Thread: 400 sb info!!

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i have a chance to buy a 400 sb with a 350 turbo tranny for $550, the motor runs and proforms great! i got to drive the car its in, but i have heard mostly bad stuff about 400 small blocks,

INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION !!

I haven't heard bad things, but they are a good mid-range torquey motor. I had a friend who was running 10s in a '69 Camaro with the stock rods and crank. I know the motor lasted at least a couple seasons.

400's are looked down on by some people because of the siamesed bores mostly, also having the steam holes, being the only externally balanced SBC, but for $550 hand over the cash quick. There not bad motors, I think I would build a 350 over a 400 myself but I'd certinely buy a 400 for the right price.

I'd buy it.

Oh,no here we go again.The great 400 debate.Again what Matt has said takes care of it for me.Of course there is the way short 5.565 rod that causes early wear of the piston skirt,the cylinder walls and the rings.Like I have said before I have a couple of them sitting around the shop with cracks in them.If the price seems fair to you then go for it.Me I would stick to the 383.If I want any more cubes than that I would buy a Dart or a Motown block.

Originally posted by 91camaro
i have a chance to buy a 400 sb with a 350 turbo tranny for $550, the motor runs and proforms great! i got to drive the car its in, but i have heard mostly bad stuff about 400 small blocks,

INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION !!

Good price in my opinion. I ran a 400 in a '62 pickup out of a '73 Caprice estate wagon. I used an earlier double roller timing chain, an Isky 30/30 cam, Offy 360 manifold, 650 Holley DP and headers coupled to a 3 speed. The only problem I had was keeping rear main seals in it. It made a pretty good sleeper on the street. BTW, the internals were totally stock and the engine had a little over 100 grand on it when I bouight it.

I had 9, count 'em, 9 small blocks in my "72 Camino, and two were 400's. They lasted as long as any other SBC hand grenade, and had gobs of torque.

I also forgot to mention they are more prone to blowing head gaskets than any other small block Chevy.

My question is: if i dont want to go with a small block, WHICH BIG BLOCK!?!

Originally posted by erik erikson
I also forgot to mention they are more prone to blowing head gaskets than any other small block Chevy.

This may be true, but if a guy makes certain the heads have steam holes, the decks and heads are flat and true, uses a quality head gasket such as Fel-Pro or equivalent, watches his torque sequence and values and uses a reasonable static compression ratio, he shouldn't have any problems.

I would get it I really like the 400....I wouldn't worry about the short rods.....if you open the heads up they really shine....A rod that short realy needs a little larger head but no more than 180cc

I had a great experience with the 400 in my 63 Nova Bracket car. Gobs of torque as the others said, very easy to tune and lasted a long time. I had almost 400 runs on it when I sold the car and it was still going strong. Stock rods and crank and I routinely spun it to 6500. I'd sure go for it if I was looking for a motor.

Pat

i ran 406's in my round track car for a few yrs. had no more or no less problems than nobody else. one thing for sure though, had more power. 454 hopper!

i went over and looked at the motor again, this is a low mileage motor 67,568 original miles! a real old man bought it brand new and it came from tennessee, its in a 70' something impala. my friend has had it for about a month. this motor is COMPLETE STOCK!!!!

you could get a 1000.00 for it here.