SBC 400's cubic incher...any good?

[Leonard60]

I bought a 1981 Chevy that had been a factory diesel and then converted to gas by the original owner he put a 406 in it and a turb 350 or a 700 r in it. I just don't remember the tranny it had. It had a ton of power and went like hell. Never had a problem of any sorts with it. It was a great truck. Only draw back was it really really like fuel. Man it could burn up a tank fast.

[53chevyforever]

Originally Posted by garyd1961

OK, I get what you meant now. I was referring to after market cranks built specifically for the 383 instead of a factory 400 crank.
Just for what it's worth my cousin recently took out a fresh built 400 because of heating problems. But I just learned the 350 he put in is having the same problem so I don't think it was the motor.
I keep telling him he need to put a by-pass hose from his intake to his water pump but he wont listen. The heater is usually the by-pass but if you do away with the heater you still need to run a by-pass hose so the water can flow through the heads. That will cure a lot of heating problems on these motors.

The bypass hose from the intake to the water pump is a must or it will run hot...especially with vortec heads....if you will notice on the pic I posted earlier you will see the bypass spacer...thermostat goes above. I remember in 1966 the 350 hp 327 chevy II novas came with the bypass hose to water pump.

[BLAZERMAN]

I Love the 400 engine, back in the 80s there were all kinds of horror stories about them. I almost passed on a 79 K-20 because thats what it had....since then Ive used them in trucks whenever I can find one.