400ex mods

[backwoods 400ex]

Hi i have a 400ex with a lexx pipe, uni air filter, outerwears air box cover, 160 main and 38 piolet. I ice race ride trails and mx i was wondering what i can do to get more power without boreing it out?? I only have $500 to spend so im on a buget. Also would i be better spending the money on the suspention?? THANKS

[CJM]

sparks timing advance key. I would also look into getting 450r front shocks and set them up right.

[logant14]

i have sparks key with a gasket i will sell u if interested. i bought a higher comp piston and dont want it no more. brand new

[NMills]

How much? do you accept paypal? depending on price i might go for it...

[backwoods 400ex]

I was looking at a stage 2 hot cam and a sparks 6 degree key willt hese work good togther?

[CJM]

Your money would be best spent on the suspension. If your quad handles better (it will with 450r shocks) then you can go faster.

If the quads faster no less and it cant handle then you got issues too.

[PaRedneckRiders]

Ya i would work on suspension first.
You can get a nice set of used houser or LSR arms for a decent price around here or check or local Criagslist.

And shocks, stock 450 shocks would be ok (definitely an improvement over stock)
Also an axle, g-force sells them new for under 200$ but that blows most of your budget.

If it were me i would pick up a set of arms and shocks first. Yes that will prob blow most of the 500$ budget but it will help in the long run.

[trailrider894]

Don't buy the advanced timing key used unless it comes with the flywheel puller. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FLY WHEEL PULLER!!!

[logant14]

sorry the key is gone

[sixer3]

Hotcams stage 1 and a 450r carb :macho

[honda400ex2003]

my vote in this order:

key

tires

shocks

slip on w/ filter

handlebars

stage 1

450r carb


steve

[backwoods 400ex]

i was looking at a stage 2 hot cam and a sparks 6 degree key willt these work good togther? also add 450r shocks

[honda400ex2003]

imo it wont... the stage 2 is too aggressive to see gains on a stock compression engine. the shocks will be good though. a stage 1 and a key would be a nice setup also. steve

[supertrooper90]

I liked the sparks key. made a nice difference for $20 or so. after that idk what else there is before you need more compression. Have you given any thought to doing an xr 400 head gasket and no bottom gasket for a bump in compression? then find an xr400 cam

[backwoods 400ex]

What if i put a 10:1 wiesco pistion and a stage 2 hot cam??? I wanna get decent power but i wanna run pump gas cause i like to ride trails too THANKS

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by backwoods 400ex
What if i put a 10:1 wiesco pistion and a stage 2 hot cam??? I wanna get decent power but i wanna run pump gas cause i like to ride trails too THANKS

Still won't help. A stage two will require a bigger bore, P&P, and different valve springs, to ever see real power gains.

[backwoods 400ex]

Okay will a timeing key or wiesco 10:1 or je 10.5:1 with a stage one give me good power?

[honda400ex2003]

that will be a great setup. 10:1 stage 1 and a key was one of my favorite setups to run along with a 400ex carb and the choke out. great setup for sure. steve

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
that will be a great setup. 10:1 stage 1 and a key was one of my favorite setups to run along with a 400ex carb and the choke out. great setup for sure. steve

x2 !!!

[backwoods 400ex]

OKay thanks for all your help with a stage 1 and 10:1 and 450r shocks will i be competative cause i know ther will be 450s in my classes but if i get the skill with practice will this set up give me the power to do the job?

[CJM]

Should be fine.

[honda400ex2003]

imo yes it will be competitive but you will def need to be a good rider. you didnt say you wanted to race with 450s lol. if i was going to be racing my ideal setup would be a 416 10:1, p&p, stage 2, 3 degree key from wheelie, and a 450 carb. that would def have no problem and give you a bit better edge on a 450. steve

[honda400ex2003]

also geared with a 14/39 setup to go with the rest of the stuff there depending on the track. if it is a tighter one i would run that, if it is longer with more open run a 15/39 or 15/38 setup for more speed in the straights. you wont have any issue running with either setup though. i would run that gearing depending on the track with either setup. :devil: steve

[backwoods 400ex]

Okay thanks guys and yeah i dont how many 450s there will be but i wanna be able to be competative and i dont have alot of money cause i got collage next year but im going for powersports so im gunna build a race 450 after but i wanna get the 400 set up decently for now THANKS!!!

[honda400ex2003]

good luck with it! you will def enjoy the setup. i run the same thing and have for 2 years.

i run a stage 2 10:1, 450 carb, with the 3 degree with 15/38 gearing in it. it hauls the mail for sure and is a great machine to ride. steve

[CJM]

I got a similar setup to steve, with an 11:1, stage 2 hot cam, 15/39 gearing (or 14/38, it depends on the terrain) the rest of the info is in my signature and I can keep up with 450s no problem. Racing them I shocked a buddy who has a mildly worked 450R.

