Stroker vs. 400 - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMC Jim · 11-17-2003, 01:52 AM

I had a Pontiac Staion Wagon with a 400.... was defintely a SMALL block......In fact I am not aware that a 400 big block was ever made.................there are 396's; 402's; 454's etc....ALL big blocks

highboy_04 · 11-17-2003, 01:54 AM

they look like big blocks to me

stllookn · 11-17-2003, 01:59 AM

Andy, The little brother to the 409 was the 348...very cool too...gotta love those valve covers! You can build the small block 400 to 482 ci using the right World Products block. The old GM "Rocket" block with raised deck and raised cam. Now that is a serious small block but not cheap. Check out Chevy High Performance April 2003 and Jan 2004 for sb 400 buildups.

348 Big Block

stllookn · 11-17-2003, 02:01 AM

409 Big block.

bad 71 chevy · 11-17-2003, 02:37 AM

The pontiac is there were not small block pontiacs thats what my dad said at least

2wdBlazer · 11-17-2003, 10:58 AM

I used to have a 78 Trans-Am with a Pontiac (Not Olds) 400. It was actually called a Y Block. I have never owned a Chevy Big-Block but this engine is much larger than a small-block chevy. You decide.

Oh, That car ran a 14.5 with a 2.5 60ft (I couldn't drive good back then). Bone stock with 3:08 gears. Not too shabby.

jakobs71chevy · 11-17-2003, 11:02 AM

i had a stock 400sb in my 68 camaro and it was a torque machine.
with 2spd powerslide and 3.73 posi rear ran a 14.00 with street tires and full exhaust. like longhorn man said make sure if you put diff. heads on that you drill out the steam holes b/c they do have a heat issue. i put a 3 core rad. and electric fans on it to help.
like i was always told u get big block torque (very close to a 396 if i remember correctly) with a 100+ lbs weight savings.

'70 C/10 SS500 · 11-17-2003, 06:17 PM

Longhorn Man, was waiting for you to give just one more, or other alternative,....the Caddy big blocks!

If you are going to get the motor out of a junk yard, you might just for kicks, check on any Cadillac Deville or El Dorado (not sure about Seville) from '68 to '79 and you will be rewarded with at least 425 cubic inches of small-block-weighing big block power! 472 cid is prob. the most common, and the cherry on top is the mighty 500 cid Caddy found in El Dorados of '70-'76, and ALL Caddys, yes ALL for '76! Motors are plentiful, cheap, and a breaze to work on. The only drawback is the somewhat limited, but constantly growing, aftermarket support. Just something else to think about.

'70 C/10 SS500 · 11-17-2003, 06:26 PM

My '76 C. Deville 500cid Caddy motor, newly installed.

charlieo · 11-17-2003, 09:56 PM

My 400 sb runs great ! The reason I built my 400 other than the 3.75" stroke is with the larger bore 4.125" it un-shrouds the heads . Meaning the heads "breath" even better than a 383 . I've got the vortecs on them as well .

bluec10 · 11-17-2003, 10:37 PM

'70 C/10 SS500 that is one good lookin engine.

I'm still wondering about the steam holes that someone mentioned.

68c10owner · 11-17-2003, 11:00 PM

all this talk about 400 small blocks has got me wanting one again. anyone in northern california got a good 2 bolt 400 block? already have a good crank and rods, just need a new block.

Hooter · 11-18-2003, 12:43 AM

i got a 400 in my 77 Silverado, pretty much stock except for accel igntion, headers and 44inch bottles, it hauls ass, and I know of only 3 other 400 small blocks in my area, I love em, just wonder why chevy never stuck to making them?

matt_field · 11-18-2003, 12:44 AM

im running a 383 stroker in my 4x4 67, i love the motor for everything, its got tons of torque. 400s are real cool to. that was my choice to build till i found this complete stroker for a less. good luck

matt

Longhorn Man · 11-18-2003, 12:50 AM

I was gonna mention the caddy engine..but I think everyone has heard enough about that from me the past year and a half.
Besides...it is depressing when they ask how it is going on that and I say nothing has chainged.

