400 small block???

[1970/327/c10]

If i can get my hands on a 400 small block or 350 to make 383 stroker, what would be the best things to do would it be worth my time and effort to build the 400 and use it or make a 383 stroke if i get a 350 it will be mounted to a turbo 350 trans. and it would be going in a k20 pickup and i would use it to tow time to time maybe couple tractor pulls. What would be the best way to go.

[b454rat]

Go 400. Just be sure that the block is OK, then do a 383...

[1970/327/c10]

You mean do the 383 later on whats the pros on the 400?

[turp mcspray]

Cubic inches!!!

[Tx Firefighter]

If you have a solid 400 SB core to build, you'll never be sorry. They are strong performers.
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[1970/327/c10]

Ok 400 it is any pointer i should know about it, i know they were know about over heating, and they were externally balanced but thats all i know...

[Tx Firefighter]

They had steam holes in the heads between the bores. On the one I had, we wound up using a 400 headgasket as a template and drilling a set of 350 heads.
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[1970/327/c10]

Whats with putting 350 heads on them heard alot of guys do that?

[Tx Firefighter]

Couldn't find any 400 heads.
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[1970/327/c10]

what would be you suggestion for building a mild motor i dont really want to do any thing but put a bigger cam, edelbroc intake, and edelbroc carb on it. What there be any good cheap heads that would be good.

[BarryB]

The weakness on 400 blocks the cylinder walls between 3 and 5 and 4 and 6. are real close and are bad to crack there if bored to much. If your going to build a 400, its in your best interest if you can find a virgin block. I am real skeptical of a 400 thats been bored without thorough testing for cracks and etc.
I personally built myself a 385 stroker motor(mine is bored .040 instead .030 hence 385). reason 400's are hard to find here. 350 blocks here seem to still be a dime a dozen. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[truckster]

I would love to have a good 400 block. The abundance of 383s is because there just aren't a lot of 400 blocks around.

The Vortec heads will work fine on a 400. But as Tx Firefighter said, you'll need to drill the steam holes, or the machine shop can do it for you.

[1970/327/c10]

Ok thanks for all the info.

[b454rat]

Don't need much to get a 400 to run. I had one that had probly close to 200k on it. Didn't do anything to the short block, but new oil pump, timing chain, IIRC 292 cam, alum intake, holley 600, and 993 heads off a 350 with the steam holes. Still had manifolds into beat and small dual exhaust. Car would haul ass. Smoke the tires off at a standstill, but still get decent mileage on the highway. I put over 60k on it in 6-7 months driving back n forth from Canada to NY when I was stationed up there. Only problem I had was every now n then a rocker arm would break. Cam was binding the springs....