 400 over heat. I do have Corvette manifolds under my four barrel carburetor. I had to cut raider rebuilt last summer and the engine rebuilt back in 2003. It’s time for a new rebuild.😅
I have one build 4.155 bore, plugged the steam holes, run the Brodex 1 heads.. no heating issues over 550 hp..all forged internals.. great mtr.. I’ve run this in track events at the Glen, and VIR with no issues..
Also can destroke the block and make a 377. Fun high rpm motor.
dirt track guys have done that a lot.
Reliable and high RPM but Short on torque
@@burnychaplin4601 that's why they make manual transmissions with a variety of gear ratios , and for the automatic guys you change rear end gearing . Personally I want to build an even smaller version .
Always wanted to do that I believe that the 68 307, had a 3 in stroke crank so you don't nead extra thick mains just longer rods high compression heads with large valves steam holes and harmonic balancer and flywheel camshaft would be a tricky thing as now it's over squared
That's what I have in my old high-school camaro. 307, bored 40 over, 10:1 pistons, a set of double humps that I ported, and one step below the biggest hydraulic cam comp makes before going solid. Holy smoke does that thing run.
I have a 400 sbc 509 casting with missing freeze plug on the side!! Has 68 camel hump heads 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves, a custom ground cam with an Edelbrock Air-Gap intake and Edelbrock performer series 800 cm carb and in my 85 S-10 Tahoe edition with a locked 3:73 rear gear is a fun little truck out on the streets!!!
Gotta love that American muscle sound Thanks for the info great content 👍🏾
The two best small blocks in my opinion are the 327 and 400,I would pick the 400 over the 350 every time!
Go ahead with those two and make my day ! , A 355 four bolt main work's just fine for me !
The 327 is a solid choice. Use the right valve springs and a longer rod and you have a snappy little screamer. Take a 400 and add long rods, good heads, and about the hottest street cam and you have a damn fine tire roaster. It all depends on application I suppose. Drag, road, oval, street.... All comes down to how "mad at it" you like to drive. Hee. Hee....
Ok
Wow! Thanks for the info, Yes I never knew the 400 Small Blocks existed until I saw an Ad for a 1980 Camaro Project Car (Which I am considering buying). If I can gets my hands on the Camaro I probably will be asking a lot of questions and of course watching more video's. Likely the one I am looking at needs new heads. . . .
I subbed I like thiskind of content keep em coming sir
We use to grab these up in the 80s. Three most common. Rotating assembly used in a 350 with the 565 rods had no clearance issues. Or a 406. Or a destroked 400 into a 377
377...... LoL ur thinking about a 383 pop's
@@wildestcowboy2668377 is a 400 with a shorter stroke crank from a 327 or 350. Revs high
I love the 400sb did a 406 in mud truck it's a beast and sounds amazing
Thanks alot bro very interesting I might build one now!
I HAD A 406 , STOCK CRANK AND RODS, , FLAT TOP PISTONS, RACE PORTED 882 CHEVY HEADS WITH MANLEY LIGHTWEIGHT NARROWED 2.02 / 1.60 VALVES, LUNATI .525 LIFT CAM . RPM INTAKE, 750 EDELBROCK CARB. WAS A BLAST TO DRIVE, TIRE FRYING TORQUE.
Had a stock 400 in my 73 wagon, always ran great. Had the throttle stick open Once ( linkage) got scary over 90mph w/ family in car(.ez fix)
Traded in for a 4 cyl for MPG saving, but that 400 always started & ran well for a 2bbl
Just turn the key off if you ever have throttle stick again brains those Chevrolets like to run wide open
Hey thanks mate that helps me out heaps I know a little bit about engines and you just filled in the missing pieces. I'm going to buy a perentti in Australia and there is 2 to choose from one is the small block 400 and the other is a 350 small block
I love 400s but they are hard to find I'm saving right now to build a bullet prof dart she 427 that's 4500 then another 2k for the heads 1k for a roller cam set up 1500 for carb and intake but then I know what I got. I just missed a 400 that was o ringed fresh out the machine shop for 800 dollars but buy the time it would have been shipped it would have been 12 to 1500. And then don't know how good of a job was done if it was bored with deck plates or if it was half asked. I liked your video. Good job. You friend from louisiana Rick427 I also have a big block 439 it was a 427 60 over all forged short block AFR 265 oval port heads howards hydraulic roller with a victor jr.intake and Holly 850 it should be on the dyno in a few weeks. Hoping to have a 500 hp street motor for my 88 monte carlo SS. Again thanks for the video
had a 400 in my 77 chev 1 ton van. great tow vehicle. the engine out lasted the van.
