your opinion on 400 smallblock.... yes but do it right

Posted by buickanddeere on June 20, 2007 at 20:34:39 from (216.183.132.114):

In Reply to: your opinion on 400 smallblock? posted by farmer poor on June 20, 2007 at 16:55:49:

The long 3.73 stroke and shorter 5.56 ( I think?) rods increased cylinder wall side loading.
The stock 400 heads were to starve instead of feeding the engines in those dark early pre-computer emissions days. The stock cam was designed for smog control, power or efficiency.
There are all kinds of 30 thou over 350's with a 400 crank making 383 cu ". The crank gets turned down to the 2.45 350 dia from 2.65 and does fine.
The 350 crank in a 400 block is drop in with a set of thick walled bearings.
In any case toss those weak and too short stock 5.56 length 400 rods into the recycle bin. After market HD 5.70' 350 rods and even 6.00" rods cost little more than refurbishing stock rods.
5.7 and better yet 6.0 rods work fine with a 3.48" stoke 350 crank in a 400 block. Just tell your piston supplier what you are up to.
The 5.7 rods and will work fine with the 3.75" 400 crank in either a 350 or 400 block. Lots running even 6.0 rods with the 400 crank.
In any case use an after market or GM high flow cylinder head instead of re-working a factory production head. Eldenbrock makes some fine cam, head and manifold packages.
There are even aftermarket fuel injection systems that limit the 400's fuel thirst and run better than carbs.
Toss the three speed automatic or four speed manual trans. Either a beefier TH700-R4 overdrive with the high ratio 1st gear and a high stall lock-up torque. Or a wide range 5 or 6 speed manual with overdrive.
If you just absolutely have to have a carb. Forget about a 750 or 850 double pumper gas pig. A 600 or maybe a 750 vacuum secondary runs just as well. Doesn't foul plugs and drain the gas tank as fast as race track only double pumpers do either.
There are aftermarket ignition systems that detect detonation and retard timing only when required. They protect your engine from a low quality tank of fuel and a heavy footed driver. And yet allow peak engine power potential under ideal conditions.

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