Moparts
Stroked 400 Engine ?
Posted By: Real-Fury
Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 05:28 PM
I have an opportunity to purchase a car with 400 cu.in engine that has been stroked and is now somewhere in the vicinity of 450 cu.in.. It supposedly was built right and has a mild Hyd. cam and other improvements when put together.
I am aware of the 400 engine in the Cordobas back in the late 70's but never heard of anyone hot rodding them. Are there any inherent shortcomings with the basic 400 engine that would make it a problem going forward? I can't find much info on the 400 anywhere on the internet so its hard to find out if it was a problem child or a good solid engine.
Thanks,
Butch
Posted By: bboogieart
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 05:32 PM
your stroked motor should be like 452"
the 400s are very good motors to hot rod, stock they are a little tame do mostly to poor compression ratings. The real question is who did the work and how was it beat after the rebuild. If the motor is sound you have a great combo.
Posted By: migsBIG
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 05:34 PM
400 blocks were always good and very durable. I know of several that run 10's on street/strip cars with those blocks. The only downer would be a stock crank, rods and heads. Since it's a stroker, the crank was swapped out, but the rods are what, aftermarket or stock? Really depends on the internals used more than the block. On the heads, do you know what was done to them or if they were replaced?
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 05:50 PM
Good info!
I'll find out more about what went inside later in the week and respond back. The builder said it as a great combination but I no nothing about 400's.
Thanks,
Butch
Posted By: DaDart
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 06:32 PM
Check out Andy's
Articals Lots of good stuff here
Posted By: AndyF
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 08:12 PM
Do a Google search on big block Mopar stroker engines and you'll find a ton of information. I wrote a whole book on the subject plus tons of magazine articles. The tech pages on here also have lots of information on stroker motors.
Posted By: StealthWedge67
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 08:28 PM
The 451 / 452 combo is a good one! If its done right, it should be a very durable, quick revving beast. What you decide to pay for it is only up to you, but don't even think twice about whether or not is a good combo. It's basically an .080 over 440, only lighter in both the block and rotating assembly. There's strong arguments that say when considering stroke v. rod ratio v. bobweight; the 451 is the best all around combo you can make.
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 09:28 PM
Wow! This is great information guys. Looks like if it's built right this is a great engine to run. I'll be looking up more articles on the internet and really appreciate the leads.
Butch
Posted By: MoparDonny
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 10:42 PM
just finished one and put it in my Challenger in october. A friend has an original 68 Dart 383 car with a 451 and runs 11.3 with no tuning and 3.55 gears. here, read this topic called 451 Manifesto .....http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/bigblock.html
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/28/09 11:45 PM
Quote:
Wow! This is great information guys. Looks like if it's built right this is a great engine to run. I'll be looking up more articles on the internet and really appreciate the leads.
Butch
the original idea for the 400block/440crank stroker engine wasn't really a gain more cube kinda thing.
it was easier putting the "B" block into A-bodies, rather then the 3/4" taller "RB" block. header
clearances especially. 11 cubes gained over a 440 really isn't that big of a deal. did this engine have the 440 mains turned down,
or did somebody bore out the 400 main caps and saddle area (cheaper $$)? that would make a huge difference IMO.
Posted By: joedust451
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 12:06 AM
Look at my sig., this was a "nothing" 451 believe me lol. Ran it for 2 yrs. with over 250 passes on it, sold it 3 yrs. ago, its still going strong, but its not been raced much sence i sold it.
Posted By: AndyF
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 12:57 AM
Quote:
just finished one and put it in my Challenger in october. A friend has an original 68 Dart 383 car with a 451 and runs 11.3 with no tuning and 3.55 gears. here, read this topic called 451 Manifesto .. http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/bigblock.html
I wrote the 451 Manifesto about 10 years ago. I think most of that information is still valid but it is getting a bit dated. More current information is available in my book which just came out this past summer.
Posted By: Bones
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 01:26 AM
Andy, what is the name of your book and where can I purchase a copy?
Posted By: 383man
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 05:02 AM
The 400 is basically like a bored 383. They can run good even without stroking them. Yes its not the best combo out there but it can run decent. All you have to do is put some comp in it and a good cam to go with the combo. They use your basic bigblock heads. My sons Dart is a .030 over stock stroke 400 (406) and it makes a nice street car. It has Eddy RPM heads and the MP .557 cam. With 3.91's at 3550 lbs it will run 11.40's on good days. Sure if we stroke it we should get it in the 10's but when cash is tight we use what we have laying around.
Ron
Posted By: DaDart
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 03:10 PM
Posted By: NachoRT74
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 05:12 PM
Quote:
The 400 is basically like a bored 383. They can run good even without stroking them. .......... All you have to do is put some comp in it and a good cam to go with the combo. They use your basic bigblock heads.......
and will get the earlier Mopar BB glory days like any 383 had.
if even more wished, getting a forged crank and will get a 383 complete 383 with 400 bore and spreadbore intake ( talking about stock pieces )
then if more whished... 451 stroke, 47 stroke, 500 stroke, 512 stroke...
Posted By: RodStRace
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 05:15 PM
The big thing with a 451 as mentioned in the manifesto is a 7 pound loss of rotating weight!
