Info on building a 377, or 406 engine.

[Narly R]

Me and my grandpa are going to start this project. It is going to have a 400 block, but he doenst know if he wants to go with a 377, or 406 yet. Or really sure what. I was wounering if there is some sort of website anyone might know about where you can find info on this, and they can tell you what kinda of heads, cams, and whatever else to use to get maximim horsepower. Thanks:)

[Quad18star]

The 400 block is great to build up a motor with . We built one up , with Camaro heads , tons of other little goodies ..... pushing over 500HP on the dyno . Im not sure of any websites .... most of our info came outat performance books .

[Narly R]

Ok, thanks. (if ya dont mind) What did you guys do to it? And about how much did it cost? Thanks!

[TN94z]

You can go to camaroz28.com or ls1tech.com and they now have SBC sections in their forums. Very good sites...especially ls1tech.com

[Quad18star]

Originally posted by Narly R
Ok, thanks. (if ya dont mind) What did you guys do to it? And about how much did it cost? Thanks!

It had full port and polish from a guy my dad knows that builds race engines . Camel hump High compression pistons . Edelbrock highriser intake . Knarly race cam ( wasnt for street use) .... I can't think of the rest I'd have to bust out our specs sheet . It's been a few months since it's been sold . I had plans of dropping it into a camaro ( 86-92) or in a late model S-10 but we sold it for $1100 without carb and cam . It was a 400 small block .

[nacs400ex]

Originally posted by Quad18star
It had full port and polish from a guy my dad knows that builds race engines . Camel hump High compression pistons . Edelbrock highriser intake . Knarly race cam ( wasnt for street use) .... I can't think of the rest I'd have to bust out our specs sheet . It's been a few months since it's been sold . I had plans of dropping it into a camaro ( 86-92) or in a late model S-10 but we sold it for $1100 without carb and cam . It was a 400 small block .


Damn Greg, that motor would have been sick for my 1989 s10. It already has the v8 swap, although it only has a 305. This winter I am rebuilding it from the frame up. Its not going to have an awesome system in it or anything. But I think the 350 will do the trick, to make it stand out. Got any pics of the car? Hows your leg doing? Pins still in?

[Quad18star]

Originally posted by nacs400ex
Damn Greg, that motor would have been sick for my 1989 s10. It already has the v8 swap, although it only has a 305. This winter I am rebuilding it from the frame up. Its not going to have an awesome system in it or anything. But I think the 350 will do the trick, to make it stand out. Got any pics of the car? Hows your leg doing? Pins still in?

Ya , I was hoping to keep it but i was getting fed up not having a body for the motor . Plus i had got hurt so i needed $$ . Sold it for $1100 and the next day i found a body of an 88 Camaro for $800 ... perect condition .. needed motor and tranny . I kick myself in the *** now . The guy i sold it to , put the motor in a mid 70's Camaro ... can't wait to see what it does on the street next year .

The leg was getting better till i tripped the other day and tore ligaments in my ankle . Now it's fawked again . :(

[hemi operator]

350 block>400 block. The 400 block has no water passages between the cylinders like the other smallblocks. It's usually not too big of a deal as long as you have a first-rate dependable efficient cooling system set-up. Otherwise they're much easier to overheat and blow head gaskets....or if you run aluminum heads, possibly crack a head. If I was to build an engine, I'd make a 383 out of a 350.

[tinner]

Try www.Chevytalk.org that should be the link. If it's not, send me an email and I will get the site to you. Lots of useful info there.
jimandcherix2@aol.com

[JTRtrx250r]

Originally posted by hemi operator
350 block>400 block. The 400 block has no water passages between the cylinders like the other smallblocks. It's usually not too big of a deal as long as you have a first-rate dependable efficient cooling system set-up. Otherwise they're much easier to overheat and blow head gaskets....or if you run aluminum heads, possibly crack a head. If I was to build an engine, I'd make a 383 out of a 350. ;)

[Narly R]

Originally posted by hemi operator
350 block>400 block. The 400 block has no water passages between the cylinders like the other smallblocks. It's usually not too big of a deal as long as you have a first-rate dependable efficient cooling system set-up. Otherwise they're much easier to overheat and blow head gaskets....or if you run aluminum heads, possibly crack a head. If I was to build an engine, I'd make a 383 out of a 350.

My uncle did that. Put out 429hp. Its really nice. Thanks for the info, I dont know much about these motors, but my Grandpa knows them from on end to another. So he has something planned....

Thanks for the info guys.

[KFX21]

Stick with the 400. I can take any 400 and tear any 383 in half! The best thing about the 400 is you can build a 406,410,415,421 and a 434. Make sure you go with a 5.7 rod the stock rod in a 400 is 5.565. The best casting #'s for the 400's are 509,511 and 817. I ave a 400 thats.30 over, 4in. Draime crank, 6in. rods, 13:1
comp. Ross race pistons. Airflow research heads, they flow 315cc in the intake runners un-ported, 64cc combustion chambers. A custom ground Baker racing engines roller cam, 315 duration and 648 lift, and it puts out 732 hp and 647 lbs of torque. Stay with the 400, there is no replacement for displacement, unless of course it's boost!!!