Anyways, I wasn't planning on getting my car even going this summer, with college coming up in the fall, another (less expensive) project to worry about (see sig), and limited funds. However, I came across a great deal on a 406 from someone here on TGO.

It's basically stock with a .030 overbore, .486 lift cam, stock heads machined for 2.02 and 1.60 valves, a holley 4 barrel intake and 650 carb and the rest is basically stock. It was just built by an engine builder and has basically been run on an engine stand. It comes with a starter, oil pan, water pump, pulleys, etc and I could basically drop the motor in and start it. The guy is only asking $2,000 turn key, but considering I have things like a carb, wires, dist, etc, i'd imagine I might be able to pick it up for around $1,700 or so. It's nothing too extreme, I just figure it'll be a nice little 300hp or so streetfriendly motor. Not to mention it should be quite torquey which will make things fun.

Anyways, here are my questions:

1. I've got LT headers for my 350 (i'm assuming any SBC), will they fit the 400?

2. Will the motors mounts from my 350 bolt right up and will this motor drop right in?

3. From what I understand the 400's are balanced differently then all other SBC's. Will I need a different flywheel then? Both motors are 2 piece rear main seal motors.

4. Will my starter work with this motor?

5. I just bought a Zoom clutch for the T5 (The stage 2 one for our cars). Will this work just fine with the 406? What about if I get a different flywheel, will it still work then?

Sorry for all the questions, I just wanna know what i'm taking on before I pick this motor up (IF I pick this motor up). I'm sure i'll have some more questions too.

-Thanks, Brandon

 

The 400 block is the same as any other sbc...except the siamesed bore and two extra freeze plugs in the center on earlier blocks. So the starter, clutch, mounts, and headers are gonna work sweet! The 400s are externally balanced and use a different harmonic balancer as well as flexplate. As for the clutch...i dont know im a m-22 and automatic man myself...

 

The seller offered to include the flexplate, but obviously I have no use for it, since i'm running a T5 anyways. Anyone else know about the flywheel?

 

You will need a 400 specific flywheel. It is balanced different. as for the starter, it may or may not work, depending on how the block is set up.

 

The flywheel would have to be rebalanced to the 400ci SBC specs - I'm 99.9% sure its balaced differently than the internally balanced small blocks like the 350.

Also, the 400ci block will need the 3rd starter bolt hole drilled and tapped to be able to use the smaller 3rdgen flywheel (153 tooth). I don't know if that was mentioned already, but it will be necessary, and its easier to do on an engine stand than under the car when you find out the starter won't bolt on.

 

I can get the starter included with the engine. Would that be my best bet and then to just track down a 400 flywheel? Are they relatively easy to find? Would my Zoom clutch still bolt up to that?

I'm assuming all my other brackets will bolt up too right (alternator, power steering, etc)?

 

instead of getting the flywheel rebalanced there is a small plate u can place behind the flywheel that brings the balance true.

like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...em330223726238

 

I'm using one of those plates with my flexplate with my auto since I want to keep my 153 tooth flexplate. They do work and keep everything in balance, just make sure you get the external balance harmonic balancer. I am putting a 400 in my car this spring.

 

So basically all I need to drop the 400 in is:

1) Getting my block drilled for the starter i'm running now. Can any competant machine shop do that for cheap?

2) My flywheel will bolt on right once that hole is drilled right? I just need one of those plates from ebay to put behind it so it balances out? Here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...em330223726238

-Thanks, Brandon

 

As long as your flywheel is for a 2-peice rear main seal motor, then yes it will bolt right on (1 pc rear seal has a different bolt pattern on the crank). Any machine shop should be able to drill and tap the hole for you - I did it myself with no problems, and the motor was IN the car at the time.

 

So just to be clear, short of drilling the hole for my starter/flywheel to fit, this should be a bolt-in procedure? I'll be giving the guy the final word on this motor tomorrow, and I just wanna make sure i've got everything i'll need.

He's offering to include the starter with it, i'm assuming it'll be of no use to me right? I figure i'll take as much weight off of the motor as possible, since it'll probably help me on shipping charges.

Anyone know the approximate weight of a 400 long block with alternator, pulleys, harmonic balancer, etc minus the carb/starter? I'm just hoping to get rough estimate from a few shipping places tomorrow.

 

You will probably need a different starter, the bolt pattern is most likely different. If I remember correctly, the 400 uses a staggered bolt pattern. Also, I don't think you'll find a factory 400 flywheel, since any manual trans that came behind a 400 would have been the older, larger diameter one. Centerforce makes a custom one that will work, but it's something like $400. Also, you'll need a different harmonic balancer, the 400 one is counterweighted, unlike the other SBC ones. It's possible to build an internally balanced 400, but that requires custom pistons, crank, and possibly rods (expensive). Any aftermarket heads will need to have steam holes drilled as well. I used to have a 400 in my old car, and hated all of the oddball parts it required. One other option (what I had wanted to do) is to turn it into a 377 (350 crank with spacer bearings). Honestly I wouldn't bother with it, the oddball parts outweigh the (few) benefits in my opinion.

 

I'm able to get ahold of the harmonic balancer, so that's not too much of an issue. The bolt pattern for the starter is something that people have touched on, isn't that something that any competant machine shop could take care of though?

 

Bump.

Also, i've been talking to the guy selling the engine, and we're trying to figure out exactly how everything would work. He's already including the harmonic balancer I need for the engine. He's also offering to throw in a flywheel that's balanced for a 400 SBC (balanced differently then the other ones), and a 400 starter. If I got all these wouldn't it be a direct bolt-up procedure to drop this motor in? Would the larger (or i'm assuming it is) fit into my T5 bellhousing and be able to use the Zoom clutch i've got sitting on my work bench?

I've also got the option of having a 350 flywheel (which i'm assuming is smaller) and having it rebalanced for the 400. I'm assuming then though that I wouldn't be able to use the 400 starter right? Would this be a better option then going with the 400 flywheel (if that's even an option)?

Sorry for all the questions, just wanna know what i'll be getting into if I DO buy the motor.

-Thanks, Brandon