Built one. Had a 1990 K-5. Built the original 4 bolt 350. Ran an Edelbrock Performer TBI intake, Vortech heads, a “blueprinted” TBI (😂🤣😂), & a chip-still made 450 HP. Love a 383
I've built 434 small blocks over 800 hp. Never had a cylinder problem. Used to build 377 destroked 400s out of stock 400 blocks for circle track turning 7800 rpm all season long.
My old man used to make 421 for late model cars back in late 80s early 90s 700hp+ 9k rpm monsters same deal all season long wide open more or less. I guess last one he built a buddy back then still runs to this day it actually out lived his friend unfortunately.
@@Thumper68 Jesus, your old man knew more than the NASCAR engine builders, building their engines that only lasted 500 miles if they were lucky, and only making 600-650hp back in the late 80s early 90s!! He should have gone to work for Yates or somebody in NASCAR and made a fortune with his knowledge!!
@@patrickm.8425 yeah he probably should of but he had a family and I don’t think he loved it like that to chase it. He was master mechanic and machinist at like 19-20 years old. But I’m trying to learn all I can from him but he’s probably forgot more then I’ll be able to absorb.
I still run small block stuff. Got a couple LSs in the garage to play with but, small blocks are the 1st engines I ever built. They will always have a spot in my garage.
Just built a 4 bolt main w/billet main caps, balanced, aluminum heads, Holley Dominator X w/blow threw hat, GT-45 turbo and intercooler, and a piggyback EBL Flash 2 for fuel control and MPG readout on digital dash via Windows 10 PC hooked to ecm with USB to RS-232 serial connection to factory ecu W/EBL in my 94 c-2500 5-Speed on air & 4-link, 3 gauge pod pillar for air/fuel, boost, and tack. Basically a ton of work but still has air conditioning and factory gauges. Radio spot now has win 10 touchscreen that displays fuel graph and timing tables or can display digital gauges with boost and trouble codes.
If your car is already set up for a Gen1 SBC the simplicity of just building and installing something like this probably still makes a lot of sense (but with a much more cost effective carb and your existing accessory drive). If it's not, the power potential in an LS motor is hard to argue with. I'm not even an LS guy, really, but they are hard to argue with. Junkyard 6.0 plus cam and springs, for example.
I'm 2nd owner of a '94 Silverado 2500 (6lug) 2WD Ext cab that would make an absolutely amazing sleeper with something like this in it, it's showing it's 30 years of use as an actual truck with crappy 90's GM white paint. But the swap would be pretty much a wham, bam, thank ya ma'am operation, a couple guys with some experience could easily have the swap done and started/running in 1 weekend. That old truck with 500hp through the 4:10 gears, and limited slip, would have some definite get up and go, while the TH700R4 would give it acceptable highway manners.
Yeah the 400 was available in cars, but it did have siamesed cylinders and possibly an inferior steel used in the casting, that has been proved and disproved depending on who you believe.
Building a 400sbc stock bore 12.5:1 with 220/64cc cast RHS heads. Would that cam spec or similar with that intake setup be street friendly in a 70 Nova 3500stall?
What type of engine would you recommend for a 1991 camaro rs automatic transmission? By the way I am amazed with all of your engine builds keep up the great work.
I am surprised that peak hp occurred at a decent rpm. I thought that cam was too big, but I guess the smaller heads lowered the power curve enough to make it work. I would have chosen better flowing heads and a smaller cam, but I bet that cam really thumps!
@CrankAddict you can do it with a small block. They'll all turn the same RPM at the end of the day It's cubic inches and air flow And AFR headed 406 SBC will make as much as and AFR headed 408 LS. at a certain point Hp is all gonna cost the same to keep it together and not fall apart like a lot of these budget builds tend to do after time
Can't make power with a 400SBC? We made 6-700 hp 406 and 377's before the nitrous in the late eighties. Now we have 100x more access to aftermarket parts. Better blocks, cranks with any mains and stroke you want, rods of any length, any piston you can dream up, incredible heads, super strong light weight valve train, hydraulic roller cams, and other cam technology we could only dream of back in the day. Nothing wrong with a 383, but it isn't what I would have built.
Had a very good friend that use to run 406 nasty small block! 6" aluminum rods, over 900" cam,14.5 on alcohol, 725ish hp,make my hair stand up on my arms idling!!😂
@@nickkl1988400 are great for making 421 super nasty late model dirt engines make 700hp+ and do 9k rpm. Run all night long damn near wide open every weekend.
Not really what he was saying. Obviously the 400cid block can be modified to make good power. What he said was how practical it is? Unless you buy a new block, there's more cost involved than needed for this build. Depending on core shift, and whether the cylinders will clean up at 0.30 over, or 0.40. I'd suggest at least a partial block fill. Who's gonna go that route to build a mild street engine?
Too bad that you couldn't ditch the distributor for a reluctor wheel and coil packs. Am I the only one who only cares about the torque at low RPM, and couldn't care less about the horsepower?
