Entertain Us - 400 sbc question

[6872xtc]

366 LS ftw

My '01 has a LQ9 with a small cam. Tis my usual daily driver.

 

[6872xtc]

While I was born in the era, I have yet to have the pleasure or annoyance to actually drive anything with a stock 400 small block. If I was to listen to my Dad complain about them they were like any other smog era engine that was choked down to low output. He replaced a couple for folks that cracked due to overheating with 350’s with really no change in performance.

For me I wouldn’t put much effort into one for the fact that if anything went sideways on the block finding another 50 year old 400 block isn’t as easy as it used to be. Add to that some old farts wanting stupid money for them because they are the big small block. Factory roller cam block 350’s are way more available as cores and are a crank swap and bore job away from more cubes without some of the 400 block problems.

Besides if you really want need a bigger cube small block just pony up the cash for a bigger Dart block and call it a day.

I don't have the budget for a Dart block and build. I would just get a fat block before that.

 

[ZooMad75]

I don't have the budget for a Dart block and build. I would just get a fat block before that.

See now you are thinking.

 

[Bent77]

You keep ignoring/ forgetting that I have driven it stock and then built it.
Whose memory sucks??
You helped to convince me to swap heads on the 354 after a factory head cracked.
And it wasn't a 400 head...

I should have found someone to fix that head rather than the snowball of parts that I threw at this engine.

All I am hearing is that you had to build that 400 so it would go uphill
It’s probably a 307 now

 

[fastazz81]

Your getting ahead of schedule

 

[6872xtc]

All I am hearing is that you had to build that 400 so it would go uphill
It’s probably a 307 now

Nah. The 283 was plenty.
Slow up, Mr. Anxious!

 

[fastazz81]

What about the torque of a 292or250?

 

[Bent77]

I’ll bet that 307 is full race

 

[fastazz81]

Is there such a thing?

 

[Bent77]

Is there such a thing?

Dunno, ask Dave

 

[fastazz81]

He’s not a reliable source, he thinks a 400 is the answer.

 

[6872xtc]

I’ll bet that 307 is full race

You can only put a 3/4 race cam in a 307, correct?
Gotta have a 406 to go full boogie!

 

[Bent77]

You can only put a 3/4 race cam in a 307, correct?
Gotta have a 406 to go full boogie!

It won’t go full boogie until I tune it
Guess you better make dinner plans

 

[500$k5]

I always wanted to put a blower on a 400, and see if it would make 600 ft lbs at 3500 rpm. Was going to try it, but the 400 overheated while it was on the engine stand before we could get it running...

 

[Bent77]

See!?!

 

[6872xtc]

See!?!

He was running it without coolant! It was on a stand!
Cool guys try stuff like that!

I have started engines on wooden blocks on the shop floor in the past.

 

[6872xtc]

I am surprised that @Babaganoosh isn't telling us how much torque a 5.3 makes, since he chucked a transmission out of the truck with one!
#HT5.3babanuked

 

[500$k5]

Real world. 74 Blazer. 400sbc. Two teenagers. PAW rebuild kit. Hone cylinders. oem pistons. garage build. stock except for a .427, .454 crane cam. 0-60 in 9.5 sec with stock turbo 350, and 3.73's 75,000 miles later sold with perfect running 400. never overheated, stock radiator, fan, and fan shroud.

 

[Bent77]

I am surprised that @Babaganoosh isn't telling us how much torque a 5.3 makes, since he chucked a transmission out of the truck with one!
#HT5.3babanuked

Don’t change the subject, we know you still play with wooden blocks

 

[fastazz81]

And eats paste