I had a 400 with a 3.48 stroke, 377. Another difference unshrouded valves. Better breathings. Had Brodix track 1 heads ported and polished. Made around 500 hp, in the early 90's it was a screamer.
For years I had a 400sbc & a 700r4 I swapped in a ‘79 C3 Corvette.
Comp 212’/218’-.487”/.495 retrofit hyd roller,
unported Vortec heads,
standard Performer intake,
Quadrajet,
1 5/8” long tubes,
Dynomax turbos,
recurved HEI,
3:70 posi.
A/C, pwr windows lol
Would run consistent 13.2’s if the tires didn’t badly break loose.
Fun car back then for being surprisingly heavy.
700r4 is a weak trans
Lame combo 😂
@@Jay-fb2lv a baby camshaft but totally streetable
@@Watchout1010 a very small 1st gear's fault amongst other things.
cool. i bet it is a blast to drive, not too much cam, got overdrive. Nice broad torque band. awesome. in a 400 you could have gone up to an XR 276 HR or XR282 HR and still had vacuum to the brakes and have 535 tq. That is what a 383 made with the Xr282Hr10 but needed 1-2 points of vacuum so runs a vacuum cannister to have abundance. The XR276HR makes 465 tq in a 355 same thing on vacuum ran a vacuum can with EPS eddy intake. If ground on 112 LSA will make up the vacuum. i am going to try an XR264, 258, or 252 next time on a mild 355.
hi compression on a .045 piston deck clearance , std bore , 2 valve reliefs 68cc heads
CR= 10.7 to1
64cc head = 11.3 to 1 .040 gasket 64cc head = 11 to 1 with .050 gasket
I love the long stroke stroker combinations 3.875/4.00 strokes. I’m building a dart block now using a 3.875 stroke
Thinking along the same lines, no o e seems to give mention to the wheezing little 307. Not the 305, but the 307. A stroked 283. Have one in my old high-school 68 camaro. I ported a set of 1.94 double humps, used a 350 horse 327 cam, flat-tops for 10:1. Had the car for almost thirty years now, still runs better than the warmed-over 350 in my Dad's 76 vette.
Thank you very much for the information.
I had 17 of those blocks at one time a long time ago in california, we were destroking them and running them in sprint cars 377cid. It was the 70`s If youre running over 3500 rpm the steam holes aren`t needed. The holes were there to keep steam pockets from getting trapped under the deck at the siamesed point of the cylinders at higher rpms the flow doesnt let the steam collect. When running 3.75 stroke we just added heavy metal and internally balanced the engine. Now I just buy new blocks, so much easier and no holes...expanded water jackets fixed it and with a 9.325 deck 468 cid is not a problem, wide pan rails .800 increase .391 raised cam BBC cam journal's and any lifter bore or splay you want.
Eddy u seem to know what you are talking about. I have a bone stock 400 in a 72 caprice, cars junk but motor purs like a kitten. Realistic could I get 400;hp out of it without breaking the bank?
@@wildestcowboy2668 Yes sir, no problem, I`d check emission laws of your state first thing. No sense building a motor that` ya can`t get a plate for.
@@edpetrocelli2633 Brotha I live in sweet home Alabama we ain't got no b.s. sleepy Joe Biden restricted anything! ...thank God
@@wildestcowboy2668 If ya can afford it buy new parts. A scat cast internally balanced rotating assembly 400 with 7/16 rod bolts with flat top pistons will hold 400hp no problem. Any cylinder head with 72cc cambers and flow 277cfm or better will get you there and 200 to 220cc intake runners. 1and 3/4 header tubes. Internally balanced rotating assemblies will use 350 harmonic balancers and flexplates. Hydraulic roller cam about 240*duration and 550 lift. That should getter done.......on pump gas. Good luck
@@edpetrocelli2633 Thanks my friend I will study what you sent me.
