nice job, but that is not a thirdgen.

i don't know how much different they are underneath, they seem to be pretty close to the thirdgen but i am unsure.

 

They are virtually identical from the tranny back. In fact if you look you will see this is the case.

 

technology is the only replacemnt for cubic inch displacemnt. O by the way, SB 400's really arent good to push, they may be great engines, but once the line is breached theres no going back. BB 400s are a little better but why would you add all that weight for only a 400?

 

nbn782. You must have mistaken this for a Ford Mustang Forum. Technology, as we have seen in the mustang doesn't do much on their 4.6 liter. That is why they are bringing back the 5.0 Liter. The 4.6 with "technology" sucks. If you read earlier posting in the forum. I am part owner in a shop that does top end work and have built each of the engines spoken of personally and have tested them. You are right. Reliability can go down. You just have to decide whether you want reliability or a drag car. At some point you have to decide one way or the other. Theres no replacement for displacement. This is why the Corvette and FBodies still surpass today's Mustang providing both are fairly stock.

 

hey guys whats going on. i am just starting to look into bigger motors. what do you guys think whould be best for a street car, a 383 or 400. im having a really hard time locating a 400 so im probably going to go with a 383. im just looking for a fast street car. i want to be able to kick the crap out of any rice burner or mustang that pulls up next to me. my friends dad is a machinest, so im going to talk to him as soon as i see him about my options. but im just looking for some opinions on whats a better street motor. thanks alot guys.

 

Go check www.ebay.com, I seen a few on there for sale this morning or check your IWANNA Ad, thats how I got mine for $50.00
Excellent condition

 

here u go: Its a 4 bolt, u might want a 2 bolt


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1846876464

 

deff. go w/ a 383.. the 400 is great & all, but the 383 will take it to town.... my .02 cents

 

Put the all your components in a 383 and then swap everything to the 400. The 400 will out perform the 383... and dont let people who never own a 400 tell you anything different...

 

the 383 will take the 400 to town on reliablility.... the 400 is harder to find good cores for if something bad happens... a 383.. if it breaks big deal get a new 350 block & your back on the road... 383 is the quicker engine to build/fix even though the 400 is better... this makes the 383 the perfect hot rod engine.... answering the original question of Which is easier to hot rod.....

 

Let see here. Did you say harder to come by or not dedicating effort or using the resources avaliable to locate a good 400.
Lets see How I got this 400...
Sitting in a Tint Shop, getting my wife windows tinted and I pick up a IWANTA AD Book just during a little surfing. Ad reads Small Block Chevy for sale. Call the guy and he has a 350 (010) for sale $50.00 already broken down. Drive over there and look at the block and said Ill be back tomorrow, cause I have my wife car and needs to get my pickup. Goes back over and a LIGHT goes off in my head and said ask him do he have a 400. Reply, yes its around the corner, we get in my truck and go have a look. Next thing I ask how much for this block, Reply $50.00. w/heads and all, however I knew they were not very good so I said Ill just take the block. BTW the problem was that I did Spun the #6 bearing and will need a new crank, but that was not a problem because I was planning on getting a new rotating assembly anyway. Well I left the 350 (010) there and came home with a SBC 400. Just had it cleaned and check for cracks so far so good. Just my 1 1/2 cents on finding good core blocks. Total transaction time about 30 minutes...Its getting hard to find a Good 400/////

 

We all have or own opinions on ford. I wasnt even intending to bring them up. Im talking turbos, NOS, and the many other methods that dont have limits on their applications except for the strength of the engine.
Personally, id go for the SBC, just b/c of $$$ for the block and parts. I would assume that one would save money. If your gonna go BB y 400? The tourque of a 454 would blow it away. So add the money you would save going SB to the weight saved by going SB and the 17 cubic inches doesnt account for as much. If your not swimming in cash go SB and use the money you saved to buy the most potent performance parts you can. Or splurge on a roll cage for your car .

 

both the 350 & the 400 are small blocks....

 

Personally I feel that NOS is cheating. NOS is something that is to be used as a last option when you just need that extra push. Thats my opinion at least. Turbos. What can I say. Not on a Chevy. Supercharger. Thats cool. But that is not technology anymore. Go all you can go naturally aspirated.
BTW wasn't trying to start something with the Mustang comment. Just wanted to see your response. My mustang buds always try to argue that their 4.6 is a better motor because of its "technology." Ford tries so hard yet still fails.
Just so you know I am not the one that is building a 400. I am just trying to help by putting my 2 cents in. The 400 is not my first choice of motors, nor is the 383.
I work for a shop that does top end work on engines. We do heads, TPI, etc. All kinds of intakes and top end work, as well as build engines and outfit blowers. I am just throwing my 2 cents in also. I have built a lot of these motors like the 400 and 383. I prefer the 350 if we're gonna talk small block.

 

Well, the 396 is a BB that is often referred to as 400. I didnt know which one you were talking about, sry for the confusion i caused.

TA5LiterHO, why do you prefer a 350 over a stroked out 383. Wouldnt the tourque produced by the extra stroke be great for both the street and the track? J/w why you prefer 350 b/c im starting the process of building an engine to be shoved into a thirdgen, and you build these engines. I was previously going BB, but ive heard from a few that the handling was noticably reduced along with a not so good weight transfer on launch. Also, how much is the redline on a 383 lower then an otherwise equal 350? I would hate to send my connecting rods into a low earth orbit or something.

