Thread: I am a 400sb noob that needs advice

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Hey Guys,

I'm planing on putting a 400sb chevy in my 64 impala-283 is cracked block. I purchased all the parts but now everybody is telling me that i made a bad choice of parts. Here is what i purchased- Stock Recon.400 crank, Stock Recon.Rods(short), Cast dished pistons w moly rings-30 ovr, 400 bare block-checked by a trusted machine shop. Cam is a GMPP i212/e222-i435/e460. Carb & intake has not been selected. Accel Hei dist. Heads are off a 89tpi 350-Camaro. The heads had not been worked on yet.

I'm rebuilding the p/g trans also. Rearend Ratio is not known.

I'm about to haul everything over to the machine shop, all the shade tree rodders are telling me that i should of used different rods & crank etc. blah blah blah.

What i have is what i have is this a bad set up?

I just wanted to build a motor with a lot of torque to get that 64 moving.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

One of the most common happenings is that your friends always suggest high dollar stuff when they are spending your money!!

I would guess that TechInspector would have good advice regarding the cam choice but, to me, the rest of the parts sound fine if you are building a cruiser....not a race car but a nice, smooth cruiser. For the carb, I would suggest a QuadraJet from Sean Murphy....he sends you a carb that is set up for your application with NO hassle.

A 400 and PG should make the car a nice car to drive regardless of the rear axle ratio.

Mike in Tucson

With the parts you've selected, you won't have a problem with over powering anything.
Powerglides should be saved for a light car under racing conditions.
Get a TH350, have it done right to handle some torque and continue on.
Gear selector (PRNDL) will have to be changed if that little detail concerns you (I'd suggest it though).
I'd stay between 3:31 and 3:55 on the gear ratio selection.

In the '70s I had a friend here in Tucson, who seriously raced a 10 second '69 Camaro, with the stock 400 crank, but he kept the RPMs down. I think it would be okay to run.

Thank Guys!!!

Don't forget to drill the heads for steam holes....
http://www.gregsengine.com/350to400.htm

I think you will be fine with a stock crank and rods. I bracket raced a very similar 400 + .030 with 461 double hump heads. Motor made great torque. I had over 350 drag strip runs on it when I sold the car. I routinely spun it over 6000. Maybe I was lucky...

It should work very well for your streeter.

Pat