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I would like to build a 400 or 406

406 in action

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To many ponies on this day. While we wouldnt build ours like this one it is my blue print.

Not the greatest ones to see but when I dig thru and find the actual info I have on said engine I'll post it for ya
 
Stomis said:
Yep. It doesnt have to get drastic. Just do rings/bearings/seals.
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If I pull it apart I am going to at least get longer rods which means pistons too. Should I go 5.7 or 6.0? I know there is a question of cam clearence so I am thinking 5.7. Will 350 rods work and what should I be looking for? I beam or H beam (I don't think this one matter much for me)?

Or should I just rering/bearing the motor and check wear? :bow:
 
You can't just RERING, and BEARING an engine without checking those clearances.
If you just hone it and throw a set of rings in it, and the bore is out of service specifications (too big) the piston will move around in the bore, and rings won't seat, or if the taper on the bore is more than .005 they won't be able to seat. It'll be an oil burner. This must be checked on all bores from top to bottom. That is why I asked if you knew the history of the engine. If it is a decent runner, you would be better off not disturbing the pistons in their bores. Once you pull them out, you NEED to check those measurements.
The same thing applies to the crank, and if you get new rods/pistons, you should plan on balancing the whole assy.
OR maybe you should just get a rebuilt shortblock from a hotrod engine builder.
 
He cut the roof off. How many miles do you think he is gonna put on the thing? Just check the bearings and rebuild it.

Martin
 
Whats the point of worrying about checking the bearings then, hell just stick it in and take a shot it'll work,:o.

Really, to try to get 450hp/500tq. It should be thoroughly checked out, and built right, but its not my money.:D
 
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76zimmer said:
Whats the point of worrying about checking the bearings then, hell just stick it in and take a shot it'll work,:o.

Really, to try to get 450hp/500tq. It should be thoroughly checked out, and built right, but its not my money.:D
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I am not sure what to do! I will pull the pan and let you guys know what I find and if everything looks exeptional maybe I can run it. If not what should I start looking to buy?

I read some stuff on "after market" vortecs a while back. I think they were from Australia maybe? Or should I look for a good set of used heads? Any others I should keep an eye out for? I am thinking 195 intake runner sounds good. What do you guys think?
 
I think the horsepower goals should be forgotten, and just put it together.

Martin
 
Take your pick of a dual plane manifold. ie Performer-ish manifold. Keep the intake runners small and i'd pick a cam with around 460-480 lift and duration around 218 @ .050 if possible. A combo like won't be a stellar high winder, but will pull hard in the lower rpm range. If you leave the 5.565 rods in it, you won't want to spin it too hard anyway.
 
So is the 170 runner on the vortec good enough?

I also had a question reguarding the performer air gap intake. I hit alot of mud holes and was wondering how much of a pain in the azz it will be to clean out the intake. Should I just stick with the performer RPM?
 
GsxrMike said:
I guess this is to tell me to throw on some heads, intake, cam and then run it? That is kinda what I want to do. So.....what heads, intake and cam should I select and why?
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That's what I was trying to say. I'd run a set of Vortecs, a smaller cam, and a Edelbrock Performer, or Performer RPM. Check out Scroggin Dickey, for top end kits.

Martin
 
GsxrMike said:
So is the 170 runner on the vortec good enough?
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Better than larger cc Dart heads.

GsxrMike said:
I also had a question reguarding the performer air gap intake. I hit alot of mud holes and was wondering how much of a pain in the azz it will be to clean out the intake. Should I just stick with the performer RPM?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about it. Either will work just fine.

Martin
 
I was just thinking...vortecs have 64cc chambers right? What the hell am I going to do about my CR? I am not sure what it will be but I am sure it won't work with 87 octane. If it is going to be to high then I will have to change pistons. Is there another head you guys suggest that will get me a decent CR? What CR should I be aiming for if I want to run 87 octane fuel?
 
400's have very low compression ratios from the factory. Shouldn't be a problem for you. It probably has dished pistons in it.

Martin
 
My son used to run a stock 406 short block, Vortec heads, X4262H cam, Performer RPM intake and a 750 Holley. IMO it ran really well, and had good torque and hp, but I don't remember if it would run on 87 octane or not. If you run a tight quench and good ignition, you should be able to burn 87 just fine.

After he totaled the truck, he put the engine in his '85 IROC and was running mid to low 11's with a 125 shot.
 
Sweet! I picked up a bore gauge set today so I am going to check the short block and run it if its good!
 
i have built a few 400's. the one i built for my blazer years ago consisted of:

bored the block 20 over and used kb hyperturectic dish pistons for a 5.7(stock 350) rod
i used summit stage 2 350 rods
reground the stock crank and had it nitrated
dart s/r heads
comp 252 hyd cam
performer rpm intake
1.6 roller rockers
edelbrock 1400 carb
9:1 comp

the torque this produced was incredible. i later installed a comp 272hy cam and the torue went way down.

i am now using the block for another project, but i will be building another 400 for my blazer in the future and plan to build the dam near the same combo again.
 
So I pulled the intake, water pump, heads and pan tonight and the motor has a broken rod cap. Block looks usable but the crank is probably trash. I think the guy had to of known there was a busted rod because he said he couldn't get it to run but there were only 4 bolt in the pan and the rod cap is gone. There is also a 1/4 hole in the side of the pan up by the rail. Oh well...
 
sorry to hear that Mike, I've had the same thing happen a few times over the years. Hell even a couple times on my current project....:doah:Now you gotta ask yourself....415, 421, 454, 461, 468, 496.....easy fella, thats money your dreaming of.

good luck
 
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