Identifying a 400

petereggy · #1 08-22-2003, 08:33 PM

what are some things that would help identify a mid to late 70's 400?

73superduty · #2 08-22-2003, 10:22 PM

The best thing to do would be to look at casting numbers. Most of the Trans Am 400's have 6x or h heads.
Otherwise most Pontiac engines look the same from 350-455, it's all in the numbers.
Sorry man.
Chris

petereggy · #3 08-23-2003, 02:15 AM

yah i know about the 6X heads but i bet some 350's had them too

73superduty · #4 08-23-2003, 09:20 AM

I was just letting you know that it was the most common head on the 400. I mean if you want I can list every head Pontiac made. Casting numbers etc....
At least I didn't tell you to look for Pontiac blue paint

Vague questions get vague answers. I was just trying to help out a little.
Sorry.
Chris

TorinoGT69 · #5 08-23-2003, 11:19 AM

the engine size is cast into block on driver's side near the front freeze plug. it will say 350/400/455.

TorinoGT69 · #6 08-23-2003, 11:23 AM

I thought you already had a 400cu block?

petereggy · #7 08-23-2003, 07:53 PM

yah well that deal fell though i was very close to gettin the 400 before

but i dont have one yet i just want to make sure im gettin a 400 before i buy it

is it by the freeze plug on all years of engines?

TorinoGT69 · #8 08-23-2003, 11:31 PM

i think it is on all years

petereggy · #9 08-24-2003, 02:29 AM

alright well thats excellent then

bking120 · #10 08-25-2003, 02:20 AM

are u looking for a 400??? i have one for sale needs alot of work done to it but its cheep as well say 100 bucks

petereggy · #11 08-25-2003, 02:21 AM

what work needs to be done cause im lookin for an engine to build up for drag n such

and where are you located?

IthePeople · #12 08-25-2003, 10:02 AM

why would u want a 400 block anyway? pontiac's 400 and 455 engines were very poorly built and the only engine from pontiac i would consider is a 350 (or possibly a 301), everything else go chevy, its cheaper to build and lasts a lot longer, just put pontiac stickers on the valve covers when your done, no one will know

petereggy · #13 08-25-2003, 03:51 PM

I will know what it is an its a bitch to change over from pontiac to a chevy and the 400 will have more torque

and they arnt that poorly built

i would also rather have something thats not so common so a 400 you dont really see as much as a small block chev

IthePeople · #14 08-25-2003, 04:35 PM

i build engines at a performance shop and pontiac 400's are 455 are shit, they blow all the time and it is easy to convert a firebird to a chevy engine because they are the same frame and body as a camaro all u need to change is the motor mounts if u want a rare engine with lots of torgue get a 427 big block chevy
i have myself built chevy 350's and right now im running a pontiac 350 and let me tell you a chevy engine cost about half as much to build as a pontiac and u get way more options

petereggy · #15 08-26-2003, 02:30 AM

yah thats nice i want a pontiac 400 and if it blow up o well shit happens

and if i went into rarer stuff i would build a 421 or 389 pontiac

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