So $6-7000 for a 2 bolt main 383 that makes 500 hp. Or a $300 4.8 -5.3 LS from a junkyard with a $400 turbo that makes an easy 6-700 Hp for $2000. Old school SBC’s are boat anchors. They need $1000 or more in machine work before you can even start doing anything with them.
Missing a lot of factors there. That's all new, not a junkyard motor. And parts for an ls is much more expensive as somone who has built both. Aftermarket heads on a 350 and your good to go.
Never had trouble with 400 cylinders. Already bigger than a 383 stock. No clearancing the block, put in longer rods and build it.
Long live the SBC !
It's all easy, the part that's hard is the $$$$ !
The sbc is so versatile and the best bang for the buck hands down. It has stood the test of time. Great video. Thanks
Built one. Had a 1990 K-5. Built the original 4 bolt 350. Ran an Edelbrock Performer TBI intake, Vortech heads, a “blueprinted” TBI (😂🤣😂), & a chip-still made 450 HP. Love a 383
I've built 434 small blocks over 800 hp. Never had a cylinder problem. Used to build 377 destroked 400s out of stock 400 blocks for circle track turning 7800 rpm all season long.
My old man used to make 421 for late model cars back in late 80s early 90s 700hp+ 9k rpm monsters same deal all season long wide open more or less. I guess last one he built a buddy back then still runs to this day it actually out lived his friend unfortunately.
e old school cartel torture methods @@Thumper68
@@Thumper68 Jesus, your old man knew more than the NASCAR engine builders, building their engines that only lasted 500 miles if they were lucky, and only making 600-650hp back in the late 80s early 90s!! He should have gone to work for Yates or somebody in NASCAR and made a fortune with his knowledge!!
@@patrickm.8425 yeah he probably should of but he had a family and I don’t think he loved it like that to chase it. He was master mechanic and machinist at like 19-20 years old. But I’m trying to learn all I can from him but he’s probably forgot more then I’ll be able to absorb.
Love me a 377.
Beautiful roar and nice video
Thanks very much!
I still run small block stuff. Got a couple LSs in the garage to play with but, small blocks are the 1st engines I ever built. They will always have a spot in my garage.
The SBC still has plenty to offer these days. It also looks a lot better than the LS (IMO)
Another great video. Never underestimate the mighty Small block Chevy.
Just built a 4 bolt main w/billet main caps, balanced, aluminum heads, Holley Dominator X w/blow threw hat, GT-45 turbo and intercooler, and a piggyback EBL Flash 2 for fuel control and MPG readout on digital dash via Windows 10 PC hooked to ecm with USB to RS-232 serial connection to factory ecu W/EBL in my 94 c-2500 5-Speed on air & 4-link, 3 gauge pod pillar for air/fuel, boost, and tack. Basically a ton of work but still has air conditioning and factory gauges. Radio spot now has win 10 touchscreen that displays fuel graph and timing tables or can display digital gauges with boost and trouble codes.
I think its great you are using the 2 bolt main block. This will put a lot of wives tails to rest.
2 bolt main is just as good if not better than a 4 bolt main
I hear the old 010 2 bolt blocks with A.R.P Bolts hold the most H.P vs the 4 bolt. Why? less block strength for mains with 4 Holes in it.
The old school set up was to put splayed caps on a two bolt block.
Excellent combination of parts, hp and two curves look great!
The flatness of the torque "curve" was very impressive.
I’d take the 400 block if I had the choice.
That's what's cool. Everybody gets to do their own thing, and as long as everybody is happy with what they are running nobody is wrong.
Awesome job on the video, as always, Jeff. Hope everyone enjoys the old school 383 still kicking strong
Great build!
Great videos
Hey thanks! And thanks for watching!
Man, YT didn't even put this upload into my feed! SMH. Great video man.
If your car is already set up for a Gen1 SBC the simplicity of just building and installing something like this probably still makes a lot of sense (but with a much more cost effective carb and your existing accessory drive). If it's not, the power potential in an LS motor is hard to argue with. I'm not even an LS guy, really, but they are hard to argue with. Junkyard 6.0 plus cam and springs, for example.
I'm 2nd owner of a '94 Silverado 2500 (6lug) 2WD Ext cab that would make an absolutely amazing sleeper with something like this in it, it's showing it's 30 years of use as an actual truck with crappy 90's GM white paint. But the swap would be pretty much a wham, bam, thank ya ma'am operation, a couple guys with some experience could easily have the swap done and started/running in 1 weekend.
That old truck with 500hp through the 4:10 gears, and limited slip, would have some definite get up and go, while the TH700R4 would give it acceptable highway manners.
You can make same power with sbc as an ls and probably do it cheaper
i think all the LS swap stuff just about evens the costs out just so people can say they have an LS
Awesome 🤩🤩.......... Greetings from india🇮🇳🤠🤠🤩🤩🙌🤘🏻
Yeah the 400 was available in cars, but it did have siamesed cylinders and possibly an inferior steel used in the casting, that has been proved and disproved depending on who you believe.