Learned alot, thank you
Thanks for the education, makes sense. I always got "razzed" about the 400 I had in my 73 Caprice, but it lasted over 250K miles without any issues. Needless to say, it was just a choked down smog motor, so not enough power to really strain anything. Wish the car was still around today, would have loved to have the engine rebuilt with better heads for a bit more power.
A cam and domed pistons would have bumped it to 375 HP...
@@BuzzLOLOL Maybe someday I will have another one. Dream of having the skills/money and resources to do a frame off rotisserie restoration on one of these cars, would really love to have a convertible.
it would last countless millions if people replaced the bearings on time.
@@zAvAvAz Replaced the bearings??
@@donk499 Yes, the engine bearings. Engines that are meant to last are built with wearable parts that you replace. Like all the engine bearings and all clearances checked. If you replace the bearings as scheduled, there wouldn't be so many engines thrown away or need machined so much.
had one in my 75 SWB 4WD pickup truck. I grew up in that era. really did not care for it much Gas hog. strong torque but not a screamer. we put one in my brother's sport car
he still has the engine. I still have the truck ,with a 350 in it. 400 is a low compression big valve heads. toss the heads and cam if you want to build one. pre 73 350 would run off and leave the 400 in the dust. However, now that turbo kits are cheap if you get a stock 400 that doesn't need overhauled slide in a better cam and boost the heck out of it . lot of volumemetric space to stuff air into.
I had one in an S-10. 400 small block vortec heads mild .468 lift cam. It was a five speed truck. I could take off in third gear and fry the tires till the end of time.
When dad ordered his new pickup truck in November of '74 he ordered it with the 400 cubic inch engine. Right now that truck has 80,847 mi on it for the sixth time that I know of. And that old small block will turn over the 33x12.50x16.5 tires just like she did when I drove her to high school.
Good luck finding one,around here at least. I haven't seen one,even at a swap meet for about 15 years. If you have one,you can use 350 heads,but don't forget to drill the steam holes in precisely the right spots. If you don't I'll run about 220- 230 deg F. I bought one at a garage sale back in the early 2000's. The guy said it ran great,but it ran a little on the hot side. I bought it anyway and pulled the heads off. Yep,no steam holes. After I drilled the steam holes and stuck it in a 77 F Firebird that previously had a Chevy 305. It went pretty good,even with the crappy 2.73 rear axle. I sold that car to my friend and his girl crashed it. She actually stole his car because she had no driver's license. He was at work and she ran outa smokes. She took it to the store and crashed into a ditch and a tree. Totally f'd that car up.
not tough to drill steam holes. line up your 400 gasket and get out the dewalt/millwakee. i know racers that don't even drill the steam holes they tell me because they are turning big rpms the hole race it will work out the steam pocket. i personally just drill the hole- easy.
I hope he dumped her,your kidding over a damn pack of cigarettes 🚬 crazy women 😜
@@ronaldlewis8620 Yeah,he did some stuff to it after I sold it to him. I Imagine it was probably close to 400 hp. He put a bigger cam,4:11 gears and a 2500 or a 3000 stall converter in it. She didn't have a clue what she was driving. It probably just got away from her. He did end up leaving her eventually,but not because of that. They have 3 kids together. She's a binge drinker and he couldn't handle her antics anymore. She's always had major drama.
@@Thundarr995 damn you really put that girl on blast
I've got about 10 or 12 400 small blocks.
I'm looking at building a 406, thanks for the info.
Awesome work on the cars! :o)
i am that i am building a 418 c.i. out of one, first i got to find one. i am getting a 1.59:01 rod ratio out of it with a 6.1" stroker rod. well and hopefully a jerico 5 speed soon.
Wow! Thanks for the good Info 👍
Best info on Chevy sb