so since i blew the 400 in my truck i figure i might as well upgrade it. so what would you guys recomend doing to it while i have it out of the truck?

what did you BLoW?

High compression pistons

If its a tight budget then a stock cast piston re-build kit, a good job on the heads (3 angle valve job, maybe clean up the bowls) by a good local shop or Muscle Motors or Hughes and a small Summit cam. If you're going to hot rod it I'd go right to a 440 crank and make it a 451. Its hard to get much compression or performance out of the 400.

A steel 440 crank can be re-ground with 400 mains or 440 source sells reasonably priced kits with pistons. Along with the cubes a little bigger cam like the "big" summit version would work well with mildly worked stock heads and 9:1 or a little more compression.

#1 end up with .035-.040" quench. It will allow you to support a much higher CR on the same fuel without pinging. higher CR = more squeeze = more power, it's the #1 parameter that dictates how much power your build will have.

The biggest problem with the 400 in stock form is the compression. I use the Keith Black KB240 pistons in my 400 at zero deck.

We use KB pistons in my sons 400 and they are .015 down in the cyl. But with the Eddy aluminun heads at 10.8 comp it runs fine on 93 pump with no ping at 38 total. I agree to get the comp up in the 9.5 area. My son drives his 400 Dart all the time and he loves it. The stock stroke 400 can run good with the right combo. Ron

What is your budget and performance goals?
Does the engine have any performance parts on it that could be re-used. How many miles on the engine? What tires size and gearing, auto or standard trans?, stall speed?
what application? racing, street/strip, street/towing, towing/economy? emissions?

A 440 crank ground to fit the 400 block will give you alot of options.

im going for street and strip applications, i have no idea how many miles are on the engine because its out of a different car.i dont have to worry about emiisons around here so im good in that area. it already has a dp4b intake and a 750 double pumper, headers and thats it for what it has on it. its going back in a 72 d100 with an auto trans and 8 3/4 with 3.23 gears for now. i have to keep it on a less than $1500 dolaar budget.

what do mean exactly when you say you blew it? if you are planning on a typical rebuild, i.e. bored, valve job, cam, lifters etc, you cant do it for under 1500 unless you you own a machine shop

$1500 is really tight budget. What blew?
You will really need to inspect the engine to see what will need repair/replacing.

PM Bubba on this board he has one ready to go!!!