 

If you use 6" rods in your 383 then the safe r.p.m. capability is the same if not more than a 350. I personally know people who run 383's in the 8-9000 r.p.m. range with no problems. A good 400 block is hard to come by compared to a 350 block, end of question. 383's have not become popular because they make less power, build one and you will realize they are the best small block other than a 400. The only reason that a stock 400 sucks is the rod length which is very short causing the pistons to be shoved into the cylinder wall, cure this and it is the best small block period.

 

i would say go with the 400 bro, of course thats cause ive got one in mine and have had no probs

 

Wow, this is the longest thread I've ever started! Lot's of good advice too. I've decided to go 383, only problem is finding a good block. Not a whole bunch around ulsa for sale anymore and whenever I find one out of state, they won't ship.

 

I've got 2 good 4 bolt two piece rear main blocks if you could drive to Kingfisher. Both need about $80 worth of machine work, but are standard bore. You could bolt on a set of of late model heads and use it. The stroker kits are cheaper for 2-bolt blocks anyway. Let me know.

 

nbn792. Don't get me wrong. I have no prob. with the 383. Yes it does produce much torque. You are right. The reason I like the 350 is that it is a naturally balanced engine to begin with. It has a very high rpm limit. Higher than most people think. 8 to 9000. A mechanic buddy of mine in Orlando has thrown a junkyard 350 into one of his cars and dragged it. Each time he would that bitch out to 8000 or more. A junkyard 350. Stock bottom end. It lasted about 6 months, but it did have over 100,000 miles on it.
Also there is virtually no machining involved in building a 350 unless you use an older, worn block. The cranks are easy to come by to. I guess you could say I am addicted to the 350, though I have a 305 in my 84 Trans Am. But then again. I am getting 320 hp naturally aspirated out of that 305 when it was said the max on that motor is like 270-280.
If you decide on the 383 thats cool. I have just had most of my racing experience with the 350 and the 454. Love em both. I have seen and built some damn fast 383's. Its all preference.
You said you thought about using a big block. If you want to go that route all I can say is good luck. Mod city. I know a guy that did a 454 in his 88 Camaro. He said, "It was a bitch." Squeazing the headers in mostly. But I thought it was a cool project anyway. I had this fantacy of shoehorning a 455 HO into a 3rd gen. But as you mentioned. Handling. I love the fact that my 84 TA handles as good as my buddies 2001 BMW M3. Makes him mad.

 

HAHA. Shipping is a bitch. Blocks are heavy. I would help ya out on a block, but I am in Florida. My buddy has a virtually new block. 20, 000 mi. Don't know if he still has it or not. Will let you know. Maybe he would ship. 4 bolt though.

 

1 piece main seal on that block btw.

 

firebyrd400. You running a small block 400 or big block?

 

dbarker02. There is a 400 bb and 400sb btw. One is a Pontiac block the other is a chevy.

 

Sorry bout all these posts in a row. Haven't been on in awhile.

 

There's no excuse. How about I edit them all out?



Check local machine shops for a good starter block. Some have decent prices some dont, just check around.

 

400 sbc

 

Yea, it seems if you really want high performance BB thirdgen headers you have to build 'em, but they will never be as good as headers for a small block due to the engine compartment size restrictions. Plus im hoping to do some outo cross, road racing, and the occasional kicking espensive sports cars butt on the drag strip. So the lack of handling realy would have a nasty effect.

 

to the post sent to me: i dont think about bigblocks much... in fact.. almost never.... kinda forget about the pontiac 400 bb...

 

just a thought but you mite want to check my thred it's 415 sbc?

 

Hey, jamesbern, how much would you be willing to let one of those blocks go for, you said they are both 4 bolt mains? What kind of machine work are ya talking about also? Oh yeah, have you heard of Richards Performance Machine, that's where I was going to go for the 383 job. And this may sound like a dumb question, but hey, I'm still learning, would I be able to use L98 heads, just because they're cheaper, and would I be able to use a hyd/roller cam? Email me any info
Dukemushroom@aol.com
Thanks

 

Since everyone is throwing flames, there is no such thing as a bb Pontiac.

And also, there's no replacement for displacement. Go with the 400. Just ditch the short rods...

 

I say go with a 383 stroker and get the best of all parts. Thats what I went with and mine desktop dynos at 580 HP and 523 lbs TQ.

 

gtabadboy. What'd that cost ya? and did you build it?

 

And yes, there is a big block 400. Though it may not be known as a big block, the block size is bigger. I just did a top end on a 1970 Formula 400 Ram Air this past week.

 

Well yes and no. The 400 Pontiac isnt a big block, never was. It might be 'bigger' than a 265 or 301, but its not a 'big block' like a Chevy. Why? They were never called big blocks, thats why. Nothing more to it.

 

Cost me 6600. This includes complete assembly intake, carb, and lifetime labor warrantee. Basicall all that you see in the pic. The crank is 4340 nitrided eagle and I have 3d forged eagle esp rods and JE forged pistons. Motor has 11.5:1 compression.