'70 C/10 SS500 · 11-18-2003, 12:57 AM

Thank you Blue C10! I've been working on it since June. Hopefully she'll be back on the road soon. Then I, as well as you all will see what Caddy motors are made of!

doughby82 · 11-18-2003, 06:16 AM

i know this thread was started for sb but here is casting #'s for the big blocks http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbhead.htm
http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbcodes.htm
http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbcast.htm
heres is one for sb,head blocks trannys cranks etc

http://www.thedirtforum.com/castings.htm

jakobs71chevy · 11-18-2003, 10:44 AM

the 400 has siamesed cylinder bores, if you look at a bare 400 block the cyl. walls are so close there is no room for the water jackets. there is no water flowing between the center three cylinder walls, holes are drilled into the block deck to relieve steam that forms when the heated water has nowhere to go. 400 cylinder heads have these steam holes already drilled, but all sb aftermarket heads require users to drill these holes.
added a pic.

11-17-2003, 01:52 AM	#26
GMC Jim Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 901	I had a Pontiac Staion Wagon with a 400.... was defintely a SMALL block......In fact I am not aware that a 400 big block was ever made.................there are 396's; 402's; 454's etc....ALL big blocks __________________ '71 GMC;fleetside;PB/PS/AC/CC/402 Eng./Custom Paint/110,000act miles/3 fuel tanks(52gal).

11-17-2003, 01:54 AM	#27
highboy_04 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: kansas Posts: 1,071	they look like big blocks to me __________________ '67 c10 350/th350

11-17-2003, 01:59 AM	#28
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Andy, The little brother to the 409 was the 348...very cool too...gotta love those valve covers! You can build the small block 400 to 482 ci using the right World Products block. The old GM "Rocket" block with raised deck and raised cam. Now that is a serious small block but not cheap. Check out Chevy High Performance April 2003 and Jan 2004 for sb 400 buildups. 348 Big Block Attached Images __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

11-17-2003, 02:01 AM	#29
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	409 Big block. Attached Images __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

11-17-2003, 02:37 AM	#30
bad 71 chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Omaha NE 68122 Posts: 637	The pontiac is there were not small block pontiacs thats what my dad said at least __________________ 71 Chevy C/10 lwb 350 5 speed nv3500 3.73 rear end 2.5" Front Drop and 4" in the back Edelbrock perfomer rpm manifold Edelbrock 600 cfm carb Headmen headers

11-17-2003, 10:58 AM	#31
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	I used to have a 78 Trans-Am with a Pontiac (Not Olds) 400. It was actually called a Y Block. I have never owned a Chevy Big-Block but this engine is much larger than a small-block chevy. You decide. Oh, That car ran a 14.5 with a 2.5 60ft (I couldn't drive good back then). Bone stock with 3:08 gears. Not too shabby. __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

11-17-2003, 11:02 AM	#32
jakobs71chevy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: stone creek, ohio Posts: 130	i had a stock 400sb in my 68 camaro and it was a torque machine. with 2spd powerslide and 3.73 posi rear ran a 14.00 with street tires and full exhaust. like longhorn man said make sure if you put diff. heads on that you drill out the steam holes b/c they do have a heat issue. i put a 3 core rad. and electric fans on it to help. like i was always told u get big block torque (very close to a 396 if i remember correctly) with a 100+ lbs weight savings. __________________ 71 chevy c-10 - 350 3spd(temp) orange

11-17-2003, 06:17 PM	#33
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	Have to say it! Longhorn Man, was waiting for you to give just one more, or other alternative,....the Caddy big blocks! If you are going to get the motor out of a junk yard, you might just for kicks, check on any Cadillac Deville or El Dorado (not sure about Seville) from '68 to '79 and you will be rewarded with at least 425 cubic inches of small-block-weighing big block power! 472 cid is prob. the most common, and the cherry on top is the mighty 500 cid Caddy found in El Dorados of '70-'76, and ALL Caddys, yes ALL for '76! Motors are plentiful, cheap, and a breaze to work on. The only drawback is the somewhat limited, but constantly growing, aftermarket support. Just something else to think about. Last edited by '70 C/10 SS500; 11-18-2003 at 12:54 AM.

