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400 sbc???? (All assembled)

for the record,

My 406 had milled 64 cc heads, and flat tops, i think that put the CC around 10.5ish:1, maybe a bit more

I used a factory 3 ROW radiator with a Flex fan and factory shroud

Perfromer intake with a 1406 Carb, 700r4 with 3.07 gears. It ran real well down there.

Timing, fuel ratio and driving style have alot to do with it heating up

like I said TWO summers in Phoenix and no issues.

I did put an electric fan as a pusher for the long stops at intersections around the end of my stay down there, but when i got home i pulled it off
 
63chevyll said:
for the record,

My 406 had milled 64 cc heads, and flat tops, i think that put the CC around 10.5ish:1, maybe a bit more

I used a factory 3 ROW radiator with a Flex fan and factory shroud

Perfromer intake with a 1406 Carb, 700r4 with 3.07 gears. It ran real well down there.

Timing, fuel ratio and driving style have alot to do with it heating up

like I said TWO summers in Phoenix and no issues.

I did put an electric fan as a pusher for the long stops at intersections around the end of my stay down there, but when i got home i pulled it off
Click to expand...


Ahh makes me feel much better lol.
 
rjfguitar said:
Don't try to make me sound like I don't have a clue. My advice is in fact dead on. :deal:A 400SBC IS a bad design. It's why it wasn't in production for very long. I am pretty sure I remember the issue being, the more it's overbored, the thinner the walls get from one cylinder to the next, and that makes the engine even more prone to hotter temps. What I know for a fact is the way a 400 acts on a day to day basis, compared to a 350, 454, and even big HP Cummins diesels. It's the hardest engine to keep cool that I've ever had, and many other people also suffer from the same issues. A few don't, but if you notice, a lot of them are stock bore engines that were original in the original vehicle. The overbored motors seem to be more problematic.
As far as my 406 being "taxed".... are you kidding me? I wouldn't consider a stock 406 with a cam, a bump in compression, edel intake, and headers a "taxed" engine. I'm not even making 1HP:1CI.:rolleyes:
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It's NOT a bad design. Just the MAX you can go with a small block. It's just a side effect of displacment. The center bores touch, no cooling passage. Of course by boring out your cylinder wall, ( making the area that is touching thinner) will not help your attempt to cool it. That's been said how many times already?

The tax i was refering to should have been you cooling system. A/C, hot outside, idiling etc. 400's do need an adequate cooling system, that may require different parts than any other SBC. Or it might not.
 
Several years ago we built a SB400 for my son's '79 K10. We started with a rebuilt stock short block(cast dished pistons), added a set of Vortec heads, a Comp X4262H cam, Performer RPM, 750 Holley, etc. This engine ran really well IMO....enough torque to break a 12 bolt center from the axle tubes and up about 30* Never had any cooling issues either. Just a 3 core radiator,shroud and clutch fan.

This engine eventually went into his '85 IROC. Added a 150 shot and ran low 11's. If you can't tell I'm a big fan of SB400's
 
Captainfab said:
Several years ago we built a SB400 for my son's '79 K10. We started with a rebuilt stock short block(cast dished pistons), added a set of Vortec heads, a Comp X4262H cam, Performer RPM, 750 Holley, etc. This engine ran really well IMO....enough torque to break a 12 bolt center from the axle tubes and up about 30* Never had any cooling issues either. Just a 3 core radiator,shroud and clutch fan.

This engine eventually went into his '85 IROC. Added a 150 shot and ran low 11's. If you can't tell I'm a big fan of SB400's
Click to expand...

We just did one almost identical to yours. Vortecs and a -20cc dished piston in a 76 Chevy 4x4 short bed. It was a great little engine for the elevation here
 
Captainfab said:
Several years ago we built a SB400 for my son's '79 K10. We started with a rebuilt stock short block(cast dished pistons), added a set of Vortec heads, a Comp X4262H cam, Performer RPM, 750 Holley, etc. This engine ran really well IMO....enough torque to break a 12 bolt center from the axle tubes and up about 30* Never had any cooling issues either. Just a 3 core radiator,shroud and clutch fan.

This engine eventually went into his '85 IROC. Added a 150 shot and ran low 11's. If you can't tell I'm a big fan of SB400's
Click to expand...


did you drill the heads for the steam holes?
 
