another newbie with 400

[3100wanker]

Hi folks,
Glad to have found this forum, it certainly has lots of good reading, but I am looking for some advice on rebuilding a 400 engine. I have a problem with the valve train, I have lost rocker arms, nuts and ball and studs, and I need to replace with new. I was wondering about roller cams and lifters but can't seem to find too much for that engine.
I would like to know if it would be worth the extra expense to replace it with these roller cams etc., if so what would you suggest?
Brian

[MrPbody]

Brian,
"Worth the expense" is entirely a subjective question. Only the person spending the money is in the position to answer that.
What can be said, is that the hydraulic roller cams in modern engines far outperform the flat tappet cams from days gone by.

Now, to the good stuff. You need to get the book "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s" by Jim Hand. This book has been out less than 6 mos, and is the most comprehensive study of the Injun engine in over 25 years. You can get it at:

boyleworks.com (muscle cars)
performanceyears.com
classicalpontiacs.com
amesperformance.com

BTW, these sites are also Pontiac-specific, where no one will ever say "Just put a Chevy in it..." There are great forums there, and good advice. My personal favorite is boyleworks. Bill Boyle is a nice man, dedicated to keeping Pontiac performance alive. Due to his efforts, we have more aftermarket parts and Pontiac-specific races.
The valve train issues with the Pontiac are usually pretty simple to correct. Not too many variations on the theme, if you know what I mean.
Most important advice I can give you? Don't pay too much attention to the advice from non-Pontiac people. While all engines respond to similar changes, all engines also have unique features. What makes Chevy small block run well, will KILL a Pontiac (both power and longevity). What makes the Pontiac run well, will make a small block a turd... There are examples across the entire line of engine families like this. Stick to Pontiac guys, for Pontiac advice.
Welcome aboard!

[Tim81ta]

I would defently agree with MrPbody, on how different engines perform differently. But I look at it like this. Look at the design of the engine, the specs, lenghts, distances. I have found weighting and looking deeper in to what I am doing produces bigger gains.

[3100wanker]

I have Put Hocker headers on my 400 now the oil filter is to long to remove is there a shorter filter i can use or do i have to go to remote oil filter
Thanks Brian

[MrPbody]

What is the part number filter you're using? The standard Pontiac filter is the "short" version of the GM filters. PF-30 is one number that comes to mind (AC).

DO NOT use a Fram filter. They are known to implode, costing people engines. We use only Wix or AC.

Another consideration would be the '77-'79 Caddy 425 filter. It uses the same flange and flow rate, much smaller in diameter.

Jim

[3100wanker]

Thanks for your quick reply Jim.
The filter I am using is a napa gold #1258 and it is 4 inches long, I would need one about 3 inches long
I will see if I can find a AC PF-30 and also check out the caddy one,
Thanks Brian

[Little Bob]

Brian,

I would go and check out Pontiaczone.com they have a super Pontiac site.

[MrPbody]

Little Bob,
Went out and looked at Andy's site. Not bad. It used to be Flopper's Folly... Many of the same guys out there are on the other sites I noted. I registered, and will begin "stirring the pot" out there on Andy's. (:-

I met him once, I believe. It may have been another, but I think he was the guy working for Fulper at the time. I went to Fulper's "shop" to see who it was making money building Ponchos in my old home town. What a yuk... His "shop" was his garage. I saw them working on the engine in a high-end race car IN THE DIRT... THAT was an experience!
From what I hear, Andy has "shed" his connection to RRE and is on his own. Good deal. I e-mailed him, too. Haven't heard back yet, but that was just this AM.

Thanks for the heads-up on the site.

Jim

If you looking into an adjustable set up try some SBC nuts on your studs, it's works and it's cheap.

I don't like Chevy but figure the adjustable Pontiac stuff is just the same but cost more.

ERSON used to have a whole kit for Pontiac heads but i'm not sure if they even have it any more, I know Comp cams did this also, what are the numbers on your heads?

It seems people are leaning on the side of Solid Rollers, with Jesel shaft-mounted rocker arms. You can get other stuff, but most say that this is a Rock Solid set up, with solid lifters you have to keep up with your lash adjustments, kinda a pain that takes about an hour or so to do, but with Jesel you stay put.

It all depends on what kinda HP levels your looking at.

My set up uses a Comp Cams 292 501 on 501,on a 30 over 400, it serves well, and I know what to expect, in any gear I can floor it and spin the rears with my 373s.

Take care not to be sold SBC lifters, as they will cock in the cast and mess things up.

All D port heads flow about the same, I was told about 5cfm within each other, the power comes from the CC of the head, i'm speaking stock, not aftermarket.

To get a leap for the mony spent, go with the Jesel as a base, you will never look back, but I can't tell you what else to get because I don't know you HP you want to make.

Like I said I have a great combo working for me, it's solid 30 over 400, ARP studded and bolted, Erson valve train, Comp Cams Hydro 501 on each sides at 292, RAM AIR III "worked" and shaved, and a 1407 carb.

Have you engine decked and squared and depending on who you talk to have it line honed
(cheap insurance) and never reuse your old main and head bolts, Stud them with ARP studs, it's not like it's 100's to get the studs and it's worth the piece of mind. Have your engine shop use SBC head dowels in place of your factory main dowels.

The SBC dowels are just a little bigger then your orignal and when you use them in place of your orignals the keep the mains tighter then your factory stuff.

From this point it's all you, what kinda HP you want to make is from this point up, you can also have your block filled to the freeze plugs for that extra edge, but you need to talk to sombody like KRE or the Butler brothers and even Nunzies for what you want as far as HP.

My cam makes my engine a pain to warm up, it's not a get and start and drive away cam, I have to use a Vac Can because my booster will not hold enough Vac to stop me.

I just gave you a look at what I had.