what cars had the 400 small block engin??????

 

Scott,

I'm guessing that close to 1 million cars came with the 400 SBC motor in the years of production 1970-1980. Can't tell you all those VIN's, but......

Impala's,Belair's, fullsize wagons, pick-em-ups and the like. If you're searching boneyards and there is a dirt track within 100 miles of the boneyard, forget it.

Those roundy-rounders love the 400's. Trophy motors, ya' know?

Check your local "Auto-Trader" rag, internet, etc.

Good luck.
BOR

 

Box hit most of the high points... I would add, check Monte Carlos 73-76, especially the really loaded ones. My wife had a 74 years ago that had one.

If you see motors laying on the ground, look for casting # 3951509. That's what the one in my 83 is. It's the most common one. Chances are you won't see one like that, but you never know... also, if the heads are off, look for the steam holes, which are 2 extra small holes in the deck between the cylinders, located between the head bolts.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

Thanks for all the help

 

most 400s have 3 freeze plugs on each side

 

the flywheel and harmonic balancer are also dead giveaways ...

------------------
87 IROC-z 305 TPI 5spd Borg warner 9-bolt 3.45 posi 4 wheel disc,8.8 Accel wires , bosch platinum +4 plugs,gutted air box,k&n oil filter,synthetic oil 10w30

 

Only the 4-bolt ones from 70-72 have that. All other SBCs, including for instance the 400 I'm driving around, have 2.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

not true. the one in my truck is a two bolt and it had 3 freeze plugs. i say "had" because someone filled the middle on in. cheater "trophy" motor. hehe.
stay away from the factory 4 bolts. they are weaker than the 2 bolts because the main saddle doesn't have enough meat in it where the outside main bolts go thru. if you absolutely have to have 4 bolts, get a 2 bolt and have it converted to a splayed 4 bolt.

------------------
88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph

 

What casting # and date do you have?

I'd almost be willing to bet money that it's a service block, since AFAIK all the ones that came in vehicles were 4-bolters.... interesting... I've heard of such but never seen one, and I have seen more 400s than most people have.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

I have 2 400 two bolts and they both have the middle stub freeze plug. I thought they were cast that way.

[This message has been edited by jcb999 (edited February 28, 2001).]

 

For 25 years I've been scouring junkyards for 400s, and I've never seen a 3-plug block with 2-bolt caps installed. How bizarre! All these years I've been looking for 3-plug blocks, and every single one has had 4-bolt caps in it. The 2-bolt one in my car has 2 freeze plugs, with no extra boss for a 3rd...

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

I'm in the same boat as RB.

 

I don't have a clue what the casting number is, sorry. It looks fairly obvious that someone filled the middle freeze plug in, but maybe I am wrong if someone else said that is factory. As for the 4 bolt part, avoid those blocks like the plague. CHP mag and several other sources back me up saying that the 4 bolts are no good for the reasons i described above.

------------------
88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph

 

S10,

Yup, we've had the 2-bolt vs 4-bolt discussion on this board before, and all knowledgeable parties agreed with you.

I snagged a standard bore 509 block on that basis, and am awaiting an influx of $$$ to build my 406.

That 12.20 ET in an S-10 makes me insane to get started.

Meanwhile, you're gonna' spray it right ?

Yeah, juuuust a leeeeeetle.......kinda' like....."don't worry baby, I'll just slide it in juuuuuust a leeeeetle".

Come on, you know you want to.


BOR

 

LOL

------------------
89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

i just checked, mine has three freeze plugs,two bolt mains

 

It's nice to see the "Box" still has it. And I was just about to pick up a cup of coffee. Thankfully, instinct got the better of me.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

yup, i'm gonna spray it. next summer and just a leeetle, hehe. i want to see how fast it will go NA before i get crazy with the juice. It should EASILY go 11's as i didn't even know what jet sizes i was running when i went to the track. i am running on stock suspension in the rear with no traction bars or anything else to aid traction except a posi and slicks. the slicks weren't even that big, 8.5 inches of tread on the pavement. i moved the battery to the bed, mostly just for the hell of it, and i will be running a two-step to give me better control of my launch rpm.

i am jonesin to get that sucker out again. just got to get my boyds on and my spindles installed, and an alignment, and my rear springs dearched, and... oh crap, i better get movin on this stuff. ;}

------------------
88 S10
Dropped 3/4
18" Boyd Coddington Timeless 5s
Dart equipped 406
12.20 @ 115.25 mph

 

i have a #817 two bolt with 2 freeze plugs and a casted area for a third but wasnt drilled...

------------------
1985 Iroc-z Hoping for 11's on motor this year

http://www.hometown.aol.com/iroczguy