They rev like a small block!
Posted By: terzmo
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/29/09 11:15 PM
Quote:
I have an opportunity to purchase a car with 400 cu.in engine that has been stroked and is now somewhere in the vicinity of 450 cu.in.. It supposedly was built right and has a mild Hyd. cam and other improvements when put together.
I am aware of the 400 engine in the Cordobas back in the late 70's but never heard of anyone hot rodding them. Are there any inherent shortcomings with the basic 400 engine that would make it a problem going forward? I can't find much info on the 400 anywhere on the internet so its hard to find out if it was a problem child or a good solid engine.
Thanks,
Butch
I know of two 400's stroked to 451...one was in a 70 charger and ran 12.30's without much tweaking and very little done for weight reduction. The other was in a dakota P/U and ran 11.70's all day.Quite a nice setup but I lean towards a stroked 440 myself
Posted By: indy dart
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/30/09 01:24 AM
I have a 470 Indy crate motor based on a late model 400. It seems to be a good build. I am a novice at putting together a race car but the first pass at the track it went low 11's. If you need the part list on it shoot me a fax #. It makes 610 hp by the dyno on pump gas.
Posted By: ramcharger1964
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/30/09 04:00 AM
I know a couple NSS engine builders who actually prefer the B (383,400)blocks to the RB's (413,426,440). Damon Kuhn being one of them (Diamondback Racing Engines)
What you have sounds like a good set up. Go for it!
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/30/09 04:24 AM
Thanks everybody. I'm pretty excited about this car. It's an older "B" body and I was told it was taken to the strip after a restoration several years ago and ran in the high 12's on street tires and closed exhaust but I had my doubts. Reading everyones posts it looks like this kind of performance in not a pipe dream and it should be a pretty bullet proof engine to boot provided it is treated properly.
It will be a street car only for me (Sunday Driver) but it will be nice to know I have the power to show some Mopar Magic to some of these young bucks in their factory performance cars if the occasion arises.
I didn't really say that did I?
Butch
Posted By: CompSyn
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? - 12/30/09 04:55 PM
Consider results of the 2009 Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Magazine Engine Challenge. All seven participants utilized 400 blocks ranging in size from 451 to 512 cubic inches. Further, all were required to use Edelbrock RPM heads.
Check out the results - largest values in bold:
Schurbon Engine and Machine - 452ci, 582HP, 544lb/ft
Mid America Racing Engines - 500ci, 697HP,
619lb/ftLaroy Engines - 452ci,
726HP, 568lb/ft
Chenoweth Speed And Machine - 452ci, 589HP, 518lb/ft
JD Engine and Machine - 499ci, 724HP, 610lb/ft
Promax Performance - 451ci, 568HP, 518lb/ft
R.M. Competition -
512ci, 628HP, 596lb/ft
What a testament to the Chrysler engineers of old that a factory 400 block and 440 forged steel crank can run with the big cube technology of today.
The Mopar B engine lives on!
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 02:52 AM
I learned yesterday the engine was built with a 72-73 400 block, new forged crank, block aligned bored to accept stock crank rather than crank turned down, Eagle rods, Ross pistons, Crane cam just under .500 lift and roller rockers. All balanced, blueprinted and assembled by ex-Chyrsler engine technician (now retired) in the upper east coast area. Heads were built up by Compuflow Heads and mated to a Mopar performance aluminum intake and Edlebrock 750 carb.
Which is the preferred way to do the crank. Turn it down or increase the bearing size of the block? Or does it make any difference?
Thanks,
Butch
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 02:01 PM
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 02:22 PM
Quote:
Which is the preferred way to do the crank. Turn it down or increase the bearing size of the block?
turn it down.
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 02:34 PM
Thanks Rapid. Can you tell me why turning the crank down is better than leaving it stock. This engine was built in 2001 before "strokers" became all the rage so the latest stroker knowledge wasn't availalbe then. What kind of problems will a stock crank create that a turned down crank won't?
I don't want to buy into a problem engine.
Butch
Posted By: gch
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 02:35 PM
Stick a holley 750 on it and watch it go faster
Posted By: AndyF
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 04:57 PM
There aren't any issues with boring the block to accept a 440 crank. It is just a lot more work doing it that way and it isn't really necessary unless the engine is going to make a bunch of power. But if the machine work was done correctly then it is a perfectly good solution.
Posted By: Real-Fury
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 06:46 PM
Thanks Andy,
Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a shortcut that could cause a problem in the future.
Butch
Posted By: dodgeboy11
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 07:26 PM
Technically the block could be considered stronger with the smaller main size and the crankshaft, though this would seem backwards, can actually be stronger too due to the fact that the factory chrysler crankshafts utilize an undercut journal and grinding it to the smaller 400 main size allows you to have a radiused journal.
Posted By: StealthWedge67
Re: Stroked 400 Engine ? Update! - 01/01/10 08:31 PM
Take the Eddy 750 and throw it as far away from your car as you can
Seriously, from a guy who has had (2) of them, I'd steer clear of messing with that carb. Sure, they can work, but you'll be ahead in the long run if you start with a good piece. I would think a 750 Holley V.S., or an Eddy 800 thunder series carb would work very well on that motor.
