Anybody running a 400 big block???

[t67power]

I am getting a rebuilt 400 engine that was built to stock specs.
It's 30 over.
I am thinking of putting keith black pistons in it to get some compression, and a performance cam with the correct valve springs.
I will most likely bowl blend the heads.
If you run a 400 engine in a street or drag car, please give your combination and your opinion on how your engine performs.
If you have your et and mph for your ride please post it.
Thank you for any information received.

 

[wingcarenvy]

The only experience I had was a 400 in my 68 Roadrunner 4 speed. It was totally stock with a 400 in it that was an NOS crate motor (low compression, stock low performance cam) and had all the stock stuff on it, i.e. cast iron intake etc. I did put a 750 double pumper on it though. It had stock exhaust that was a 100 years old and 3.23 sure grip. On radials it ran 13.70s at 105mph IIRC. It was rediculously fast for a stocker. I would put a 400 in anything that was low deck long before a 383. These 400s love RPM!

 

[69clone]

Tagging along i'm considering the 400/or stroked to 451 for my car. I've been reading about these things making some big HP.

 

[Cranky]

Planning on building one with a +.010 piston height with Eddy alloy heads. Quench distance will be .030 but I'd like to get .025, stock stroke. Not sure what cam but I have several to choose from....

 

[YY1]

The one I had in my 70 Bee was out of a 77 van.

It ran nearly as good with the 2BBL as the 383 I spent $,$$$ building.

 

[rumblefish360]

That is the one thing the 400 is missing, compresion!

 

[63RedFury]

There are two things missing rumblefish compression and 40 cubic inches...LOL

I got a 400 HP that needs a rebuild but i have never ran one,but I love the 383 does not take much to really wake one up....

 

[rumblefish360]

It's not missing 40 inchs, it's that it missed the hay day of performance. Give it what it missed and it'll perform. If you think a 383/400 lacks torque, then your missing 40 inchs. He he he he.

 

[63RedFury]

Lol

 

[Cranky]

A short stroke engine does have less torque but you can make up for that with rpm. Piston speeds are not higher with higher rpm in a short stroke engine vs lower rpm in a long stroke engine. I did the math awhile back and iirc, a 383/400 stroke engine will have about the same piston speeds at 7000 rpm as a 440 will at 6000. Also, the 400 has a bit larger bore vs the 440 and has a bit less shrouding of the valves. I'm talking more than a mile engine build here. If you want to see little engines kicking ***, take a look at the Comp Eliminator class. The ones in this class are the extreme and not the norm but it still falls into the same realm that if you want to make a small engine think it's big, spool it up.