Nice work!
Hey thanks John!
Love it. I have a 98 k1500. I need to do this.
Thanks for sharing! I am in the process of building a 23 degree 428 ci in a boosted application (single turbo) hoping to make good power :)
Love the videos. Keep up the good work. 🙂👍
Awesome video!
I'd rather have that than an LS.... Only, I would throw a carb on it just to keep it simple and serviceable....
I feel like that setup should be making over 500ft-lb. Left some on the table probably from cam.
Building a 400sbc stock bore 12.5:1 with 220/64cc cast RHS heads. Would that cam spec or similar with that intake setup be street friendly in a 70 Nova 3500stall?
What type of engine would you recommend for a 1991 camaro rs automatic transmission? By the way I am amazed with all of your engine builds keep up the great work.
Great video who says the old sbc can't make power
So what was the compression ratio of this combo?
and
What is the LSA of the cam?
Thanks 👍🇦🇺
he said 10.5:1
How does it average 496 lbs/ft if the peak is 470 lbs/ft?
I am surprised that peak hp occurred at a decent rpm. I thought that cam was too big, but I guess the smaller heads lowered the power curve enough to make it work. I would have chosen better flowing heads and a smaller cam, but I bet that cam really thumps!
bigger heads would have put the HP higher, but the RPMs would have followed. its a good balance
@@KingJT80 Yeah, but I've tended to steer toward the LS theory of higher flowing heads and smaller camshaft.
@CrankAddict you can do it with a small block. They'll all turn the same RPM at the end of the day
It's cubic inches and air flow
And AFR headed 406 SBC will make as much as and AFR headed 408 LS.
at a certain point Hp is all gonna cost the same to keep it together and not fall apart like a lot of these budget builds tend to do after time
Great video, just wish you spent more time explaining in detail the build
he pretty much explained everything
I didn't think anyone made any fi systems that weren't tbi styles these days. 😮
What is the rpm limit on this build?
I'm guessing the 2 bolt mains will limit it?
Can't make power with a 400SBC? We made 6-700 hp 406 and 377's before the nitrous in the late eighties. Now we have 100x more access to aftermarket parts. Better blocks, cranks with any mains and stroke you want, rods of any length, any piston you can dream up, incredible heads, super strong light weight valve train, hydraulic roller cams, and other cam technology we could only dream of back in the day. Nothing wrong with a 383, but it isn't what I would have built.
Had a very good friend that use to run 406 nasty small block! 6" aluminum rods, over 900" cam,14.5 on alcohol, 725ish hp,make my hair stand up on my arms idling!!😂
I love 377's!
🤙🏁🏁
Interesting how your peak torque is lower than your average torque. Must be the new math.
Did I just see a run with all the accessories? If so that's how a Dyno should be run!
Prices for the build?
Lost me when you said you couldn’t make power with a 400 small block
They probably couldn't get one. But they could get a replacement crank for one.
@@nickkl1988400 are great for making 421 super nasty late model dirt engines make 700hp+ and do 9k rpm. Run all night long damn near wide open every weekend.
Not really what he was saying. Obviously the 400cid block can be modified to make good power. What he said was how practical it is? Unless you buy a new block, there's more cost involved than needed for this build. Depending on core shift, and whether the cylinders will clean up at 0.30 over, or 0.40. I'd suggest at least a partial block fill. Who's gonna go that route to build a mild street engine?
@@andrewbecker37002 season drag racing and quite abit of street driving , 650hp 400 turns 7200 rpm no issues at all
@@markusgentry1548 been there, done that. What are you trying to tell me?
Nothin is easy when YOU have to pay for it
easy meaning its not a complex setup. tried and true 60+ years and going
Truck engine? Most of them were in impala's.
Too bad that you couldn't ditch the distributor for a reluctor wheel and coil packs. Am I the only one who only cares about the torque at low RPM, and couldn't care less about the horsepower?
ls more cheaper choice
You said 470 lb ft peak then you said avg 496.3 lb ft of torque
What pulley setup is that?
Holley mid mount
ouch ... , just ouch
Thats Non-Sense that the 400 has unstable bores or heat issues . Just what do you think the BOW-TIE BLOCK WAS ?? PURE BS DUDE .
So $6-7000 for a 2 bolt main 383 that makes 500 hp. Or a $300 4.8 -5.3 LS from a junkyard with a $400 turbo that makes an easy 6-700 Hp for $2000. Old school SBC’s are boat anchors. They need $1000 or more in machine work before you can even start doing anything with them.
Missing a lot of factors there. That's all new, not a junkyard motor. And parts for an ls is much more expensive as somone who has built both. Aftermarket heads on a 350 and your good to go.
Ah the chebby boat anchor 350. Nothing says rod knock like a stroked 350.
?
Lmao sure
Does it hurt to be that dumb in public ??