thinking of getting a 400

i passed the 85 iroc with a 350 because it had been driven really hard so i have been saving my money. well the other day i was talking to my dad who works at napa and i asked him if he could get a chevy 400. he gets gets in his books and finds a replacment 400 with heads for $1600 it needs oil pan, valve covers, intake, ignition. well i think that if i save up that i could have the money by june and if i got it i would put the tpi system on it and save more money so do you guys think that i should save up and get it or should i get rear disc conversion kit and 4.10 ring and pinion

if your looking for a big engine I think the 406 would be a better choice. Someone tell me if im wrong because im not entirely sure but the 406 has a different bore and stroke combination than the 400 which lets it rev higher and make some serious power.

Then there's the LS2!! But i don't think he's picking up that, just remember, brakes are important. I'm upgrading my brakes before I swap engines just to let you know. Gears i won't care about till after a lot of mods but i'm a newbie.

The engine.. unless it can wait, as in it wont be gone when you get more money.

is there anywhere i can get information and possibly a price for the 406. i really cant go any more than $1600 and it kinda needs to be a long block.

I dont know where you could get prices on a 406. Just fart around on the internet a while. If not a 406 then a 383. Either I think would be better serious performance engines.

i found a few but they all want quite a bit of money for them. i'm thinking like $1500 and the one's i found were $3000 or more

if your looking for a big engine I think the 406 would be a better choice. Someone tell me if im wrong because im not entirely sure but the 406 has a different bore and stroke combination than the 400 which lets it rev higher and make some serious power.
um im pretty sure a 406 is just a 400 bored 60 over, i have sold my 396 that i built for my camaro and im in the process of building a SBC 400

i have a 400, im satisfied.......

When you find one, remember the 2 bolt main 400s are stronger than the 4 bolt mains.

If you plan on big power than get a 2 bolt and get it converted to 4 bolt splayed mains.

When you find one, remember the 2 bolt main 400s are stronger than the 4 bolt mains.

If you plan on big power than get a 2 bolt and get it converted to 4 bolt splayed mains.

Thanks For the tip!

And i've heard something about a 2 cooling holes that is in between the cylinders that you have to drill a hole in the heads for an exhaust thing or something like that. does anybody know what i'am talking about. someone told me about it and it has been a few days so i cant remember what exactly what he was talking about. and something like you have to notch the crank or something so it doesn't hit something. sorry i'm alittle dazed and confused at the moment.

did you pm someone about that on thirdgen.org? cause i was telling someone that on there. but yeah i heard that your supposed to drill cooling holes or something so you dont over heat or blow headgaskets alot. but yeah i read about it in a magazine and someone else told me about it. if i find the artice i will read it to refresh my mind

Pick up a book called "Rebuilding the Small Block Chevy" and read into it some. I won't be building anything soon, but extra knowledge never hurt anyone:wink:

Here are a few different build-ups of different 400-based engines. Take tips and tricks from all of them, soak up the info like a sponge:icon16:

http://chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/6113/

http://carcraft.com/howto/1004/

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/148_0306_406/

also.. if you're gonna do a 400, just go ahead and make it one of the magical numbers like 427 or 454:iceslolan

well i found out the holes u have to drill are steam holes, and i've heard the rod and part of the block has to be notched for clearance from the crank and i think that there might have been something else not sure.

i was also looking at a set of heads and it said they dont work with a centerbolt style of intake manifold and i was curious if the tpi manifold was a centerbolt style manifold.
the heads are http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&part=TFS-K314-420-395&FROM=MG if you want to see it.

well i found out the holes u have to drill are steam holes, and i've heard the rod and part of the block has to be notched for clearance from the crank and i think that there might have been something else not sure.

i was also looking at a set of heads and it said they dont work with a centerbolt style of intake manifold and i was curious if the tpi manifold was a centerbolt style manifold.
the heads are http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&part=TFS-K314-420-395&FROM=MG if you want to see it.

If you're going to build a 400... don't disgrace it with TPI.:banghead:

Go carbuerated, or if it works, try the Ramjet setup.

what is so bad about he tpi system. I want the 400 to be a torque monster. the tpi should be able to do it. Shouldnt it?

my 400 has a stock tpi.i would like to upgrade it but its pretty damn fast as it is. i can tear em loose at like 30. and my car is automatic with no downshift... its fun

The TPI injection runs out of steam at like 3700rpms in a little 305... do you know how badly it would run in a 400?

I would go for a carbuerator personally... you'll get the most performance out of it, and if you tune it WELL, you won't get terrible gas mileage for the power it's putting out.

If EFI is absolutely necessary, go for a Holley Stealth Ram setup:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=61312&parentCategoryId=11935&langId=-1

Another option is an EFI intake manifold that uses a 4bbl throttle body setup such as this:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=24055&parentCategoryId=11935&langId=-1

i went to summit and found almost everything that i need for a carburator. i guess the price isnt that bad compared to what i was going to pay for a new intake and runner and throttle body.

Then there's the LS2!! But i don't think he's picking up that, just remember, brakes are important. I'm upgrading my brakes before I swap engines just to let you know. Gears i won't care about till after a lot of mods but i'm a newbie.



man you dont know how good you guys have it. Try stopping with drums all the way around and old shoes and drums....Its like stopping a tank on ice.

Dont down the tpi that much. Yeah its no serious rpm power maker but it certainly with breath above 3700 rpm , its not that bad. 4500 -5000 is where a stock tpi setup starts to give out. However if you need an injection system that will make a lot of torque then an upgraded tpi system will be your best friend. But I agree with what people are saying about not putting it on a built up 400 block. Youll have much better luck with a carb and it will be cheaper and easier.