Stroker vs. 400

[bluec10]

I want to drop a stroked 350 into my truck and I'm hope to run about 425hp. My local wrecker has two engines that I'm interseted in - a 4-bolt 350 and a 2-bolt 400.

Should I stroke the 350, which may be a bit of a stronger engine, or just build a stock 400 for the horsepower that I'm looking for?

[dinnut]

are u planning on using a supercharger? or keepign it n/a? or nitrous? id build a 383 becuase it sounds cooler. and because they are cooler. a 400 is a 350 stroked to the max i believe. making 425 hp is going to be difficult unless you have a lot of money. something to think about. bb's will make that kinda horsepower. plus more torque than youll ever need. i hope. so id go with a nitroused 383 or a big block. big blocks are heavier thogh so whatever you want to do.

[Longhorn Man]

I see no reason in spending the extra cash to build a smaller engine...ie, a 383.
I say go with the 400 small block (which is a good motor despite the roumors) and drill the steam holes in the heads.
BTW...the 2 bolt 400 is the strong one...not the 4 bolt 400.

[dinnut]

actually... after thinking a bit. im with longhorn man. because my neighbor has a 76 t/a with a 400 and its realllllly fast. he showed off for us while we were putting motor mounts the other day. he just stomped on it and lit up both rear tires... it was cool

[bluec10]

I didn't know that the 2-bolt 400 was the strong one! A 4-bolt 400 must be a pretty rare bird.

Tell me more about the steam holes...

[MrShelley]

Build a 2-bolt 400. They are stronger than the 4-bolt blocks. If you really want 4-bolt mains, add splayed main caps (overkill really). A .030 406 can make serious power and weighs considerably less than a big block.

[Longhorn Man]

It has beena while since I have looked into the 400s, but I think the 4 bolt was made for only 1/2 the production run (1970 - 1980) while the 2 bolt was made the whole decade.
dinnut, the 400 in the old trans ams were not 400 small block chevy engines. (onless it is an owner installed one)
The stock 6.6 engines in the trans am was one of 2 Pontiac 400, or an Olds 403. Most likely the Olds motor...it was way more common than the 2 Poncho engines.

[gonebad2]

I built a sb 400 and put it in a 68 short step. I loved that motor...Loads of torque and very responsive. Someday I would like to build another. Sure is a big difference in price of parts vs a 350.

[Longhorn Man]

yet still cheaper than a 383...with more cubes.

[dinnut]

oh i didnt really think there was much of a difference since he was running mostly aftermarket parts. hes runing a/c p/b and p/s too. hes running alum. edelbrock intake, carb, comp cams cam and other stuff too. is their a difference in the blocks and heads in a pontiac (which this engine is) and a chevy? this is a 400 i went and asked him.

[1971 Cheyenne]

I would go for the 400. I am considering building a 383 just becuase 350 blocks are WAAAAYYYY more common around here. If I could get a 400 block though, I woul ddefinately use that and build a 377 or a 406


my no sense

[bigfredtn]

I have a 400 small block that is .40 over. Nothing real fancy about the motor, nice cam, and some head work. It is the best small block that I have ever owned.
A 383 is nice if you can not get a 400. Go with the 400 you will be happy. Add a roller cam, good heads, single plane intake, and have some fun.

ps If you want a stroker motor, save your money and stroke the 400.

[dinnut]

now that we are talking bout 400s. i had this kid threaten to like kill me because i said the 396 was a bb and the 400 was a sb. he swore teh 400 was a bb and the 396 a sb. he kept syaing the 396 was the biggest sb made by chevy. i asked him why a 396 would be so desireable then he sadi bc it was the biggest sb chevy made. i just gave up. hes a mopar fanatic that drives a grandam and lies ALOT. i told him not to mess with me im a chevy boy and i think i know more than you

[Longhorn Man]

396 is a small block, up untill 70 when it grew to a 402...called a 400 in trucks and called a 396 in cars. The only 400 made by Chevy is the 400 Small Block.
You were right...you shoulda bet him a punch in the gut.

[PanelDeland]

Go with the 400. It's way easier to get 1 to 1.25 hp per cubic inch than to get 1.5 per cubic inch.It will also be cheaper(maybe 400 parts are slightly higher if you need cranks and such).The 400 will stay streetable with more cam,it will be more reliable since it won't have to be so heavily reworked to make your hp goal, and you can probably get the hp with lower compression which equals cheaper fuel.

[my new 72]

What about the 396BB Camaro's?? 396 is the baby BB, then the 402, the 409, the 427, the 454, and etc are all BB's. But the 400 is the biggest production SB made by GM.

[dinnut]

yeah. thats what i always thought/knew. my new 72. 396s in trucks are big blocks. 396 was never a small block i thought. 402 was a bigger version of the 396. i thought they were both big blcok. 400s are definitely small blocks.

[67Fleetsidedream]

Go with the 400. Cheaper buildup than a 383 stroker.

[68c10owner]

long horn, did i read that right? the 396 was a small block? did you mean the smallest big block? cuz it was never a small block. i would go with the 400 also. they have a big bore,lick the bigblocks and the longest stroke the factory small blocks had. my buddy had one with flattops,stock 76cc heads and a comp 280 magnum cam in a 76 4x4 and it made a ton on torque. if your building a street motor, torque is what you want. torque is what putts your ass through the seat when you nail it.

[Longhorn Man]

Huge brain fart.
If you were to read the message, you can tell it was a mistake. Thanks for caching it.
As for the 409 and it's smaller brother..they are big blocks, but not related to the other big blocks listed.

[highboy_04]

chevy 400s are small blocks and pontiac 400s are big blocks

[redbowtie]

I had a mild 400 in a 76 Vette, it'd run within a length of my buddies Pantera up to a buck 30 or so...

[Longhorn Man]

Actually, with the exception of the 301...all pontiac engines were the same sixe externally...so there was no 'big block' pontiac engines. (Or is it there were no small block pontiacs?)

[highboy_04]

i wouldnt know. i was always told it was a big block.

[Longhorn Man]

Most of the later (78 - 80) trans Am cars had the olds 403, which was in fact a big block. That has thrown tons of confusion into the whole 400 mystery.