I have a chance to get a 400 sbc from a 72 impala it has a casting number of 330817 and is completely stock. I was wondering if it is worth it for $200 or not? The guy is a pretty respectable guy and I've seen how much these engines are going for on ebay and they guy said the engine ran and that it turns over but its just stiff. Is it worth it?

 

That's about right.

Last 400 core I bought, cost me $250, with a guarantee. So $200 for one without a guarantee sounds ballparkish.

 

That sounds pretty good, i paid 300 for a virgin bore 400. but i had it checked out by a machine shop to make sure it was good before shelling out the money.

 

Well this is the whole engine from pan to manifold. He said it turns and everyhting its just a little stiff from sitting for a while.

 

Stiff from sitting a while = needs a rebuild

Needs a rebuild = it's not an "engine", it's a "core"; even if it's still bolted together

What you're buying that REALLY matters:
Block


Stuff you don't care if it's there or not (assuming it's stock):
Heads (882 or 624 smogger junk)
Intake (2-barrel)
Cam ("929" - .390"/410", 194°/204°)
Carb (2-barrel)
Distributor (esp if it's points)
Pistons (low compression, typical crappy stock)
Exhaust manifolds (duh)

All of this can go straight into the garbage, or get left behind, if it's stock.


Stuff you DEFINTELY want, if it's any good:
Crank
Rods
Crank damper


Stuff that would be nice to get but doesn't matter a whole lot:
Oil pan
Timing cover
Valve covers
Flex plate

Don't kid yourself that you're going to find THE most desirable small block core, pay bottom dollar for it, and it's going to drop in and run. Of course, that would be totally cool, if it happened; but.... expect to get a core, which is, non-broken rebuildable worn-out major parts. Expect that it will need boring, rings, new pistons, the crank turned, the whole enchilada of head work (on SOME OTHER HEADS), etc. Don't get all wrapped around the axle about "it's just a little stiff", unless it's OBVIOUSLY been recently rebuilt, and doesn't need to come apart to be fixed. Which is highly unlikely.

Good luck!!! I hope it turns out to be a good, unmolested, rebuildable core.

 

I know I'm not buying anything like a crate engine. I was going to rebuild it into a big inch sbc(415+cid), I wanted to see if it was worth it at all and if it's a good price.

 

Well, maybe it'll turn out to be in a crate; I don't think just having a crate wrapped around it would really change anything though....

 

I just thought that maybe I could buy it and turn it into a race engine over the winter. The price seemed good so I wanted your guys opinion.

 

just make sure that the motor hasnt been rebuilt once already, if it was chances are it was already bored 30 over and at that point the block isnt worth it for what you want it for. but like what sofa said, all you are really buying is the block, everything else will/should be replaced with better parts.

 

Its never been touched, it is a virgin block. I wanna make it into either a 427sbc or a 434ci engine.

 

2 bolt 400s are highly saut after. The 4 bolt blocks are the ones to avoid when it comes to 400s. I would say you have a good deal and jump after it before someone else snags it. I would say pull the pan and make sure the mains arent spun. 427s or 434s are harder to build and require alot of attention and arent always possible depending on core shift and could end up ruining the block and will ruin the virgin bore. From what I understand they become money pits and require a very good builder with a shop to build them and theres no guarantee.

 

Thats good info to know. I am getting the engine on monday so it's all mine. Maybe I'll go modest with a 415 or something or just bore it out to a 406.

 

Just clean it up to 406 (.030" over). Big inch stock blocks end up big inch scrap metal.

 

Well I just got the engine. It has a HEI distributor? I thought they came with points ignition in '72. Anyways, the block looks good, I'm tearing apart then engine and stripping it already so the block can be checked out totally and then sent to the machine shop. If its bad then I have a spare flywheel and balancer for my 383.

 

the distributer was probably added later.

the balancer/crank/flywheel on a 400 were all balanced as one assembly. I would just get a neutral balanced balancer for your 383 instead of using the one off the 400 if it comes to that.