but could i ever possibly afford to build it up? i have only ever found 1 at the local pick & pull, but it was gone the next day http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/frown.gif i found a guy selling one (he allready sold the 396bbc and TH400 tranny) its a stock 400 no carb. cast intake. no flywheel. no fuel pump. no pulleys,alt,P/S,A/C. said it came out of a '75 caprice. doesnt seem in too bad of shape over all. i was told it ran before it was pulled. i can get it for 200$ and a Snapper 6hp lawn mower (i ended up with 7 lawn mowers(free) after cleaning up this guys yard...i dont think he ever heard of just changing the spark plug) i have been told that these have low compression and are very expensive to build up. i allready have my first engine rebuild on my belt. and now i want something fast. should i get the 400? or build up a 350 pulled from a vette? (maybe do a stroker?) i can get the 350 for about $150 (i havn't seen it yet) i can also get a holley 850 double pumper for cheap. would this be overkill if i go with the stroked 350? any of these projects will be done over time as money becomes available. something to tinker with in my new garage. but, as ussualy when im faced with this kind of dilema, i turn to the all knowing Forum http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

ANY advice would be most helpful. including where to get parts for either of these projects.

final project will go in the '78 camaro (weekend cruiser car...when it ever gets finished)

I just sold my 355cid shortblock & ordered a 409. I picked up a used, cleaned, tested machined block for $300(all prices in Canadian $'s, figure a canuck buck is worth about $0.84 US).
There were a few screwups in the machining & assembly that my builder caught but generally, it was OK to use as is.
Add $600 for Probe forged pistons, $630 for a Scat crank & 6" capscrew rods, $200 for rings, $110 for bearings, $1000 for balancing, final honing, clearancing, fitting rings, assembly, ect.
Add another couple of hundred for misc stuff like gaskets, oilpump, timing chain, ect & you have a basic solid shortblock for about $3000($2,500 US).
I could have done it a lot cheaper but I want it done right & be able to concentrate on seeing my first 11 second timeslip, not be cringing everytime I see 6500 on the tach(like I did with my 355).
If I was doing a budget build, I could have saved $1000+ easily but then there would have been that little voice in my head everytime I revved it to the limit.

Grab the big block for $200. That is a KICK ASS deal even for a rebuildable core. The machine work runs about the same prices. Cam/lifters/Bearings/rings/gaskets, etc., runs a little more than a small block, but the permanent grin on your face will be worth the extra money.

Thats a good price, I have been searching for a 400 for a while, had one long ago, a real torque monster. They have the same compression as a base 350 of the same year, pistons are more expensive, everything else is the same pricewise.

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73454 he had allready sold the BB. and all i really know about them is you guys love em http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif and they are larger/heavier.

so about $2,500? for a performance rebuild? what kind of HP/tourque does that cover? compared to a stroked 350? price/power? any definate dos depending upon which i go with?

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by El 78Camaro:
73454 he had allready sold the BB. and all i really know about them is you guys love em http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif and they are larger/heavier.

so about $2,500? for a performance rebuild? what kind of HP/tourque does that cover? compared to a stroked 350? price/power? any definate dos depending upon which i go with?</font>

You could always do what I did. I found a Gen VI big block (1997 Suburban engine) rebuilt it, and put it in my Camaro. I spent about $2,000 total and it makes about 315 HP and about 480 lb ft of torque. 80% of that torque is available right off idle too. Big blocks can be done on the cheap if you watch for good deals. This car is an easy mid 13 car with a 100% stock engine.

You cannot compare the torque of the 400 to the 350. It is like night and day. With the 400, think big block power in a small block wrapper.

Try this on:

3760 lb race-weight, .060"-over 400 (413ci), cheap Crane 'Blazer' hyd cam and lifter kit, Vortec heads, TH400 with 2800 street converter, 4.10 gears (actually would be quicker with less gear, like 3.73 or 3.42), RPM intake and 3310 Holley, 12.15/110.5 mph on drag radials, off-idle launch. With some RPM at launch, that would have been an 11.90 or .80.

Go with the 400.

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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

I'll be able to give you a direct 350-400 cube comparison in about 3 weeks. My new bottom end will be in & running by then & that will be the only change to my engine. Same heads, cam, intake, compression ratio, ect.
The 355 ran a best of 12.8@106, I/m hoping to see very low 12's or high 11's with the new powerplant.

It's a great deal. I am currently building two 400's. I got one complete engine for free from a good friend of mine and we paid $250.00 for the other (block only).

I am going to grab every good 400 I can get my hands on.

Good Luck,

Jim

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1975 Camaro
1972 Camaro (Son's car)
1973 Trans Am 455, 4-spd
1971 Firebird

http://www.northernautoparts.com

Some of the cheapest prices around, except for a few parts http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Get the 400, once you build it you will see why.
I've owned and built quite a few of them, I've sold a bare block for $450.
I've never thought of a 400 costing more to build, I bought my last brand new set of 400 pistons off Ebay for $150.

It's true, the torque of a big block at about 200 lbs less.

All this talk about the 400 makes me want one! lol

already planning the NEXT motor, prolly go in an olds 442 or mid 80's monte. I'm thinkin BB, but a 400 might do the trick.

get the 400