I have always liked the idea of destroking an engine. you get a bigger bore with a 400 block than you would with a 350, but you will have the ability to make a high revving motor(i love rpm). what would you guys think of making a 372(i think thats what it is) and putting a supercharger on it(prolly ATI) would that be a good idea? or should i just go wtih a 400 if i do it?

 

that would be a 377 and yes they love the higher rpm range

 

Yes they are great boost motors

problem is that standard 400 blocks have thin cylinder walls and tend to crack

so if you do use one, you're running on borrowed time

otherwise you're looking at a $2000 dart block

 

This has been discussed.

The only real reason it helps a lot is if your limited in cubic inches. Or if you race at a place that makes your weight off of CI.

It will rev just fine for whatever you want to do in stock stroke form. Im SURE of it.

 

If you REALLY want a rev happy motor, and you plan to boost anyways, just do a 302 and build a stout bottom end. They had the 302's twisting past 6k in stock z-28's of the 60's, so it is quite easy to accomplish today with today's quality rods, bolts, cranks, etc.

I'm thinking a 302 with a bulletproof bottom end would handle at least 10psi boost..... and better mpg too when you aren't on it.

not to knock the 400 or anything, i'm building one for my 71 but i'm going naturally aspirated. I'm thinking I would stick with the 350, or 302, for lotsa revs and boost. otherwise the 400 is a good street torque motor. just woudln't be my personal preference. but, it's been done, i'm sure. do it right and it would probably be just fine.

 

thanks for the info guys...if i do it, it wont be for a while. im in college and dont work enough at the moment to be able to afford that kind of motor.

froggyiroc, i thought it wouldnt be a 377 unless it is bored .030

 

I don't rember right off hand. but I don't think so. but I could be wrong.

 

I call BS, I use barely modified stock 400 blocks exclusively

 

bull**** on which statement?

that a 400 block wont last?

i know too many people who've broken them. With both nitrous and boost abuse

 

the block part not the other, I only see it happen on applications where it happens to 350's too, like close to the 700 hp range and hardly ever else. On some nitrous cars putting out over 600 hp Ive seen microscopic cracks that never leaked. I once saw a picture of a 350 split down the middle on a nitro'd rail does that mean they are weak too? siamesed bore engines are superior or else they wouldnt be used in the bowtie or motown designs right?

 

no need to get cocky with me

i'm just saying that in my experience with 400s and friends motors, that they dont last and crack easily

 

you can also go and take the crank from a 327 with the 3.25 stoke and put it in the 400 and get a 348

 

I'm sorry if it seems I blew up, there are just a couple things that really bother me in this world; when people say: 400 blocks are weak or overheat, that nitrous blows up motors, you cant run blowers on higher compression, and dont run blown,turboed,N2O motors with cam overlap or a lobe sep of less than 112. these are all magazine-isms. I havent popped or especially seen 400 blocks popped, maybe I'm lucky. you have- sorry about the rant.

 

if they overheat its because the person building the motor didn't think through the cooling system totally

Its not that they are weak, its just the cylinder walls get really thin and crack easily. Now i'm talking about 9 and below second cars. If you keep it in the mid 10s you shouldn't have a problem


people who cant tune nitrous motors blow up motors....you statement is kinda like that old gun arguement:

guns dont kill people, people kill people

you can but it is a pita and you really have to know what your doing otherwise BOOM. I have a friend actually who used to have a 383 with 10.5:1 compression with 12psi and went 10.70s with an s-trim (but had DFI and knew how to tune it)


this really depends on applications

some people just dont know any better

like i said, they've all been 9 seconds and faster. And 1 10 second car, but i think it wasn't prepped correctly. No bigge on the rant