Its also about the rider, Im not much for jumps but I can do straight up drags and track racing like no tomorrow.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by backwoods 400ex
OKay thanks for all your help with a stage 1 and 10:1 and 450r shocks will i be competative cause i know ther will be 450s in my classes but if i get the skill with practice will this set up give me the power to do the job?

No you will definetly not be as fast as a 450r with that setup. But it will help. A better setup for killing R's is as follows...

426 12:1 Wiesco

Stage 2 Hotcam

Aggresive P&P

5* valve job

HD valve springs

450r FCR Carb.

Full Exhuast

K&N with Outerwears.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by trailrider894
No you will definetly not be as fast as a 450r with that setup. But it will help. A better setup for killing R's is as follows...

426 12:1 Wiesco

Stage 2 Hotcam

Aggresive P&P

5* valve job

HD valve springs

450r FCR Carb.

Full Exhuast

K&N with Outerwears.

I'm sure i am leaving stuff out, but its tuff to remember everything.

[honda400ex2003]

you could def be whooping up with that but that is alot of green to be spending compared to any 416 setup. just the piston, sleeve, bore, and sleeve change alone will cost almost as much as the full 416 setup we talked about last. a sleeve is not required though if you want to do it that way. you would need to run hd studs though with 12:1 which would add to the price of the job instead of running a lower compression. steve

[backwoods 400ex]

honda400ex2003 you said you ran a stage 2 with a 10:1? or is that with a 416?

[honda400ex2003]

both 10:1 and 416 lol i have a wiseco 10:1 416 setup right now that i run till spring at least. steve

[trailrider894]

Why did you say i you would have to re-sleeve for a 426? No re-sleeve is required for that. Am i wrong?

[honda400ex2003]

my bad you dont have to if you dont want to. lol you can do it on a stock sleeve. for a moment while typing i thought it was 440 you were referring to. you can also run a sleeve with a 426 though and would be the only way i would run a 426 if i was going to race it. the heat would get be quite high with a 12:1 426 in a racing application. although for the price of the hd studs he would have to run with the 12 it would offset the price of the sleeve and install anyway so theoretically he would still have about 200 more in the same setup in 426 as you suggested. lol lol my apologizes, steve

[trailrider894]

I personally will be running a 426 10:1 next season. My only problem with 12:1 is the studs and the gas i would have to run... you can't buy race gas out here. I'll be going to a 12:1 for my next re-build when i move to KC, so i can get fuel.

[honda400ex2003]

i wish 110 was cheaper, i can get it but man 6-8 dollars a gallon is pretty steep. i cant afford to ride with that or i would have gone 440 12:1 just for kicks. lol 11:1 will be nice in a 440 anyway. should be a torque monster by the time i am done with it. :devil: steve

[backwoods 400ex]

Thanks for all the help guys one last question i am for sure going with the 450r shocks but for the motor what would be the best cause im on a buget

1: a sparks timeing key, stage 1 hot cam and air scoops
2: a stage 1 hot cam, Wiesco 10:1 pistion and air scoops

[CJM]

Do both, hotcam, key and piston. Sparks key is cheap and 10:1 will allow you to run it all day long.

[backwoods 400ex]

Okay will the stage one be good ive read alot of reviews and alot of people say go stage 2 with a stock motor even???

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by backwoods 400ex
Okay will the stage one be good ive read alot of reviews and alot of people say go stage 2 with a stock motor even???

No... A Stage two will not be better. A stage 2 is just increasing the flow of the motor, when there is nothing more to flow. It will only add maybe a hp or 2hp. A stage 1 is a perfect fit with the mods he wants to do. If he was doing a 416 and a P&P a stage 2 would make a world of a differnce where as a stage 1 won't make the same difference in a built motor as it would in a stock one. Make sense?

[backwoods 400ex]

Yes thank you so a stage 1 and a sparks key will be a good combo till i can aford a 10:1 pistion?

[CJM]

More compression you have the better the stage 2 will work. 10:1 is right on the cusp of that. Still, you wont be taking full advantage of a stage 2 cam. Stick with a stage 1.

[trailrider894]

Originally posted by backwoods 400ex
Yes thank you so a stage 1 and a sparks key will be a good combo till i can aford a 10:1 pistion?

A stage 1 and sparks key will be good with a 10:1 piston. A stage 2 won't see noticable gains until a 416,426, or 440.