I was planning on building a blown pro streeter, but now I have decided just to carry out my first plans and use my 87 as a drag only. I have a 4 Bolt Main 400 Small block that I was gettin ready to build, and I don't know whether to go with a 422 or a 377. I plan on using my current heads, probably a solid roller cam around .600 lift at least 13-1 compression, and mostly 1/8th mile track. Which one do you all think will be better. I know a 377 doesn't make as much low end torque but makes up in the mid-upper range I thought this may help with blowin my tires off. I don't know hope yall can help

 

NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT!!!

All other things being equal, the engine with the larger displacement makes more power. If you want more power, then 422, if you want less power, then 377...

 

That was what I wanted to hear. but will that be too much stress on a stock block. I know a 434 is too much for the stock block, I don't want something that won't last but a few races. Granted anything can blow up the first trip, but generally speaking. Can I rev the 422 as high, I was wantin like 7500 rpm motor

 

Revving the hell out of a factory 4-bolt 400 doesnt sound like a good idea to me. If youre hell bent on a 400, use a 2-bolt and have it splayed. Along with main studs and headstuds, you should be ok for what youre doing.

As for my opinion, I've always been partial to a destroke'd engine. The old saying that a larger engine is always better is not always true. There is a TON of factors that go into deciding what your engine setup should be.

If its a 1/8th mile only car, I would run something like what you have with a 377, ~4.88 gears on a ~28x10.5 tire with a th350/400 with a ~4k stall and hold the hell on.

You would most likely be screaming through the traps in the top of 3rd.

 

Ditto that. High rpms+4 bolt main 400 block = busted 400 block

The blocks break between the main bolt holes, if I recall. I don't like de-stroked engines unless the rules say that you are limited in your displacement. Otherwise, I'm in the, "bigger is better" crowd.

 

Not to mention but all 400 SBC have cast cranks. Not exactly a performance part. If you want to build a high performance big SBC, start from scratch and buy everything aftermarket. Block, crank, heads etc. Nothing factory will be strong enough.

 

He will be using an aftermarket crank if he goes bigger, or a 350 crank with spacers if going 377 (or aftermarket there as well) so the crank isn't really an issue.

I disagree about the block but the rest of the engine really is garbage. The heads are horrible. I used factory L98 heads on my last build. They were great.

I think 4 bolt blocks need to go straight to ebay but the two bolt blocks are great. Personally, I will pay the money at the machine shop for two things on every 400 sbc I use.

1. aftermarket splayed main caps + align bore

2. overbore and then sleeve block back to std.

I don't like the siamese bore sbc block. The cheap, crappy casting metal that Chevrolet used in all of their engines was bad enough but every other 400 that gets an overbore ends up overheating unless it has been sleeved already.

At least that's what happens to me. The only two that I built were both sleeved and put their respective f-bodies into the 12's with just a few mods. No overheating. I got a lot of crap from chevy guys about even using 400's but they were fine.

 

Well I had a 2 bolt 400 at now time and sold it several years ago. the only reason I have this one now is because this is the first one that the machine shop has had a garage bill on in 2 years. Around here all of the dirt track racers ****** up the 400's. I can't afford an aftermarket block. I'm not using any stock parts, I want to build a motor that has the ability to rev up to 7500, but it will probably never see it. I can always stick a rev limiter on it 6500 is really plenty high enough. Anyway I am going all forged internals, I'll probably shoot 125 or 150 shot nothing much. For heads i am using Dart Pro 1's with 215 cc runners. Will those be too small for a 422

 

Most likely the 215cc heads would be too small. Bill Mitchel uses 220's on his MoTown 427's and 454's SBCs. But i could be wrong, it all depends on what you want.

 

A 4" stroke brings it to 427ci and .030 to 434. That along with some motown 220cc heads it should be good.

I have brought a 427 sb to 7,200 without failure, but it would be a good idea to splay the mains.

 

I would do neither. Taking away cubes is pointless. I wouldnt even consider a big incher with a 2 bolt 400 block. Rebuild it as a 400. It'll make plenty of power if done right. Also, make sure to have the block inspected and tested by a competent machine shop. 4 bolt 400's are known for problems

 

it already has been checked, I bought it from the machine shop. It will be a while before I am able to do much with this motor, that just gives me plenty of time to decide, or maybe stockpile other parts.