Okay I have finally decided to build up my 400, and i have a couple of questions.
here is the details of my plans:
400 small block. honed and bored out .030 over to a 406

GM Fast Burn heads
Hot cam
Probably Keith Black Pistons
other than that, probably the rest would be stock.
and my 73 monte carlo's 400

I would like to be running 10.0 to 1 compression or a little more. 93 octane is all that I want to run.

I want to get about 450-500 hp out of this engine, and I will be running aftermarket TPI intake to keep the swap simple.

Can anyone give me any tips for what to buy.



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1985 Z-28, tpi, basically stock......so far

SEE YOU LATER INTIMADATOR
R.I.P. #3

 

Sounds like a good build, but not in the 450-500hp range.
With the 10.0:1 you'll probably want the good gas.
The fastburn heads are awesome,but be sure to get them drilled for the 400.
Hot cam is good,and the KB Silvolite pistons are good. I would do about 9.0 to 9.5:1 compression tho, and that way you can tweak up the timing a little more.

Add some headers, small stall and let 'er fly.

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350 4 bolt main, Speed-O-Motive 383 stroker kit, re-sized rods ground for clearance,TRW Forged pistons,10.7:1 compression,HPC Coated RPM intake, Speed Demon 750 cfm carb,World Products Sportsman II heads,2.02/1.60 valves, Comp Cam 1.6 roller rockers, Comp Xtreme 284 cam,240/246@.050 with .540 lift,Crane pushrods,ATI damper,Proform HEI and MSD6A box,HPC coated 1 5/8 headers, 2.5" exhaust with 40 series mufflers,TH350 with B&M 3000 stall, Powertrax NoSlip Locker, 4.11 gears.

 

I am not to shure about the power, but I figure that the stuff that made the zz430 make 430 hp out of a 350 and a hot cam would make my 400 a rocket. I would have to think that I will make at least 400 hp. And last night i did most of the calculations, and if i did them right i will have about 10.3:1 compression, and that is with a thick head gasket, and 18cc dished pistons.

Does anybody know exactly what their 400 does? if so could you please post your figures and the parts you used?

anyway, thanks for the help

 

You will probably run into an airflow limitation with a TPI on a 400 before you reach the point where you will get 1 hp for each 1 ft/lbs of torque (5252). For that reason, you will probably see close to 400 hp at 5000. It will make 450+ ft/lbs of torque from 3500 to 4500 but that is where it will start to lay down. Gear it with a 3.42 and an 700r4 and you will just have to worry about spinning the tires off of the wheels.

 

I would spend the money for aftermarket connecting rods and rod bolts. These are a weak spot in the 400, because they are so thin around the journals.

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1983 Pontiac Firebird SE
LG4-Based Chevy 400
700R4 Tansmission
Modified 4 Barrel Q-Jet Carb
Accel Super Stock 8mm Wires
Edelbrock Pro-Flo Air Cleaner
3.23 Posi Rear
14X7" Cragar SS/T Wheels
Clarion 45X4 CD/AM/FM Head Unit
100WX2 Amp
2 Pioneer 12" Subs in Custom Box
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is only half an engine"

 

You would probably get closer to your 450-500 hp goal with an aftermarket intake. The Accel Super Ram & TPIS Mini Ram are a couple of good choices for a 400.

 

Here is a list of my parts. It dynoed at 420Hp but I had an ignition problem that screwed me above 5300 RPM. 10.7:1 compression.

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400 Small Block Engine Mods:

• Scat 9000 Series Internally Balanced Crank
• Scat 4130 I beam 6" bushed rods
• JE flat tops .040" over
• SpeedPro File Fit rings
• Moroso 7qt oil pan
• Crane PowerMax 278 cam (222/234 @ .050; .498/.526 w/ 1.6 rockers)
• Crane PowerMax hyd lifters
• Crane Energizer 1.6 Roller Rockers
• Edelbrock Performer RPM 70cc Aluminum Heads
• Stud girdles
• Moroso tall valve covers
• Edelbrock ProFlo FI
• Hooker Long Tube Headers
• Edelbrock Victor Series Water Pump
• K&N 4" Air Filter Assembly
• ARP bolts/studs
• etc, etc.

 

10.3 is what i have in my 406 with the same dish and 64cc heads, so you are right there. i would not run the stock rods, though, you can get 6" Eagle SIR rods from summit for 300 bucks. that would be your best bet. it will rev quicker and be easier on the bores, too.

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

 

About the aftermarket intake, like the superram and the mini ram, how hard will it be to place that into an existing TPI system. This will be my first ever engine swap, and I would like to keep it as easy as possible.

 

Oh yes and another question, Has anybody crome-plated their cylinder bores of their engines. For a long life out of my block, I am thinking about doing this.

 

That's new one on me. I've heard of shops sleeving all 8, but never even heard of an engine with chrome plated cylinder walls.

Jake


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1986 Corvette Coupe, 415 CID, Edelbrock 6073s, ZZ9

 

well... my friend has a 400 with dished pistons and makes about 8:1 compression and it runss good for bieng old!!!

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89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
434 casting completely redone with bronze guides and 202/160 valves 64cc chambers. decked .0005 thousandths
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!