Captainfab said:
Several years ago we built a SB400 for my son's '79 K10. We started with a rebuilt stock short block(cast dished pistons), added a set of Vortec heads, a Comp X4262H cam, Performer RPM, 750 Holley, etc. This engine ran really well IMO....enough torque to break a 12 bolt center from the axle tubes and up about 30* Never had any cooling issues either. Just a 3 core radiator,shroud and clutch fan.

This engine eventually went into his '85 IROC. Added a 150 shot and ran low 11's. If you can't tell I'm a big fan of SB400's
Click to expand...

Well I bet when you hit the button, you got it cooled down pretty good.
Nitrous has a cooling effect so saying you put that doesn't mean you're making the engine work harder but actually helping it.
As I said, I would put it in a boat in a heart beat and have the wet exhaust system.
They will be very happy in a boat.
I love mine in the blazer but it's stock with under 90k miles.
I just hate it at the pump, I get about 8MPG, if I am driving it like an old lady I would get 10mpg.
 
I'm running a fairly radical 434" sbc in the camaro and haven't had any cooling issues. I'm running a large aluminum radiator and an electric fan. During the hottest part of the summer it'll run around 190. Specs include:
.030 GM 2 bolt block
4" stroke Callies crankshaft
6" Eagle H-beam rods
Ross xl 412 pistons (12.5-1)
Doug Herbert solid roller (670ish lift, 285 on the dur @.050)
215cc Dart iron eagle heads
Victor Jr
850 Holley
Hooker super comps

My dads currently putting together a 421" sbc for his Vette. It"ll have less compression and be based off the GM Bowtie block.
I wouldn't have a problem building another 400 if the price was right.
 
imiceman44 said:
I just hate it at the pump, I get about 8MPG, if I am driving it like an old lady I would get 10mpg.
Click to expand...

Well i just went on a 145 mile trip and took 15.2, driving slow, thats 9.5.
If i had power to back my bad mileage up, i would be happy, but this thing has nothing, so if i get 9, 10 with tons more power, i will be very pleased.
 
jwilson76 said:
I'm running a fairly radical 434" sbc in the camaro and haven't had any cooling issues. I'm running a large aluminum radiator and an electric fan. During the hottest part of the summer it'll run around 190. Specs include:
.030 GM 2 bolt block
4" stroke Callies crankshaft
6" Eagle H-beam rods
Ross xl 412 pistons (12.5-1)
Doug Herbert solid roller (670ish lift, 285 on the dur @.050)
215cc Dart iron eagle heads
Victor Jr
850 Holley
Hooker super comps

My dads currently putting together a 421" sbc for his Vette. It"ll have less compression and be based off the GM Bowtie block.
I wouldn't have a problem building another 400 if the price was right.
Click to expand...
Threadjack on:

On your 434, did you consider using an aftermarket block? Or I guess, have been thrashing on your 434 for a long time...
I ask cuz I also have a 4inch callies stuffed ijvthe closet for my nova
 
63chevyll said:
Threadjack on:

On your 434, did you consider using an aftermarket block? Or I guess, have been thrashing on your 434 for a long time...
I ask cuz I also have a 4inch callies stuffed ijvthe closet for my nova
Click to expand...

I bought the short block from my cousin for $1500, I figured the crankshaft was worth that much. We had to grind the hell out of the block to clear the rod bolts, so I bought a used Bowtie block that I considered using if I had problems with the factory block. This will be the third year on that motor, so far I haven't had any problems.
 
Ok i copied and pasted this from the guy building my engine, this is what he said.

stock 882 76 cc heads with 1.94 valves. stock type small dish pistons. bout 9 to 1 compression. stock cam if you want but id figure id at least talk you into a little bit of cam. Push the power band up to at least 5000 with out hurting off idel power and very little mpg difference. Should have no problem getting 12mpg. I would think 14 but no guarentees. Personally I would step up a bit with the cam and find some better heads but I like to beat on my ****. lol
 
Deuling said:
Lol i love how half the guys say, "Dont do it thats stupid" While the other half say "Theirs nothing wrong with that". Lol
Click to expand...

yeah, next you should ask how big a tires you'll be able to run on your 10 bolts after the 406 goes in...:popcorn:
 
Captainfab said:
Yes we did drill the steam holes......drilled the two on an angle like they're supposed to be too.
Click to expand...

cool....thanks. what happens if you don't drill them or drill them wrong?

like i said, i've never had a 400 Chevy so how do you guys think they feel....i mean smooth/vibration wise compaired to a 350, being they're a damn near square motor?
 
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