I have found a rebuilt stock 400 short block. I am planning on getting vortech heads and wanted to know the best cam for to get. I will be getting a performer RPM manifold and hedders. How much hp/tq will i be getting?

Thanks for any help!

 

you ought to tell a little more, like what you're going to do with it, or want it to do. what size carb, what gear set, auto or manual, what stall speed. the isn't a cam that's "best" for it, you'll have to compromise.

 

Make sure the heads are drilled for steam holes. a cam in the 220* @ .050 will wake up the motor. just realize that the profiles for a 400 are a little different for a 400 than a 350 motor. you can't go wrong with the edelbrock recommended cam.

 

Im in the process of building a 400 now and this is what Im doing.
400 deck plate hone .030 over, deck the block between .015-.020, Rotating Assembly: Scat cast/steel 9000 crank 3.750, Scat I-Beam rods 5.7/6.0 undecieded, SRP forge or KB hyper Piston 10.2. on Premium Gas, Plasma Moly Rings, Clevite Main & Rod Bearing. Camshaft Hyd: Comp Cam XE 268H Duration @.050: 230IN / 236 EX, Adv. Duration 268 IN-280 EX, Valve Lift: 477 IN – 480 EX, LSA110*
Heads: AFR 195 Aluminum 2.02/1.60, Edelbrock RPM and Holley 670 Avenger. Look at my Signature for drivetrain and suspension. This will be a weekend cruiser, not much, if any track time. They do not let convertible run at my local track....
BTW: I have DYNO 2000 this combo and it produce 490ft/lbs TQ @ 3500 rpm and 430 HP @ 5000 rpm, with small tube headers...
This is the best power that I got using DYNO 2000, so I have heard that its not really accurate, but just a ball park figure..
Using a bigger cam (XE274) drop TQ and HP.

 

Don't go crazy on the cam, a little bit goes a long way. Those Vortec heads don't want a ton of cam. The xe 280 I'm using right now on unported heads is actually hurting it. Those heads aren't designed to be used in high RPM applications either. About 6000 RPM on a 400 is going to be your limit after porting. You'll need a cam with decent, but not huge overlad. Around a .500 inch lift is good and so is about 250-260 advertised duration. You have to replace the springs, retainer and keepers to something that can keep up with that cam. When you call up cam manufacturers they are generally very helpful with selecting a cam and accessories for your application. Also read through some Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Chevy High Performance archives. They have been doing a lot of recent work with vortec heads on 400 chevy's. Remember to set realistic HP and drivability goals when talking to these people.

 

Those heads will probably like more cam than that. The lower end should easily go to 6500 rpm's. I'm using a Comp Cam 294S with a set of 1.6:1 rockers. This motor is exactly the same as when I street drove this for a couple years before converting it to straight drag use.
It drove great with both the stick and the auto around town. Initially I had a set of 4.10's with 275/60R15's and later switched to a set of 4.56's. I can tell you that this thing pulls like nobodies business and is still pulling hard through traps at 7k rpm.
If you are going more street only, I'd suggest stepping up some on the cam and putting a bit more gear in it; like a set of 3.73's. For a cam likely the 280 Magnum. The larger cubes have a tendency to "tame" a larger cam than a smaller motor does and the torque from these motors is phenomonal.

 

t

 

I am working on a 406 with vortec heads and after the comp cam 268 I also lost power. I ran it on a couple of different simulators. All said it liked the 268 and no more. My setup topped out at 405 hp and 456 lb-ft of torque. About what I was planning.

84 bird, check out wheeler motorsports. They sell reworked vortecs with 1.94I/1.60E, intake port ported and the exhaust side polished, new springs, retainers, and machined seats to allow for up to .500 lift. The lift might actually be a little more but I dont remember. All this on the vortecs for $600 a pair. You cant beat it.

 

does wheeler have a web site?

 

yeah. just a second and i will find it....

www.wheelermotorsports.net

I just looked, lift is .550. If that makes any difference.

 

oh yeah. watch your compression ratio. stay around 9-9.5. you dont want to run too high on the vortec heads and since you are going to be running a 64cc (actually more like 62cc) head the CR will be up quite a bit. just something to think about.

 

thanks for the link

 

I've got a question, I'm still thinking about dropping in a 400, will all the baracket(alternator, AC, etc.) bolt back up to it?

 

Well I think the most amount of lift the Vortecs can handle is 450 without changing out the springs. Which isnt bad, dont get me wrong just statin.

 

i had no problem bolting all my brackets back on. i'm tryin to go for the sleeper look. looks like i only changed valve covers and intake manifold.....