Re: a few questions about the 400 block
[Re: AndyF]
#666220
04/10/10 06:15 PM
04/10/10 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,472 Overland Park, KS.
Joshs68
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,472
Overland Park, KS.
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Quote:
Those questions are why I wrote a whole book on big blocks.
I bought a copy, good book. Thanks AndyF!
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Re: a few questions about the 400 block
[Re: mopar dave]
#666228
04/11/10 06:55 AM
04/11/10 06:55 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399 Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
master
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master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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The 4.375" bore size is the most common, mainly because there is a large and affordable selection of piston rings in that bore size. basically most of the 400 blocks are all the same (except the '71 which has more material in the main webbing area.) For stroker engines, the cut down 440 3.75" stroke crank with 440 rods is still fairly common. Don't use the stock 400 rod length as there is not much piston selection for that combination. Most of the other stroker combinations are going to use the 0.990" piston pin size, so it it easiest to just get the entire striker "kit" of crank/rods/pistons all at one time. The welded up 440 crank 3.9" stroker is not very popular any longer now that there are many affordable aftermarket stroker cranks. A friend still has one, but his custom pistons were very expensive. I just built a 500 cid (4.15" stroke) 400 with a 440 source kit, and it is an easy install. The only item needing to clearance was a very small amount off the oil pickup boss. Kit clears internal oil pickup. I have not built a 400 with crank strokes larger than the 4.15", so I'm not sure how much clearance they need or if they require an external oil pickup? If you plan to build over 700 HP, you may be better off using one of the aftermarket blocks
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Re: a few questions about the 400 block
[Re: mopar dave]
#666230
04/11/10 09:02 AM
04/11/10 09:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,932 NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,932
NC
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Some good info posted already. For your 700+hp target, this is worth repeating. " As already said have any block sonic tested" This is the same for any passenger car, production, block (440, 400, 360, 340, etc).
For your power target, the heads and porting will make the biggest difference. Spend money there and you will not be disappointed.
There are lots of good stroker combinations. I prefer any that uses a 2.200" rod journal, and 0.990" piston pin. 4.375" is the bore size to use. The rod bearing choices with the BB Chevy journal dimension are very good. You can think about align boring the block with aluminum caps for the 440 main bearing size also. Again better bearing selection compared to the 383/400 main bearings.
I really like the 4.250" stroke in the low deck. It fits in the block better than the 4.150" with Mopar rod journals. With a 6.535" steel rod it uses a piston around 1.32" compression height (depending on exact block deck height). Have the crank counterweights no more than 7.25" dia to clear things (like the piston pin boss), my crank was turned down to 7.14" dia, mostly for balance reasons. As I recall, my Callies crank counterweights were "cam cut" to 7.32" and that cleared as a shelf part.
Although there are lots of off the shelf parts, don't be afraid of the cost of a couple custom or modified parts if you decide you want a particular feature (like a 6.700", or 6.635" rod for street use). Custom compression height, flat top, pistons can be bought for just a little more than the same brand piston with off the shelf features. Same for crank journal sizes or counter weight diameter. A few hundred bucks isn't a lot more when you are building 700+ hp. A nice Callies crank ground to your specs is an idea..., but other less expensive cranks will get the job done at that power level.
The attached tables may be out of date, but give you some ideas. The top one is the low deck (9.980") and the bottom one is the raised deck (10.720"). You can adjust deck height as desired. For pump gas compression ratio, you will need to calculate head chamber size and piston to deck, etc. you might need a dish piston with around 14-18 cc dish.
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