SB 400 with TPI induction

[81LT4]

So they say 400 small blocks also produce lots of torqe.
TPI units are also known for produceing very good torqe
but not much horsepower, for what I understand over 350 hp.
so If I were to build a strong 400, and use the vortec heads
with a tpi unit, would this be over kill. Would I like have massive
torq, and little H.P. ( not sure on cam) what was the purpose
of the 400 small block???????????????????????????? :confused

 

[Tom Bryant]

What was the purpose of the 400 small block? For that answer you only need to look at what they came in, full size trucks and Impala/Caprices. They made a lot of low end torque to get these heavy vehicles moving and hopefully got better fuel economy than the 402 big block. They only came with a 2 bbl carb. In 1970, for example, you could see an Impala or truck with a 400 badge and not know if it was a small or big block with the hood closed. In the parts books if the lising for a part was 400/2bbl it was a small block and a 400/4bbl carb was a 402 big block.

I think with a cam that would make it's power from off idle through 4500-5000 or so and the combo you described you would have a great street engine that would pull like gangbusters in the rpm range that you will spend most of your time. I'd call the help line of your favorite cam manufacturer for exact recomendations. Some sources offer the Vortec head drilled for traditional intake manifolds like the TPI. You will need this done in order to use any non Vortec manifold. Seems like a sound plan to me.

Tom

 

[patsnitrovette]

my brother runs a 406 smallblock with canfield aluminum heads 600 lift solid roller and a tpi with slp ported runners acell lower intake and highly ported upper plenum ,1000cfm throttle body,this thing screamed from off the line to 6000,he then has switched to a modded lt-4 intake and it pulled to 6500.But even when it was tpi it was a monster .

 

[81LT4]

400

Or maybe, I should go with the TPIS mini ram. That would help it breath
better.