Hey everyone, you have all been helpful in the past with my builds and now i finally have the funds to put my 400 small block in to prject list. the blocks in the machine shop now getting magnafluxed, re align bored, bored out, and the engine deck is getting milled. i just have a couple building questions because this is my first engine i am building for straight performance so any bits of advice would be a great help. i am starting with an eagle crankshaft forged 4340 steel with a 4.000 stroke anu ideas from that on would be great. thanks alot guys again.

good luck man, im in the process of sourcing a 400 for my elky... although i think mine is going to be pretty mild:You_Rock:

A 4" stroke will be "interesting" The stock 3.75" stroke has the rods running very close to the cam already.
Marv D knows more about this. My 408 has the stroker rod bolts with the heads made for more clearance. I used the 5.7" rods and not the 5.565" 400 rods.

When you refer to building for straight performance, is that strip duty only, street/strip or mostly street duty with occasional all out blasts? What type of fuel do you plan to run, pump gas or C-16? Fuel requirements will dictate what piston configuration and compression ratio to run, and vice versa. Your cam will have to be chosen by effective compression ratio to optimize performance. A 4.00" stroke will most likely require smaller lobe eccentrics on the camshaft to clear the big end of the connecting rod. The connecting rod should be fitted with cap screws and partially ground for pan rail clearance. Give us a little more info on the direction of your build and we can come up with some recommendations for you.

Only thing I can add to Dales thoughts is,, your gonna need a BIG Frickin head to support the 434. The last one I built we used a Brodix 233cc STS series head. It's making an easy 650,, maybe closer to 700 given the 3350 pound car is going 10.teens @ 132 footbraking and on a 9" slick.

Mine, I use a AllPro 245 raised runner head and it breathes the way a 434 should IMO. And I am in the process of moving my truck to SuperPro with a 434 I have on hand using a set of AFR 220 heads. There MINUMAL at best and is RPM limited.

You see a trend here... The small block was really never intended to be 400" let alone 434, and 14:1, making 700 or 800 HP.... No over the counter head available out there today really offeres a head to make a N/A 434 live up to it's potential. Be cautious in head choice... not everyone is honest in advertised flow numbers. Ask around and find someone that has THAT head on a flow bench to see what it REALLY flows before throwing $'s out there.

just my 2¢

it was originally going to be a straight strip car but after further thought i do love driving my elco. So i think i would be more comfortable using this as a weekend racer, (excuse the term). i do also plan on replacing the transmission after the engine is finished as well as the rear-end. And only one more thought is that i might go with the 3,75'' stroke. but thank you all for your input this is really helping with my build and i will be keeping posted

just another question would it be worth doing a stroker kit to a 400 small block. i heard it was alot of milling and machining and i reall am not sure if all of the machine work is worth the price

Tons of 383 on Craigs list If your looking for that 400 SB torque :texas:

how much power do you want to make??
can you get there with a 406??

with the aftermarket blocks out there now days,,
stroking a stock block 400 can be done(i guess),,but i dont think its smart money..:texas:


novelle
Give us a little more info on the direction of your build and we can come up with some recommendations for you.

I'm inclined to agree with Marv's opinion on stroking a 400, with the heads being a big limiting factor. A 406 would be fine for your week-end fun. And even a lightly built 400 will trash your 7.5" rear end. Mine ate a few 350 transmissions too, before I built my own.
The 400 is a torque engine for sure. A 280 cam in it will run out of steam about 5600 or so with stock heads.

I have a 406 in a 82 400 trans and stock rear. Its already eat 1 rear and 2 350 trans.But for the overall cost with a set of fuely heads off a 69 Z-28 and eldabrook performer rpm intake and cam combo.I DYNO 465HP at the rear and over 525 ft lbs. for less than 3500$ including machine work.And get 17 mpg on 93 octane...

not for nothing why dont you make it into a 377 D-stroked i built one and **** it well in the high 500hp range using 290 cam and vortech heads

STAY WITH THE 3.75 IN STROKE
AS FOR HEADS ID GO WITH A 18 DEGREE SUCH AS BRODIX OR DART
AND MAKE SURE YOU USE GOOD HARDWARE SUCH AS A.R.P.:beer: