Small block 400's???

[68Gold/white]

The 383 stroker engines started showing up, years ago, I'm guessing around 1990. Folks were grinding down the larger 400 stock cranks and putting them on 350 blocks. Called them stroker 350's (383). Many were afraid of the 400 block. You had to drill the steam holes in heads, if the heads were not originally on a 400. It's NOT that difficult!!!

My engine builder back then, built a lot of 400's. I know of 5 of them. They ran incredibly well!!! The cylinder bores of the 400's are siamesed. The cylinder have no coolant between them. I've heard of engine builders shying away from them because of this. Some say the cylinders don't stay round after heads are bolted up and engine is at operating temp....I'm not knowledgeable of these things. I do know my engine builder used a torque plate when honing his. None of his were problematic, at all.

The small block 400 is the only small block I'd ever want to build, for any reason!!! I know the LS engines are awesome in many ways, but I'll take a 400 every time!!!

I started this thread asking about 400's in 70-72 pickups. A fellow car enthusiast insists SB 400's were in these pickups (I knew they were NOT) I dropped the conversation, not wanting to wound a friendship...I asked here to make absolutely for sure...