The consensus on 400’s seems to be 2 bolt mains are best and the strongest to weakest casting numbers ending in 509, 511, and 817, with the markings 010 020 high tin and nickel being the most desired. Here is a link to a thread where this was discussed in detail… http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/011356.html
Full Answer
How many 400 block castings are there?
There are only 3 400 block castings; 511, 509, 817. The 511 is the early one (70-72), the 509 & 817 are the later ones. The later ones are possibly "better", which is NOT the same as saying that the 511 is "not good".
Is a 511 block a 4 bolt?
The 511 block is fine, that's what I have in my car. Mines a 511 block. It's a 4 bolt for sure. I run four notch flattops with AFR 195 heads with 74 cc chambers and have 10.1:1 cr static.
Is a Chevy 509 a good block?
The 509 is a great casting. I built a 509 2 bolt mains 406 c.i. in 1998 and it made 411hp on a dyno with 453 ft.lbs.tq. at 5200 rpm. The 509 is a nice block to have. Enjoy it. It's all about core shift Have it sonic checked.
Is this a 4 bolt Flattop?
It's a 4 bolt for sure. I run four notch flattops with AFR 195 heads with 74 cc chambers and have 10.1:1 cr static. If I was to offer any advice, and your stock lower end is OK, use it as is. It should be fine for 400 horse or so, and any stock head you put on it will keep the power levels down for sure.
How much HP can a 400 small block handle?
With our low-compression, power-adder friendly 400-inch small-block easily exceeding 525 hp, it was time for some boost. And that's where things start to get very interesting.
How much power can a 400 SBC make?
With timing and jetting maximized, the 400 managed to produce 458 lb-ft of torque at a still low 4,000 rpm, while kicking up the peak horsepower to just 401 at 5,400 rpm.
How much horsepower does a stock 400 Chevy small block have?
401 hpIn case you missed the story, the best power numbers were gained with a set of GM Performance Parts Vortec heads supplied by Scoggin-Dickey, and even then the 400 small block Chevy managed only 401 hp and 458 lb-ft of torque.
What did 400 small blocks come in?
The 400 saw extensive use in full-size Chevrolet and GMC trucks; K5 Blazer/Jimmy, 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, 1-ton, and even larger 'medium duty' trucks had an option to be equipped with a 400. The engine was available in midsize A-Body and full-size B-Body passenger cars until the end of the 1976 model year.
Does a SBC 400 need steam holes?
Having stated that, the general consensus is to use the proper 400 style head gaskets with steam holes and use them as a pattern to place the holes in the correct position. It appears a set of Fel-Pro 1014 head gaskets offer these holes and are only 0.039-inch thick.
How big can you stroke 400 SBC?
This is the largest stroker combination available for the Chevy 400, using a 4.000" stroke to achieve 434 cubic inches of displacement.
What's the difference between a 400 small block and a 400 big block?
Though big-block engines are significantly larger than their small-block brethren, the true difference between these two is more about displacement, bore, and stroke than strictly size. Typically, big-block engines have displacements of greater than 400 cubic inches and small block engines have a smaller displacement.
Is the 400 small block good?
2:0911:20The Truth About The Small Block Chevy 400 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe biggest consensus i've found why the small block chevy 400 is such an underrated engine isMoreThe biggest consensus i've found why the small block chevy 400 is such an underrated engine is people have come to the consensus that these engines have overheating.
Can you get 400hp out of a 350?
A: You can get 400 hp out of a small block 350 and keep it streetable. First, stay away from the 305 heads. They actually don't flow very well, and since they're cast iron, you can only go up to 9.5:1 compression.
How much HP does a 400 big block have?
In this application, the 400 had a four-barrel carburetor, had the same 8.2:1 compression, and was rated at 195 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque....Premium Member.1974 horsepower4004402-barrel185 @ 4,0004-barrel HP250 @ 4,800275 @ 4,400Police240 @ 4,800275 @ 4,4001 more row•Nov 16, 2020
How many liters is a Chevy 400 small-block?
6.6 liter400. The largest version of the Generation I small-block was the 400 (6.6 liter). It was the only engine available with both the 4.125-inch bore and the 3.75-inch stroke crankshaft. It debuted in 1970 and was produced for 10 years.
Does Chevy make a 400 big block?
It has a 400 BIG BLOCK in it (not talking a bore 396 or bore 350 bowtie or stoked 350, or a sb400), just a stock 400 chevy BB here we go again. Anyone else ever try to convince people that there is no such thing as a 400 CHEVY BB.
Is sand a good block?
Loose sand in the cooling system equals torn up water pumps and a reputation for overheating in the first year of production. At this age all that sand has come loose and any good block is a good block. Because of this there was an evolution in the core tooling and some alteration to the freeze plug configuration.
Can you use stock oil pump on a 400?
Stock oil pump is fine for anything spinning a stock 400 rotating assembly. You won't find enough power overboring to make it worth risking the block. Bore the minimum needed and save the rest for later. The vast majority of 400s can't go past .040 safely. good luck.
