Thread: 400 block

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The two bolt is fine and better then the four bolt. I am putting out over 500HP and tourqe with my two bolt 400. No problems.
Starting a SBC 400 two bolt with supports and trying for 1300HP.

Originally posted by DADNOVA
The two bolt is fine and better then the four bolt. I am putting out over 500HP and tourqe with my two bolt 400. No problems.
Starting a SBC 400 two bolt with supports and trying for 1300HP.

UMMM on 400 block? L.O.L.You should have a guy riding shot-gun with a big bucket and a shovel to scoop up all the parts when you ventilate the stock block.Are you messing with us???I was born at night but not last night.

erik why u so bogg to ppl when they give thier real life experience just cause u smoke every 400 block u build doesnt mean that every one else is a back yard machanic!

Originally posted by 383 chev
erik why u so bogg to ppl when they give thier real life experience just cause u smoke every 400 block u build doesnt mean that every one else is a back yard machanic!

How many people think 1,300 h.p. out of a stock 400 is unrealistic?I think people might stretch the truth more than a little when it comes to the h.p. level.The reason the blocks crack is due to the h.p. numbers I am reaching.If you are not breaking the 400 blocks it must be in a street car or a very low h.p. race car.

How many people think 1,300 h.p. out of a stock 400 is unrealistic?I think people might stretch the truth more than a little when it comes to the h.p. level.The reason the blocks crack is due to the h.p. numbers I am reaching.If you are not breaking the 400 blocks it must be in a street car or a very low h.p. race car.

Slightly high, but not completely unrealistic.

Sorry, but aside from my 383 lt1 we're doing a small block 400. We aren't shooting for 1300, but we are looking at a fairly high hp. We got the block for free, so if it goes south, we won't feel too bad about it. There are quite a number of people running 400 blocks out there. Perhaps you just don't know how to build them the way that these others do.

Personally I'm a bigger fan of the 350. I think it was the best block Chevy ever made. If our 400 goes south on the dyno, then I might agree with you, but the other 400's we've built worked perfectly pushing well over 650hp. I would agree that they are problematic. Mostly in the cooling. but you can build more hp into them.

I have a factory 2-bolt 509 10/20 (high nickel/high tin) that was crack tested, sonic tested, shot peened, stress relieved, deburred, and three center mains splayed and align honed. The block can be safely bored to 4.185 with over .195 wall thickness in the thinnest area. Not all blocks are this good but most are decent. You mostly have good 400 blocks and better 400 blocks.
I have this block stroked to 420cid in my 68 camaro, with a small 177 weiand blower making plenty HP and torque. Granted its only about 3mos old but I have no problems at all. I only used Fel-pro's hiper 400 gasket with the steel rings and modified steam holes. I have a aftermarket aluminum radiator and the twin fan set-up made by flex-a-lite. This engine will idle all day in traffic and never get to 175F. It has a 160 T-stat in it and both fans don't kick on till about 175 then it goes back to 160. Going down the road it stays about 160-170. I don't know what this motor is making HP wise but its up there, and as soon as I feel its dialed and broken-in good, I will chassis dyno it. If I was rich I'd loved to set it up on the dyno. $750/day vs. 3-pulls for $100. I've only ever heard of problems with 4-bolt mains and core-shift victims. If your checking out a block, always look at the lifter bores first. They should be close to centered on the bosses, that will tell you a lot about core shift, then look under the timing cover for 10 and 20 That mean 1%nickel 2% tin which makes a fine hard block. Try to avoid 4-bolt mains because they took material out the web area and it weakened them. Last of all have the cylinders sonic tested. If you come across a block all good except one or two cylinders, you can have it sleeved. It cost way less than a Dart or Motown block. Heating problems are easily overcame just by using Fel-pros hi-performance gaskets. Oh Yeah, my block is filled to the bottom of the freeze plugs with block filler. My water stays cool and my oil stays pretty hot which is a good thing believe it or not. I do run red line synthetic.

JUST ANOTHER OPINION!!!!!!!.........RAY

Originally posted by Tommycat
Slightly high, but not completely unrealistic.

Sorry, but aside from my 383 lt1 we're doing a small block 400. We aren't shooting for 1300, but we are looking at a fairly high hp. We got the block for free, so if it goes south, we won't feel too bad about it. There are quite a number of people running 400 blocks out there. Perhaps you just don't know how to build them the way that these others do.

Personally I'm a bigger fan of the 350. I think it was the best block Chevy ever made. If our 400 goes south on the dyno, then I might agree with you, but the other 400's we've built worked perfectly pushing well over 650hp. I would agree that they are problematic. Mostly in the cooling. but you can build more hp into them.

