[bdsjj]

Hello fellow Chevy fans. I am new to the board so please bear with me. I was wondering if someone could tell me what all I have to do to turn my 79 400 sb into a strocker engine if that is even possibale. Block has been tanked and checked for cracks and board out 30 over. Any help would sure be appreciated.

Thank Brad

[lluciano77]

A .060" 400? That is about as much as you can get. There is no more room in the stock casting for a longer stroke.

[stepside454]

he said its .030 over bore...stroking it doesnt make it .060 over.
I would highly suggest talking to a reputable performance machine shop.

[lluciano77]

Originally posted by stepside454
he said its .030 over bore...stroking it doesnt make it .060 over.
I would highly suggest talking to a reputable performance machine shop.

No, I mean that is the best he can look forward to with that block. It was kind of a rhetorical question. The engine can't be stroked any more, it can only be bored. I wouldn't bore a 400 over any more than .060"

[stepside454]

sure it can... I know it can be stroked to 427CI, I dont know the demensions of the finel stroke of a 427 , but it can be done.
415 CI from a 400 is fairly common.

[lluciano77]

D'oh... That's right.

I wouldn't go any more stroke though. I am leary of having the piston pin up into the ring lands.

[Silver_Camaro]

A 427 stroker? This thread just caught my attention. I've got a 79 400 sbc sittin in the garage. Been plainin on a performance rebuild for it.. But turning it into a 427 sounds even better.

Just did some research.. 434 stroker made from a 400 block. Using a 4" stroke. Can even be bought in a kit:

http://www.strokerkits.com/434_stroker_kit.htm

[Cstraub]

The 421's and 434 don't make good street engines due to the stroke and bore ratio they ten to be lazy. I would just bore the 400 to .030" and get a good set of heads, thats where the power is.

Chris

[Silver_Camaro]

What would be a good set of heads for a 400? I'm lookin to hit in the range of 400 to 500 hp after I finish building mine..

[firestone]

As long as you get the right set of heads, you can get great hp and throttle response out of a 421 on the street. If you used a set of AFR 195cc or 210cc heads, and a decient hyd roller cam 500hp would be a walk in the park for that motor. I have seen pump gas 434s with AFR 227cc heads make 650hp at 7000 RPM. AFRs are a little expensive, $1,250 a set, but they come CNC ported, when you take into consideration that buying an unported set of decient aluminum heads will cost you at least $1,000 and then porting will cost from $500 to what ever you wanted to spend, the AFRs are a pretty good deal.

Adam

Check out the website

www.airflowresearch.com

[Cstraub]

I wouldn't recommend stroking the 400. Spend the extra cash on set of 210 AFR's or a set of Iron Eagle 215's. You can easliy get the power you want with those heads and a matching camshaft.

Most of the engines on this board seem to be budget oriented and these Big small blocks are not cheap due to special oil pans, clearancing blocks, SB cam, longer pushrods, oil ring support rails. and other stuff.

Last big inch stroker I cammed was for Jasper Engines and the heads and intake were 14K.

Cstraub

[firestone]

I would have to agree with Ctsraub, If it comes down to stroking it or getting a set of AFR heads, you will be much happier with the heads. And although you could build a 421, and make a little more hp, he is right that it takes more to do than most people think. A 406 with AFR 195cc heads and a Comp Cams 286HR or 304HR will make 500 hp pretty easily.

Adam

You can check out those cams on this website:

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/Ca...ML/128-169.asp

Just scroll down to the magnum hydraulic roller cams.

[Silver_Camaro]

Where would be a good place to order that cam and heads? And do they have a kit where you can buy the cam, lifters, & springs to save on cost? Also since the 400 isn't a originally a roller block how much work would be involved in installing a hydraulic roller cam and lifters?

[Cstraub]

I would use Reed Cams, they are the best in my opinion. Ask for Dennis. www.reedcams.com Dennis also is a WD for AFR and can get those for you. Another good head is the canfield 200. Excellent airflow at low lift and makes gobs of power.

Chris

[bdsjj]

Hey guy's thanks alot for all the replies. It does make more sence to get a good pair of head's and a roller cam,lifters,and rockers it wounld be alot less work and money.

Thanks Brad