400 small block

LeeRoy · Guru

400 small block

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

What are the heads and intake worth by themselves? I have no direct experience with this motor but being basically a stroked 350 it will be much stronger on torque, just a bit stronger on horsepower. Do you know what year it is? Generally these were low compression motors (8.5-9 to 1) so actually quite good to run on today's gas.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

These are torque motors, longer stroke and wider bore than a 350, that were first used in Kingswood Estate and full sized cars starting in 1970. Originally a 2bbl motor only. They also were used in high torque requirements like Pick Ups and Suburbans. Later they were used in Laguna S3 models when 454 was eliminated. In stock form it could produce 180 NET HP (265 GROSS HP) and up to 325 ft lbs. of torque.

They have siamesed cylinder bores which makes them prone to overheating unless steam holes are drilled in the heads in racing applications.

I have often thought about a 400 small block. With the mods you have it should be a beast. As far as price goes hard to say, a running BBC can be had for $1,000 according to my research.

JerryA · Addicted!

It would depend on the condition of the engine , heads etc.
I have had a .030 over 400(406ci) in my Beau for over 3 years now. The saying no replacement for displacent holds true. There are no overheating problems with the 400's. Depending on which heads you use steam holes will probably be required. No biggie. You can still use the heads on other sbc's at a later date with no ill effect.
I have had mine to the track a couple of times but it is mostly a weekend cruiser. It runs 12.3 in the 1/4 driving it to the track and driving home.
One thing to check for is cracks on the 400 block. Most will already have cracks from the head bolt holes to the water jacket. This isn't a big problem.
Overall, 1300 bucks for a running 400 is pretty cheap. Decent blocks are getting harder to find.
Jeez just reread your post. What Eddy heads and intake does it have?. Can you pull the pan and maybe check a few bearings?

-- Edited by JerryA at 17:57, 2008-10-08

eeluddy · Uber Guru

With Edelbrock heads included thats a good price. 400 SBC's are getting hard to find.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Here are posts from a Chevy forum stevensnovasite.com:

"Yup I had a set of 283 power pack heads on my 400 and I had 608 hp with a rebuilt 2bbl from a 454 BB that was jetted WAY out. No one could touch me man. That whole pkg cost me just under 2300 bucks.Who needs NOS when you can run a motor like this. My dad said this was THE motor to have. "

and another one:

"Well let me tell you it cost me right at $7,000 to build a 408sbc that made 448hp and 498lbs of torque. And I already had the block. It would have costed me another $2,300 for a block if I did not already have one. I was running a Eagle R/Assembly(Forged, 5.7 H-beam rod's). I could have made more HP but just did not have the cash for a better set of head's at the time. Oh, the head's were a set of Dart Iron Eagles. I can not rember what size right now. The intake was a Air Gap and the carb was a Holley 750 dbl pumper with vaccum sec.
Building the motor on the cheap is hard to do."

LeeRoy · Guru

JerryA wrote:

It would depend on the condition of the engine , heads etc.
I have had a .030 over 400(406ci) in my Beau for over 3 years now. The saying no replacement for displacent holds true. There are no overheating problems with the 400's. Depending on which heads you use steam holes will probably be required. No biggie. You can still use the heads on other sbc's at a later date with no ill effect.
I have had mine to the track a couple of times but it is mostly a weekend cruiser. It runs 12.3 in the 1/4 driving it to the track and driving home.
One thing to check for is cracks on the 400 block. Most will already have cracks from the head bolt holes to the water jacket. This isn't a big problem.
Overall, 1300 bucks for a running 400 is pretty cheap. Decent blocks are getting harder to find.
Jeez just reread your post. What Eddy heads and intake does it have?. Can you pull the pan and maybe check a few bearings?

-- Edited by JerryA at 17:57, 2008-10-08

Bearings were replaced by the vendor who is afriend of mine

Gengiskhan · Addicted!

eeluddy wrote:

With Edelbrock heads included thats a good price. 400 SBC's are getting hard to find.

If they are getting hard to find maybe someone wants to pick this one up.

http://classifieds.castanet.net/showproduct.php/product/313642/cat/5

JerryA · Addicted!

LeeRoy wrote:

JerryA wrote:

It would depend on the condition of the engine , heads etc.
I have had a .030 over 400(406ci) in my Beau for over 3 years now. The saying no replacement for displacent holds true. There are no overheating problems with the 400's. Depending on which heads you use steam holes will probably be required. No biggie. You can still use the heads on other sbc's at a later date with no ill effect.
I have had mine to the track a couple of times but it is mostly a weekend cruiser. It runs 12.3 in the 1/4 driving it to the track and driving home.
One thing to check for is cracks on the 400 block. Most will already have cracks from the head bolt holes to the water jacket. This isn't a big problem.
Overall, 1300 bucks for a running 400 is pretty cheap. Decent blocks are getting harder to find.
Jeez just reread your post. What Eddy heads and intake does it have?. Can you pull the pan and maybe check a few bearings?

-- Edited by JerryA at 17:57, 2008-10-08

Bearings were replaced by the vendor who is afriend of mine

I say go for it and then say a prayer for your back tires. They will need it. biggrin

mfleury · Poncho Master!

1300.00 is a good price providing the engine is running.l i got a 400 in my 66 parisienne its been there for 12 years noe still good. over heats when i go to car parades but installed a cooling fan took care of the problem buy it

ak 67sd · Poncho Master!

sounds like a good buy at that price, with the parts that it comes with (heads) you will $ for $ outperform a BBC combo... do you know what cam is in there? or are you planning to swap it out? also what model # are the heads? if there are no known condition issues and the engine doesnt need machine work to refreshen, then that motor should sell for at least $500 more (depending on other parts included)... a 400 core/complete would be around $3-400 around here, the heads around $900, intake $100 ...if you were buying in peices...

ak