Gettin a 400 sbc - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Crank · 08-27-2002, 03:20 PM

I have a 283 sittin' in a 84 camaro. But last night I talked to my brother, I've currently been pestering to get his 400; well he told me he'd give me the 400 short block minus the crank for the 283. Hehe. The heart buildup begins. Muahaha(evil laugh) although I'll be building the motor on a part time job account I have big dreams. But Later i gotta call my brother and get the casting #'s if someone could run em for me it'd be cool. Well if anyone has any advice or tips post em. Thanks. Brandon

dmec · 08-27-2002, 07:10 PM

it you dont get the crank with the shortblock forget it. they are 1 of a kind and hard to find.

chevy lover · 08-27-2002, 07:55 PM

Cracks you can get. Just decide what you want to do with that 400. I have one also without crank and that suites me just fine. When I'm ready I'm stroking it, meaning I got to get my hands on a 350 crank. Check your local speed shop, they can get the crank you want.

Jwill41 · 08-27-2002, 08:00 PM

i thought when you "stroked it", it was a 400 crank in a 350 block.

brad69C-10 · 08-27-2002, 08:15 PM

Stroking it would be a 350 block and a 400 crank, or for that matter, any crank with a larger stroke than a 350 had to start with.....Destroking would be like using a 350 crank in a 400 block...........

*racedvl* · 08-27-2002, 08:31 PM

You could actually stroke it!!! Hehehe......

http://www.speedomotive.com/500_hp_maxi_mouse.htm

Longhorn Man · 08-27-2002, 08:56 PM

You could destroke it, but that would make the inherit RMP character worse for the street. Destroking it would turn it into a high RPM screamer...but boooooring in the lower RPMs.
Even on a budget buildup, you can have fun...esp when you have all those cubes to play with.
Build a good stout botom end. If you don't plan on spinning the snot out of it (snot is 5500 RPM and higher) then you can get away with stock stuff.
Shave what ever heads you have on it (882's most likely) ensure they are unleaded gas friendly, and make sure the steam holes are there.
Put in a good RV cam or even a step over the RV specs, somethign with low to mid range power. Then, your typical bolt ons like the must have HEI, a good flowing daul plane intake, carb name of your liking and a good set of headers.
If you pay attention to detail, and shop carefully (used helps ALOT) you can do this for about $1000 if you have the time to streach out the build up. (deals come and go, you gotta jump on them when they show up)
Something like this can/should last 85,000 miles if driven real hard, (below the snot RPMs) and 100k or more if taken care of.
Most importanly, it will be fun since the power band will be the same that it stays in 99% of the time.

chevy lover · 08-27-2002, 09:22 PM

oops my mistake.

sorry for the ignorance but what is a longhorn?

OFF Topic too

Crank · 08-27-2002, 09:37 PM

A longhorn is an 8' bed on it, with another 9" added to the front of the bed. I thought it was another 12" but i think it was longhornmail who enlightened me. Thanks everyone for the input. If you have any more ideas let me know. Also my brother did suggest the destroking it idea but i really dont wanna go down in cubes. So i think Ima have it bored 0.030 over and go with a cast or, if i can get the cash a forged crank and good pistons and rods; and begin after that.
Thanks. Brandon

Longhorn Man · 08-27-2002, 09:46 PM

Actually, it is only streached 6 inches...at the front of the bed.
Check out the link in my signiture, I have all the nity gritty in that site...be warned though, lots of stupid pop ups.

Crank · 08-27-2002, 09:51 PM

Oops, sorry longhorn. I guess i didnt remember right or was told wrong but not to discredit you at all. sorry. But anyway i have an engine masters magazine. It has a 383 stroker but it has a 1.6 ratio rocker on the exhaust side and a 1.5 ratio on the intake side. It says it give it more exhaust duration and makes the motor breath better and run better. Does this also work on the 400. I'd think it would. Thanks

chevy lover · 08-29-2002, 10:00 AM

Longhornmail
The death of your truck!!!

Sad man, that was a nice looking truck. Your story hit home too. My first truck was a 71 GMC 3/4 ton pickup. My wife was driving and on her way to see me at work. It was raining, at dusk and it was a small chevy stationwagon. The law here is if it is raining enough to have your wipers on your lights must be on also. Well my wife got the ticket for running a stop sign. The damage to the truck was almost identical. I found a frame and fixed the truck but it was never the same. It was a sad day.

