Easy build, 408 360 stroker or .030 400 BB. Equally prepped Eddy heads, 850 carb and bracket FT cam- 550 generally I/E. What combo gives me best HP, TQ and longevity? 3200 lbs or less body. Thanks

Bigger bore is more power.

It's that's simple.

The BB has crappy valve placement so it can not take advantage of the big bore like it should, it also weighs #100 more plus asuming an auto trans you have to run the 727 instead of the 904 you can run with a 408 for more weight savings less drag and better 1st gear ratio option and is harder to do plugs and such, I would go SB 408.

Small block all day long. Wouldn't fool with a big block under 500". As mentioned, extra weight, less desirable trans choices.

A small block will be much lighter a 904 transmission will be lighter as well not to mention a lot easier to turn.. a small block with a 4in arm makes tons of torque.... like4like my money would be on the small block with a 4in arm

It might come down to what you have to start with. I haven't built one yet, but here is a combo i think would work well, and cheap, too!
One option is a 400 block, 4.375 bore, offset grind a 383 crank to 3.54 stroke, use 7.10 bb chev h beam rods, shelf stock 1.12 compression height pistons for 426 cheap cubes. Add a .590 MP cam, 2 inch x 40 inch headers. Should make 575 to 600 hp, cheaply.

If these posts would start out saying how quick you would like to go you would get better info. At 3000 pounds if you are happy running high 9's or slower on a budget small block. Low 9's or quicker big block. Small blocks are so much easier to work on for clearance reasons.

10.0 in the heat coast summer, so 9.50-9.7.

3200? Weight or less
Fuel?
Track average adjusted alt? Info available online
Street and strip or strip only?

my vote: SB/904

Well we have a 406 (.030 over 400) in my sons Dart. Its a mild street car that has the 383 forged crank in it. Has RPM heads and 10.5 comp , MP .557 cam and 3.91 gears. 727 with Dynamic 9.5 converter. Runs the Performer RPM intake and 750 DP. Has CPPA headers and 3" exh. Its not lightened any and with his 180 in it the car weighs 3640 lbs. Its run 11.41 @ 117 in full street trim driven to the track. Its one of them we had it so we built it builds. Its not the greatest combo but it runs nice for what it is and is a nice driving car. Here he is at the track. Ron

What car is the engine going in? I'm guessing an A body? If so I'd go for the 408 as a SB is WAY easier to work on than a BB in a A body. I have both, BB car is quicker, but more of a pain to work on.

9.5-9.7@3200lbs??

675-700hp....... with a car that is somewhat sorted out.

One thing to consider is, do you want to reach a certain goal and stay there, or are you someone that wants to go faster as time goes by? If faster is the goal, then focus your sites further down the road.
The two most important rules to follow:
1 weight reduction is cheaper than horsepower
2cubic inches rule
How you put your program together now will have immense effect on your situation down the road.
In my case, another year off racing, and a different course on my engine program and i would be running very low eights instead of 8.90s

How come your limiting the BB to a stock stroke 400? Is it for a cu in limited class? I’m guessing a stroker BB isn’t anymore expensive than a stroker SB. If you’re willing to spend the $$$ on the SB why not the BB? For the hp you’ll need a 4.25” arm in a 400 block will get you there easier.
For that level of HP a BB (stroker or not) would probably be happier/easier, but I have no doubt either combo could hit the number

I'm a big block guy and I say Small Block 408 will be lighter and make the same power.

Depends on the heads for each combo.

I have 408 parts on the shelf and a 400 block with Eddy heads from a RB.Time to try something different or build a 408 with modified W2 heads.Don't know if the 400 will give me anything more than what I have with my present 408 combo, 10.60/122.

I agree with that DusterKid. I tell my son the bigblock A-body is a young mans car since its hard to work on in some area's and the bigblock B-body is an old mans car since it has more room. As for the most part my 63 Sport Fury has more room to work on it then my sons 400 Dart does. Ron

I'm gonna roll with Dusterkid and 383man on this one, I've built and owned multiple bb abodies with both underchassis and fender well Headers, fenderwells are nice for maintenance but unsightly for street exhaust and TTI underchassis are nice Headers to look at but jeez...so...if it's a coin toss on 408 vs 406 I'm going small block, which exactly the decision I made on the 67 Dart I'm building.

Having owned a 9.9 big block, and currently a 9.5 small block..... the lil block is more fun!!