Pulled the 400 sbc today

[69gt4speed]

Well Mike mostly pulled the sbc 400, we did verify a 509 block, the heads some triangle thing marks prob pos. I'll leave my comments to myself... some 235 duration at .050 .500 lift cam. Looking for some alum heads for the pos. This is in a 3rd gen camaro and also a 2.5k stall for 700r4, I need to verify spline count. Also need those top hood slats you know... I got a lot of cleaning/ sandblasting to do.

[69gt4speed]

Guys any particular best gasket set for these 400's. We are pulling the heads to check all that out and like I said it appears one triangular mark on one. Bottom line mike doesn't have a ton of money and i refuse to fork up too much cash...Rings all that seem sound just its globed up w rtv and leaks like a bitch. Hey he figures enough for some valve work if needed and a 2.5k stall it already has some shift kit in it along w the 3.55 tracklok.and shorty hdrs. I don't claim any sbc guru just want to save some cash for him.

[sparkles]

I've got a buddy that has the whole hood with the bulges off a 92 z28 for sale. Blue

[69gt4speed]

Well I buffed the red paint fairly decent for just now.. need the hood pieces. I will do a junkyard searce. Nothing 10 cans of oven cleaner can't fix to clean it up. I appreciate any leads or tips as far as steam holes on these, it has a brand new alum radiator and elect.fan. A 13 sec car all he wants. The plan is pull the heads look it over at least as far as valves.My first chevy. lol

[69gt4speed]

Well George B is getting concerned w me.... I bought that camaro and wow wtf is going on here....He's been calling everyday to see if my head is on right... I appreciate it buddy a lil mo story than that. Work was too soon coming back. Just can't believe noone has done a 400 sbc. To sumerise a gasket seat pull the heads it spins easy enough doesn't blow or puff oil. blast the headers. 2.5k stall.

[Deimos]

what do you want to know about 400's?

[69gt4speed]

If by chanch I run across a alum set of head s pro comp new ones do I need to drill where gasket holes on head gaskets are to keep from overheating mostly and any other trick crap. To keep it sealed and not leaking. Mike wants a stall i said 2400 2500 hundred as it smokes the tires to 2nd easy, It will be a d/d make be a plate later w 75 jets try do in 12's. Stuff Is new to me and mike doesn't have any $. But it seems a good engine. Eldebrock porformer. Just leaks like a sieve.

[Deimos]

the 400 heads should have the vent holes in them. I'm pretty sure you drill them but call a machine shop to know for sure. 10 years ago I had that same question for scott sperry.

[Guch]

If you end up looking for a 3k stall converter I have a Yank w/anti-ballon plate & lock-up. $350

[69gt4speed]

We verified w heads on and off and spun easy and smooth. I think a d/d lsx might be surprised w gen 2 procomp heads on. /cam is .235 and .245 at .500 lift. @ ,050. w a stall and traction it could do ok. Fastest mike has had we we see.

[69gt4speed]

Well Mikey dissassembled the 400 he did screw up on the lifter pushrod deal gottem mixed up. so new lifter, rusty has a noisy roadhes set we'll give them a shot. All else looks super.

[Deimos]

want a gear drive for is pete jackson quiet drive? 20 bucks

[APPLES355]

Rob,
i know with the AFR heads that i run they recommended drilling the steam holes in the heads if using a 400 sbc. i know with mine before decking the block they put plugs in the steam holes and then decked it. The car it came out of was running a 2-core v-6 radiator out of an elcamino and had no issues with over heating. They did however have to run the coolant bypass lines on the engine.

Apples

[69gt4speed]

This thing has a 2 core alum radiator w plastic ends and a electric fan. i ordered a gasket set and would like pro comp 2's for the
$ mike is cheap if it could down to low 12's n/a be great esp for tama or belleplaine. I'll ask horn and dr what to do as gaskets are 400 style. ... Thanks... We want some weight reduction and those are cheap to do that. That and true dual exhaust w the shorties. I'll have to it it on truck scales hoprfully not to bad.

