There are a few good wrecking yards near me and I'd like to find a decent 400" block.

What years and cars/trucks came with 400s? Any links with this info?

Also, isn't there an external way to tell the block (freezeplugs or something)?

Thanks!!

Don

 

They came in 70-76 full-size cars, A & G bodies; some in trucks and vans as late as about 79 or 80.

There was never a 4-barrel version. All are 2-barrels.

The early ones had 3 freeze plugs down the side. Those mostly also had 4-bolt main caps. They are the blocks with less meat around the main webbing. Later ones (73 up) had 2 freeze plugs in the side, 2-bolt main caps, and a little more metal around the mains.

All have a harmonic balancer with a divot taken out of it. That's the best way to spot one, except for casting numbers.

Castings are 511, 509, & 817. There are no others that I know of. Here's a 509 casting.

 

Here's a 400 balancer.

 

I got mine out of a late 70's blazer, best way I could tell was the holes they had drilled in the balancer. Too much crap on it too see the serial number.

 

Just a tip when you do go to the yard to find one a good way to see the casting numbers is to get one of those brushes for cleaning the inside of copper fittings before they get soldered, a good flash light and a spray can of carb/brake cleaner.

 

Thanks a lot everybody!

Don

 

Good luck finding a worthwhile engine in the junkyard. You'll have to show up at the right time to get one. They are in demand and have been in demand for quite a while.

 

i got a 400 sbc out of a 1974 caprice and it had a 4 -barrel.

 

Didn't come from the factory with a 4-barrel, even if there was one on it when you got it. Used to be a rather popular swap to just stick a 4-barrel intake and carb on motors; since the motor itself (block, heads, cam, exhaust) was all the same between a 2-barrel and a 4-barrel. All you had to do was find a 350 4-barrel car in the junkyard.