New Engine

[00fxd]

I'm gonna try and post a pic of the mild sb400 I just built for my car. This posting stuff usually doesn't work for me but we'll see....
It sure does pull!

 

[Ron Miller]

More details on your rebuild?

 

[00fxd]

Thanks for askin' Ron but it's nuthin fancy.
I've had the car for just about a year. I had planned to big block it but I ran across a nice 400sb core so I figured it would be a good interim engine while I collected parts for the bb. Now I kinda like it. I just did a quick rings, brgs, valve job and 214 214 @.50 cam. I'm using a performer and a even kept the q-jet. Runs great and really howls on the secondary's. Runs nice and clean and melts the skins with no trouble. They have the same bore X stroke as a 396/402 with out all the weight.
I dunno, it's still only got 4 bolts on the rocker covers.......

 

[studiog]

I like the 400 SB. Very streetable and lots of pull. Great for real world performance. Is it internal or external balanced. Stock 400 heads?. Anyways, Good luck with it.

 

[00fxd]

Thanks studiog,
It's the stock ext balance. Went to an 11" clutch. Had to use a 350 fly wheel neutral balance with the "Speedway Motors" weight plate on the flywheel. Works great, no vibration at all.
Stock heads, no porting. Started looking at aluminum heads for saving weight I don't know which later GM heads will fit and work. I keep reading about reverse flow and a bunch of stuff that scares me.
As I mentioned, I was looking at it as a temporary engine 'till I put to gether a big block but now I'm thinkin maybe I shoulda bored the thing with good pistons fitted, nice balance, some head work, plunk on a 3310........
But it sure works good as it is.

 

[Ron Miller]

Sounds like a good rebuild, and looks as good as it apparently works! Congrats!!
rlm

 

[00fxd]

Thanks Ron;
Nobody noticed, I'm using those old "Chevrolet" script covers. No holes. If you look at the firewall side of the covers you can kinda see where I installed grommets for the crank case filter on one side and the pcv valve on the other. I know that they're in no way correct on this year of car but the they're kinda neat old things. [Thats also how I've gotta pour oil into it]
I've got way too much time on my hands....

 

[Paranoid]

Nice work.

 

[00fxd]

Thanks Stingray. Nice site, great car!

 

[Sky65]

Is that an HEI distributer back there? If so, it a tach drive set up?

Sky

 

[67HEAVEN]

Great to see your progress, Frank.

 

[00fxd]

Yes Sky, it's an HEI, electric tach.

Thanks Bob, yours is coming along famously too!