[APPLES355]

the low 12's shouldnt be a problem for a mild 400. the elcamino the 406 came out of used world products sportsman 2's with a i believe a low to mid .500 lift cam. n/a with 4.11 gears and a th400 it ran around 11.6.

[69gt4speed]

That would be super I'd bore you w cam specs 235 and 245 and about .500 lift. W reg performer intake.

[69gt4speed]

Well Mike pulled the oil pan and timing cover. We replaced timing chain, then basically cleaned the engine w a gal of pure mineral spirits cause Mike was wire brushing the outer part of the block. We checked this and that, looked ok. Then with new gaskets and the blue stuff for the timing cover and oil pan.

Then some new oil on various parts before we sealed the pan and cover, and then a giant plastic bag. He wants a stall converter next and really wanted those heads. Now he's deciding those 2 issues. That's it. May be almost 100% stock w like 8.5/1 compression. 72cc heads and big sperical dished pistons. It really needs 64 cc heads.. Otherwise told mike about n2o w a 50hp jet to boost tq. But he has no funds. Pretty sad imo doing 8.5/1.

[Rollin on Dubs]

You do have to drill the steam holes in the head! It can be done with a hand drill, if you do not have access to a drill press or Knee mill. I beleve you need 1/4 and 3/16 bits. The deck plugs that apples talks about will help the stiffness of the deck (I have never seen them used on the steam holes, but are more commonly used in main water passages) but are not nessary.

[69gt4speed]

Thanks, really not either one of us know the weird things for a 400.. First time I ever paid attention to a sbc. So use the old gasket as a template?.. Funny I go wtf is this Mike, and I move the cam in and out w dist pulled. Fords have a thrust plate/bearing up front.

[APPLES355]

With my 400 once the plugs were put in the deck the steam holes were no longer needing drilled in the heads. for rob's purpose you are completely right with using the hand drill and a gasket guide. 400's make good power but can be difficult at times!

[69gt4speed]

Well crap Mike is broke so here is Adam and me smoothing out ports and bowls a lil on pos 72 cc heads w dished pistons. We wanted alum heads w 64cc for lot of reasons. Maybe if lucky 9/1 compression. I'd say 13's if lucky w a 3k stall. Maybe enough vs a stock ls1 idk.

Btw you running a mls head gasket Josh? Later Mike wants to pull the heads for alum ones. I told him if mls needed figure 70 80 bucks. He about sh-t. I told him sh-t costs $ if going fast.

[APPLES355]

I happen to be running a cometic mls gasket on mine. I dont know if you saw on the WTB heads post of yours, but when he is ready a friend of mine has a set of dart heads that are 64cc and 230cc intake runners for a decent price. It does cost money to go fast and i cant wait to see his motor with different heads. should be a fun ride!

josh

[APPLES355]

If he isnt going to spray it a good felpro or victor gasket would work fine for what he is doing.

[69gt4speed]

Well wasn't sure w alum heads. I figure some day mike might spray it, I believe fel pro makes some mls for a sbc. 40/50 bucks. He won't get afr's or like that just some cheap new pro comps for 650.00. I heard the new ones are ok build wise. They would at least take some weight off and flow a bit better than iron stockers. Nothing real great.

[Deimos]

world products aluminum motown heads brand new are $750 aluminum 215 cc good swirl

[69gt4speed]

Thanks, we will look into those also.

[Deimos]

PM apples you can not pass up those heads trust me. You got three weeks and then I am gonna snatch them up if you don't.

[69gt4speed]

Yea you got that right, Josh come to find out both heads are cracked. Never seen that w a ford head but whatever. Mike has a 350 w 1.94's/1.5's also, pulling heads I guess off of that... So deimos go for those alum heads. W me not working yet I am broke and so is Mike. They put a crack finder stuff on it and it was bad.

[69gt4speed]

The thing about it is Rusty gave me all his sbc books and it doesn't say squat about 400 heads cracking. 305's and new stuff yes. So spent a lot of time for nothing. The shop said looked like good work on ports though. Well did what Rusty's sbc head book said.