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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 663
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Stroker vs. 400
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? ![]()
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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. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: missouri city, tx
Posts: 4,486
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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.
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70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9" |
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#3 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: missouri city, tx
Posts: 4,486
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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
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70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9" |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 663
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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...
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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. |
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#6 |
Too Many Clubs Club
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kilgore, Texas
Posts: 443
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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.
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#7 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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. |
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#8 |
Merciless Butcher
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: CC Nevada
Posts: 1,447
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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.
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Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul! |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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yet still cheaper than a 383...with more cubes.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: missouri city, tx
Posts: 4,486
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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.
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70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9" |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 1,480
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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
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Brian Pal 1971 Cheyenne 10 454/th400-Undergoing a full frame off resto. 1972 Chevy short/step 2wd, 350/th350 1983 M1009 CUCV Military K5 Blazer 1981 Dodge 1 ton 4x4 dually flatbed |
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#12 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: West TN (Memphis area) now. East TN (my favorite place to live).
Posts: 157
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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.
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BigFredTN 70 chevy stepside 350 with some goodies inside, turbo 400. 69 Chevy long wheel base. Dad bought new in 1970 62 Chevy Impala 98 GMC Yukon 1970 Ford Mustang Fastback I know its a Ford. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: missouri city, tx
Posts: 4,486
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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
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70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9" |
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#14 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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. |
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#15 |
I am a Referee of life.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Greensboro N.C.
Posts: 13,993
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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.
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The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" |
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#16 |
faster, faster, faster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA
Posts: 1,354
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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.
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I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice. |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: missouri city, tx
Posts: 4,486
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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.
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70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9" |
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#18 |
Wiseass secured himself a BAN
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: MOON!!!
Posts: 2,282
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Go with the 400. Cheaper buildup than a 383 stroker.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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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.
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Anthony |
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#20 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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. |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: kansas
Posts: 1,071
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chevy 400s are small blocks and pontiac 400s are big blocks
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'67 c10 350/th350 |
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#22 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 0
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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...
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#23 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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?)
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: kansas
Posts: 1,071
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i wouldnt know. i was always told it was a big block.
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'67 c10 350/th350 |
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#25 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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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.
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