My new stock stroke 400 build

[Don Frelier]

I always take the hood off as step 1.
I drive it several times before it goes back on.

 

[qkcuda]

That was the original plan for today. I was just going to check to see if the hoist cleared the hood.

 

[qkcuda]

Well Don I did end up having to take the hood off. I also had to lower the torsion bars right down which dropped the front end 5 inches. The engine and transmission are out now. I had to clean the garage floor after making a huge mess.

 

[qkcuda]

I took the transmission off and set the engine in its cradle with two home made wheel dollies under it so I can roll it around and after I remove the rest of the accessories. roll it under the bench. You can see the red dirt on top of the transmission tailshaft.

 

[Don Frelier]

Maybe put some oil in the cylinders?

 

[qkcuda]

I probably will before I put the plugs back in. I had to turn it over to remove the converter bolts and it turns pretty easy.

 

[qkcuda]

I ordered a new trans pan.... with a drain plug. I am tired of making messes

 

[qkcuda]

I removed the A/C receiver dryer and spent some time with a rag and lacquer thinner. The original engine compartment paint was in amazingly good condition. I may have to flash in a couple of spots, but not as much as I thought. There was a lot of overspray from the previous owner's engine touch ups.

 

[qkcuda]

Oh yeah, and I need to clean up some of the wiring spaghetti.

 

[qkcuda]

Finished the touch ups today, mostly below the master cylinder due to previous leakage.

 

[T2R9]

Looks great!

 

[qkcuda]

Thanks!

 

[qkcuda]

Not too much accomplished this weekend. I did do a spring cleaning and installed new cut to fit floor mats on our two drivers. I painted the motor mounts and transmission mounts. I got them installed along with the new dipstick tube. I also had to change three exhaust studs. Pretty close now to mating it up with the transmission and dropping it in.

 

[eldubb440]

Not too much accomplished this weekend. I did do a spring cleaning and installed new cut to fit floor mats on our two drivers. I painted the motor mounts and transmission mounts. I got them installed along with the new dipstick tube. I also had to change three exhaust studs.

it all adds up.....

 

[qkcuda]

I haven't had any garage time in the last week, and I was getting bored. Someone quoted an old thread on FABO where Jim LaRoy dyno tested a motor home 440. It had .040 over stock pistons with stock 906 heads producing 7.5:1 compression. He used the same Summit 6400 cam that I used on this build. This was his best pull before he changed to a larger cam. This pull used dyno headers, a MP single plane intake and a 750 Edelbrock carb. I have written in my dyno numbers beside his. I was originally a little disappointed with my dyno numbers but they stack up pretty well against this 440. He later added a set of ported 516 heads which flowed 250 at .500 lift and raised compression to 8.0:1. I figure my ported heads are comparable, and my compression is only 8.5:1. Too bad he never tested it with those heads before he added a 509 cam, that would have been an interesting comparison. The bottom line is, if this engine performs as well as a stock 440, I will be happy. Now I better finish getting it installed.

 

[Dave6T4]

Hi Dave. Those numbers look like what I would expect to see from a higher compression '68-'69 383 HP. Nice flat torque curve from 3100 to 4300 rpm. Good flat horsepower curve from 4000 to 5000 rpm. So, the motor won't feel "peaky". The added cubes likely make up for lower compression. It will be happier with today's fuels. Good job!

 

[BSB67]

I haven't had any garage time in the last week, and I was getting bored. Someone quoted an old thread on FABO where Jim LaRoy dyno tested a motor home 440. It had .040 over stock pistons with stock 906 heads producing 7.5:1 compression. He used the same Summit 6400 cam that I used on this build. This was his best pull before he changed to a larger cam. This pull used dyno headers, a MP single plane intake and a 750 Edelbrock carb. I have written in my dyno numbers beside his. I was originally a little disappointed with my dyno numbers but they stack up pretty well against this 440. He later added a set of ported 516 heads which flowed 250 at .500 lift and raised compression to 8.0:1. I figure my ported heads are comparable, and my compression is only 8.5:1. Too bad he never tested it with those heads before he added a 509 cam, that would have been an interesting comparison. The bottom line is, if this engine performs as well as a stock 440, I will be happy. Now I better finish getting it installed.

View attachment 1845839

400 posts. Maybe refresh our memories on what you have

 

[qkcuda]

I realize that since this has basically become my car build thread, the engine details are kind of buried. It is a 1973 400 block with a stock cast crank, KB 240 pistons .015 below deck, home ported 346 heads and port matched Weiand dual plane, Summit 6400 cam, 214/224 duration at .050 and 444/446 lift. I tried various carbs but it made the best numbers with a Holley 650 DP, and we tested it with some generic 1 3/4 headers. The actual compression ratio worked out to 8.5:1, so it should run on regular gas. The goals were to maximize low and mid range torque for a heavy car running 2.94 gears.

 

[BSB67]

I think you done real well.

Too bad they didn’t pull to 5600-5800 rpm

 

[BSB67]

What other carbs? and can you share the results of each?