08-27-2002, 03:20 PM	#1
Crank Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 1,964	Gettin a 400 sbc I have a 283 sittin' in a 84 camaro. But last night I talked to my brother, I've currently been pestering to get his 400; well he told me he'd give me the 400 short block minus the crank for the 283. Hehe. The heart buildup begins. Muahaha(evil laugh) although I'll be building the motor on a part time job account I have big dreams. But Later i gotta call my brother and get the casting #'s if someone could run em for me it'd be cool. Well if anyone has any advice or tips post em. Thanks. Brandon

08-27-2002, 08:00 PM	#4
Jwill41 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Farmers Branch, Tx Posts: 1,009	i thought when you "stroked it", it was a 400 crank in a 350 block. __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/jwill41 67 1/2 ton GMC short step side 68 1/2 ton Chevy long fleet side 72 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban 99 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban founder (and only member) of the primer/clearcoat club

08-27-2002, 08:15 PM	#5
brad69C-10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ky. Posts: 35	Stroking it would be a 350 block and a 400 crank, or for that matter, any crank with a larger stroke than a 350 had to start with.....Destroking would be like using a 350 crank in a 400 block........... __________________ 69 C-10 Pro Street...........red on black...........big block and a lot of go fast stuff under the hood Still in progress ...........

08-27-2002, 09:22 PM	#8
chevy lover HMMMM Chevy Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Quakertown, Pa Posts: 203	oops my mistake. sorry for the ignorance but what is a longhorn? OFF Topic too Last edited by chevy lover; 08-27-2002 at 09:27 PM.

08-27-2002, 07:10 PM	#2
dmec Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: yucaipa ca Posts: 580	it you dont get the crank with the shortblock forget it. they are 1 of a kind and hard to find.

08-27-2002, 07:55 PM	#3
chevy lover HMMMM Chevy Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Quakertown, Pa Posts: 203	Cracks you can get. Just decide what you want to do with that 400. I have one also without crank and that suites me just fine. When I'm ready I'm stroking it, meaning I got to get my hands on a 350 crank. Check your local speed shop, they can get the crank you want.

08-27-2002, 08:31 PM	#6
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	You could actually stroke it!!! Hehehe...... http://www.speedomotive.com/500_hp_maxi_mouse.htm

08-27-2002, 08:56 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	You could destroke it, but that would make the inherit RMP character worse for the street. Destroking it would turn it into a high RPM screamer...but boooooring in the lower RPMs. Even on a budget buildup, you can have fun...esp when you have all those cubes to play with. Build a good stout botom end. If you don't plan on spinning the snot out of it (snot is 5500 RPM and higher) then you can get away with stock stuff. Shave what ever heads you have on it (882's most likely) ensure they are unleaded gas friendly, and make sure the steam holes are there. Put in a good RV cam or even a step over the RV specs, somethign with low to mid range power. Then, your typical bolt ons like the must have HEI, a good flowing daul plane intake, carb name of your liking and a good set of headers. If you pay attention to detail, and shop carefully (used helps ALOT) you can do this for about $1000 if you have the time to streach out the build up. (deals come and go, you gotta jump on them when they show up) Something like this can/should last 85,000 miles if driven real hard, (below the snot RPMs) and 100k or more if taken care of. Most importanly, it will be fun since the power band will be the same that it stays in 99% of the time.

08-27-2002, 09:37 PM	#9
Crank Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 1,964	A longhorn is an 8' bed on it, with another 9" added to the front of the bed. I thought it was another 12" but i think it was longhornmail who enlightened me. Thanks everyone for the input. If you have any more ideas let me know. Also my brother did suggest the destroking it idea but i really dont wanna go down in cubes. So i think Ima have it bored 0.030 over and go with a cast or, if i can get the cash a forged crank and good pistons and rods; and begin after that. Thanks. Brandon

08-27-2002, 09:46 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Actually, it is only streached 6 inches...at the front of the bed. Check out the link in my signiture, I have all the nity gritty in that site...be warned though, lots of stupid pop ups.

08-27-2002, 09:51 PM	#11
Crank Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 1,964	Oops, sorry longhorn. I guess i didnt remember right or was told wrong but not to discredit you at all. sorry. But anyway i have an engine masters magazine. It has a 383 stroker but it has a 1.6 ratio rocker on the exhaust side and a 1.5 ratio on the intake side. It says it give it more exhaust duration and makes the motor breath better and run better. Does this also work on the 400. I'd think it would. Thanks

08-29-2002, 10:00 AM	#12
chevy lover HMMMM Chevy Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Quakertown, Pa Posts: 203	Longhornmail The death of your truck!!! Sad man, that was a nice looking truck. Your story hit home too. My first truck was a 71 GMC 3/4 ton pickup. My wife was driving and on her way to see me at work. It was raining, at dusk and it was a small chevy stationwagon. The law here is if it is raining enough to have your wipers on your lights must be on also. Well my wife got the ticket for running a stop sign. The damage to the truck was almost identical. I found a frame and fixed the truck but it was never the same. It was a sad day.



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