400 help

[Hazieview]

I have just recently finished building my own sb400. It was my first time to ever build an engine.

In order to give you more feedback I'd have to know more along the lines of what your budget is.

If I had I choice to build mine over again I would get a totally balanced and forged bottom end! These engines make a lot of torque in a very narrow rpm range.

Also dont expect to get too much HP out of an sb400. They are torque monsters!

DO NOT GET A HUGE CAMSHAFT!!!
From the research I have done the gains of a sb400 after 5500 rpm is very minimal. So you want to get as much power out of one as you can from 0-5500. That is where you need to spend your money.

With a stock bottom end, cast heads, air gap intake, 650cfm carb, I was told I should be making around 580lbs of torque. Not sure how accurate this is but I'll be putting it on the dyno as soon as I get the rest of my truck bolted up.

I would not rebuild a sb400 unless it was a two bolt main. (The 4 bolt main sb400s are not usually strong enough to handle near as much power. Just my opinion.)

DRILLING STEAM HOLES IS A MUST AS STATED ABOVE!!!

I would not bore a sb400 more than 60 over. If you ever bang out a sb400 that is bored 60 over you might as well start looking for a block and throw yours in the scrap metal bin. I went 30 over just in hopes that if I do make a mistake somewhere I still have a chance to go 60 over with it.

Now I'm not a professional racer, engine builder, or anything like that. I'm a guy that likes cold beer and nice chevys. However I've taken a lot of good advice from very knowledgible people. A lot of them you will find on this board.

Every man has different theories as to how one should build an engine. Which theory you choose to believe is your own.

Good luck man! Take care!

(just my 2 cents dont take this crap for gospel)