11-17-2003, 06:26 PM	#34
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	Here's mine so far My '76 C. Deville 500cid Caddy motor, newly installed. Attached Images

11-17-2003, 09:56 PM	#35
charlieo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: sw Posts: 341	406sb My 400 sb runs great ! The reason I built my 400 other than the 3.75" stroke is with the larger bore 4.125" it un-shrouds the heads . Meaning the heads "breath" even better than a 383 . I've got the vortecs on them as well .

11-17-2003, 10:37 PM	#36
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	'70 C/10 SS500 that is one good lookin engine. I'm still wondering about the steam holes that someone mentioned. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

11-17-2003, 11:00 PM	#37
68c10owner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Carmichael, California Posts: 3,006	all this talk about 400 small blocks has got me wanting one again. anyone in northern california got a good 2 bolt 400 block? already have a good crank and rods, just need a new block. __________________ Anthony

11-18-2003, 12:43 AM	#38
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	i got a 400 in my 77 Silverado, pretty much stock except for accel igntion, headers and 44inch bottles, it hauls ass, and I know of only 3 other 400 small blocks in my area, I love em, just wonder why chevy never stuck to making them? __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

11-18-2003, 12:44 AM	#39
matt_field Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Posts: 885	im running a 383 stroker in my 4x4 67, i love the motor for everything, its got tons of torque. 400s are real cool to. that was my choice to build till i found this complete stroker for a less. good luck matt __________________ 1971 k5 blazer 80k mike survivor 1972 3/4 ton 4wd Cummins 12v 1967 swb 2wd 427bbc 1968 4wd shortbox 1971 Cheyenne swb k10 unrestored 1971 Cheyenne super 40k 402bb survivor 1967 Chevy k10 (first truck) 1968 L78 camaro survivor 18k miles 1969 z28 survivor 60k miles 1969 z28 survivor 39k miles 1969 z28 rs survivor 80k miles

11-18-2003, 12:50 AM	#40
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I was gonna mention the caddy engine..but I think everyone has heard enough about that from me the past year and a half. Besides...it is depressing when they ask how it is going on that and I say nothing has chainged.



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11-18-2003, 12:57 AM	#41
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	thanks! Thank you Blue C10! I've been working on it since June. Hopefully she'll be back on the road soon. Then I, as well as you all will see what Caddy motors are made of!

11-18-2003, 06:16 AM	#42
doughby82 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: springfield ill Posts: 836	i know this thread was started for sb but here is casting #'s for the big blocks http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbhead.htm http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbcodes.htm http://www.teufert.net/bbchevy/bbcast.htm heres is one for sb,head blocks trannys cranks etc http://www.thedirtforum.com/castings.htm __________________ springfield illinois 2003 custom (harley)built from scratch 68 swb Last edited by doughby82; 11-18-2003 at 06:24 AM.

11-18-2003, 10:44 AM	#43
jakobs71chevy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: stone creek, ohio Posts: 130	the 400 has siamesed cylinder bores, if you look at a bare 400 block the cyl. walls are so close there is no room for the water jackets. there is no water flowing between the center three cylinder walls, holes are drilled into the block deck to relieve steam that forms when the heated water has nowhere to go. 400 cylinder heads have these steam holes already drilled, but all sb aftermarket heads require users to drill these holes. added a pic. Attached Images __________________ 71 chevy c-10 - 350 3spd(temp) orange

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