Ok so I was supposed to go and pick up a 350 2 bolt motor today after school, with plans to rebuild and swap out the 305 with it. But I called to confirm and turns out he sold it earlier today!? SO... I have an opportunity to get a 400 2 bolt small block for $100. Needs to be rebuilt as well. Should I just wait for another 350 to show up or is the 400 SB as easy to put it as the 350? I really don't know to much about swaps, just kind of no-fear winging the project to say the least, but got a machanic to help when needed.

 

go 4 it.. its not any harder than a 350. lots of stuf to help ya online

 

Are you planning on a stock rebuild, or do you want to build the 400 up?

Factory 400 heads are junk. If you want something more than a stock build, figure on needing to replace them.

A 20-30 year old engine has a high probability of already having been rebuilt once. If it's already been bored 0.030" over and needs to be bored again, don't spend any money at the machine shop until the cylinder walls have been verified to be able to take another 0.030" out.

400's are "externally balanced", meaning they need a flexplate/flywheel and damper with an additional weight to be balanced properly. 400 flexplates/flywheels are usually 168 tooth, which can cause problems with the starter you have to use getting in the way of things like exhaust. 153 tooth externally balanced flexplates/flywheels are available, but then you need to make sure the proper starter will bolt up to the block.

 

sound like a good deal pretty much the same thing , a little tip I'm thinking of a 400 too and from some research I've heard that the older 400's have a cooling problem if you use the stock heads from what i've heard it's an easy fix to just drill it's either the coolant or oil holes in the head , please nobody take this as gospel just putting out there what I have heard and for him to look in to it.good luck man let us know how you make out.


just looked it up and they have steam holes and if you put heads on that do not have the steam holes drilled will overheat under harsh conditions.

 

I would like to build it up, you know the "basic" stuff, meaning top end, complete rotating assembly.
Seeing you say I should probably get new heads, do you know what I should look into, I don't have the deepest of pockets lol, full time student, part time work... I just don't want to be stuck with having to get Dart heads they're good but will cost more than my camaro itself. As far as being previoulsy rebuilt, the owner said they were never touched, but always good to double check I guess.
Thanks guys for helping me out, looking forward to show off the finished product whenever it comes lol.

 

Of course to my luck, the 400 engine was sold as well. And theres nothing else that interests me in the area, so I guess I'll wait some more Guess it will give me more time to save for parts

 

Welcome to hotrodding. Going fast aint cheap.

 

Thats me and my need to drive the car talking. I would love to wait around and save for Darts but I don't have another sports car at my disposal, I'm rolling around in a Civic with over 200K lol.

 

Ok, so I finally succesfully got a 350 block today. Its stuck in the trunk of the civic till I get someone to help me get it out, (hurt my back at work). Also got and engine stand, some misc camaro interior parts, all for $150. Block has original bore, so I have good options. Heading to a machine shop maybe in a week or two!