Perhaps,they are just weak blocks.Hey why don't they build them any more?I can't even find them in the G.M catalog.I wonder why that is?Could it be G.M. also thinks they are junk?I build them the same way I build my 383's.I am getting about 40 nights on my 383's before I even touch them. If you will notice I am cracking the blocks.Well over 650 h.p. maybe in a drag car for 6 seconds in the 1/8 or maybe a 10 second 1/4 mile pass but never in a circle track car lap after lap.You might get 10 -20 nights out of one if you are very lucky.Better say you hail Mary's if you are really making these h.p. numbers.

For a time the 400's were preferred by circle track racers. Outside of the track the stock 400 didn't make significantly more power than the 350 did for it to be a viable optional motor. When the rules for circle tracks were changed the 400's were not being bought in significant numbers to be a viable product for GM to sell. Look at the years it was produced. from 1970 to 1980. During that time many performance robbing emissions devices were added to cars which made the stock 200-265 horses(under rated) dwindle.

Just because the block wasn't produced for a long time does not mean that it was a bad block. 10 years is longer than other engines were produced for instance the 327 only lasted about 8 years the LT1 only lasted a little over 5 years. Neither of those are crappy engines.

Originally posted by Tommycat
For a time the 400's were preferred by circle track racers. Outside of the track the stock 400 didn't make significantly more power than the 350 did for it to be a viable optional motor. When the rules for circle tracks were changed the 400's were not being bought in significant numbers to be a viable product for GM to sell. Look at the years it was produced. from 1970 to 1980. During that time many performance robbing emissions devices were added to cars which made the stock 200-265 horses(under rated) dwindle.

Just because the block wasn't produced for a long time does not mean that it was a bad block. 10 years is longer than other engines were produced for instance the 327 only lasted about 8 years the LT1 only lasted a little over 5 years. Neither of those are crappy engines.

I can still buy the LT1 from G.M.Many of the large journal 327's share the same block as the 350 and use the same casting numbers.

Erik, I think you need to order you a one off TITANIUM 400 BLOCK You are making way too much power for any stock block.
When I was working for Hotard engines, we built a 406 making in excess of 900hp at the rear wheel. We did the works to the block such as studs and splayed caps and O-rings. This engine had the Big E huffer and mechanical injection system running in a vet mini funny car. He turned 8's all season. We broke plenty but never had a block problem. In fact that block is now in a rail car (but set-up a bit tamer) The 400 does have problems but they are not unfixable, or should they be throwed away. In fact if you got some I'll take em off your hands for you. I'll be your junk man. lol Ray

Originally posted by camaro_fever68
Erik, I think you need to order you a one off TITANIUM 400 BLOCK You are making way too much power for any stock block.
When I was working for Hotard engines, we built a 406 making in excess of 900hp at the rear wheel. We did the works to the block such as studs and splayed caps and O-rings. This engine had the Big E huffer and mechanical injection system running in a vet mini funny car. He turned 8's all season. We broke plenty but never had a block problem. In fact that block is now in a rail car (but set-up a bit tamer) The 400 does have problems but they are not unfixable, or should they be throwed away. In fact if you got some I'll take em off your hands for you. I'll be your junk man. lol Ray

I am sorry I have never heard of a Big E huffer.Who makes this?

ENDERLE MECHANICAL INJECTION AND BLOWER SETUP.
(BIG E HUFFER AND PUFFER)

Originally posted by camaro_fever68
ENDERLE MECHANICAL INJECTION AND BLOWER SETUP.
(BIG E HUFFER AND PUFFER)

Enderle did indeed produce mechanical fuel injection systems, but I've never heard of them producing blowers. Mooneyham, Littlefield, Dyer, Hampton, Kuhl and Blower Drive Service are all likely candidates but I didn't know Enderle was in the mix also.

Originally posted by camaro_fever68
ENDERLE MECHANICAL INJECTION AND BLOWER SETUP.
(BIG E HUFFER AND PUFFER)

I HAVE SEEN THE ENDERLE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEIR SUPERCHARGER'S ANYWHERE.WHY IS THAT?IS THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE THEM?I WENT BACK TO A CATALOG FROM ALMOST 20YRS.GUESS WHAT I DON'T SEE THEM IN THERE EITHER.MAYBE THIS CAR HAD A CUSTOM ONE OFF BLOWER MADE BY ENDERLE.

unsubscribed!! L.O.L