Stock rebuilt 400 4bbl (77) good engine?

[Rolling Thunder]

Okay guys, have pulled the 68 smallblock combo thats been pushing around the 71 GTX for past 20 something years. Here's my dilema, have the 440 it came with but needs gone through and is looking like it needs more attention than originally thought to go back in. Will not be ready as quickly as thought. Sooo since time and $$$ to finish 440 are going to come slowly thought about throwing in a rebuilt 400 I have laying around in car.

It's a fairly recent stock rebuild w/4bbl. I know it has to have more power than the worn out 318 that was sitting in there but how much? Ratings on these engines weren't anywhere near the 71 440 standards but do they still make for a decent ride? I dont really want to...or should I say I dont have time and cash to finish 440 quickly and I want to get car on road. What can I expect with this later low hp but fresh 400 in my car? Would be 400/727 and 3.23 rear. Fun? or just more wgt up front with no performance?

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Dont worry going to jam engine bay before any other engine goes in.

 

[Black63]

400's pulled my old mans heavy Chryslers around no problem back in the day!
I have one now to put in my 63 330 so I'm looking forward to hearing your report on how yours works.

I KNOW one thing...if all I had was a 2bbl 318, THAT car would be going down the road with it!!!
Looks awesome. i'm jealous as hell.

I wonder is the lower rating on the 400 a result of the manufacturers changing over to NET HP ratings from the previous GROSS ratings?

 

[YY1]

Lots of confusion on net vs gross HP. Biggest issue with any 400 is poor compression. I think a 70 383 is 9.5:1 and an early 400 is 8.5:1. Not sure of 71. With that said, I had an almost stock 75-ish van 400 in my 70 Bee for a while. Even with the 2 Barrel it ran pretty good. Had 3.55 gears, though. Probably gonna be way torqier than a 318, and make more power sooner.

IMO the 400 is extremely under-rated. If you can get pistons to get the comp up around 10:1, it should be better than a similarly built 383. Not just on CID, but geometry/balance as well.