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sbc 400 "first build"

1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  cool rockin daddy 
#1 ·
I have a 2wd 1984 chevy c/10 shorted. I am looking at building a sbc 400 to replace my old worn out 350. I am not concerned about fuel mirage for this will just be a weekend truck, but I do want to keep it running on pump gas. I would like to have some where close to
450 hp. I have a th-350 trans hooked up to a 10 bolt with 342 gears and a locker.
Im thinking of anywhere from 9.5-1 compression to 10-1 compression. Any head and cam suggestions? To reach my goal.
 
#3 ·
Go to the junkyard and buy a 5.3 LS truck engine. Pick up running motor for about $400-$500 bucks. Stab a cam in it that has around 212/218 duration split, .530 lift, and a 114 lobe seperation angle ($150). Have the heads fully ported and larger valves put in (cost $1350). Put a different chip in the computer and you're sitting at 430HP and 430 TQ for $2500 approx. You can get a lot more power by going bigger on the cam. Why oh why mess with a Gen 1 engine when you can get LS power and reliability so damn cheap?
 
#6 ·
cool rockin daddy said:
Go to the junkyard and buy a 5.3 LS truck engine. Pick up running motor for about $400-$500 bucks. Stab a cam in it that has around 212/218 duration split, .530 lift, and a 114 lobe seperation angle ($150). Have the heads fully ported and larger valves put in (cost $1350). Put a different chip in the computer and you're sitting at 430HP and 430 TQ for $2500 approx. You can get a lot more power by going bigger on the cam. Why oh why mess with a Gen 1 engine when you can get LS power and reliability so damn cheap?
Y when I already have a 400. And if I went that route why a 5.3 why not just go ahead and go for a 6.0.
 
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