Stock stroke 400 - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Unlawfl's Race & Engine Tech Stock stroke 400

Print Thread

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Stock stroke 400 #929008 02/14/11 08:49 PM 02/14/11 08:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada O Overdrive440 OP member
Overdrive440 OP member O Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada	What pistons are currently available that would work on a stock stroke 400? I read about hemi rods and 451 pistons, but not sure what pistons would work for that combination. A little background: I was in the process of rebuilding my truck's 400 and got a 383 crank ground and new bearings for it, but my project stalled. This was a few years before stroker kits became available. I'd like to use the crank I have, so I'm looking for new rods and pistons to finish the shortblock (flat top, zero deck is the goal). I'm likely going to be using Edelbrock RPM top end or better (Indy EZ top end kit). This is going back in my '78 W200. I'd like to try out some of the local truck pulls with it again.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Overdrive440] #929009 02/14/11 09:43 PM 02/14/11 09:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina 8secDart pro stock
8secDart pro stock Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina	ONE WORD(custom)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is why no one does stock stoke 400s. Years ago KB had a piston for this combo but I have not seen any in about 10 years.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Overdrive440] #929010 02/14/11 09:51 PM 02/14/11 09:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 303 southwest Alabama C challenger73400 enthusiast
challenger73400 enthusiast C Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 303 southwest Alabama	I used a low compression 440 replacement piston .060 over for a mild build once. The piston ended up .008 in the hole. Worked well for a mild street car on pump gas. I don't remember what piston exactly.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: challenger73400] #929011 02/14/11 09:58 PM 02/14/11 09:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 587 IL . usa C cjs69mope mopar
cjs69mope mopar C Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 587 IL . usa	Here you go KB pistons not hard to find . web page 1969 Dodge Charger 1969 Dodge Superbee

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: cjs69mope] #929012 02/14/11 11:04 PM 02/14/11 11:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada O Overdrive440 OP member
Overdrive440 OP member O Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada	Ah! at stock deck height these are 0.024" down the bore. Guess I can have my deck shaved while its all apart. I also see Ross lists custom forged pistons for NHRA stock class: 400 72-78 78691 FLAT TOP Those might work too...

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: cjs69mope] #929013 02/14/11 11:54 PM 02/14/11 11:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina 8secDart pro stock
8secDart pro stock Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina	Quote: Here you go KB pistons not hard to find . web page Call and see if they have them!!!!!! Last time I called they said the piston is no longer.No sales = no more make.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: 8secDart] #929014 02/15/11 01:38 AM 02/15/11 01:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md 3 383man Too Many Posts
383man Too Many Posts 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md	We have the KB pistons in my sons .030 over 400. With Eddy heads milled it has 10.6 comp and runs fine on pump gas. He has a stock stroke 383 crank and uses the MP .557 cam. With a 9.5 Dynamic converter and 3.91's he has run 11.40's in good air at 3550 lbs. Ron

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: 383man] #929015 02/15/11 01:54 AM 02/15/11 01:54 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,881 Pittsburgh,PA RTSrunner top fuel
RTSrunner top fuel Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,881 Pittsburgh,PA	There is a set of KB-240 flat top pistons for sale by a member here in the Big Block parts section.They are for a stock stroke and stock rod length 400.Check the KB site,may work for you. RT

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: 383man] #929016 02/15/11 01:58 AM 02/15/11 01:58 AM
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,056 Mt.Vernon IL Twin Turbo Mower super stock
Twin Turbo Mower super stock Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,056 Mt.Vernon IL	I seen these in stock http://www.summitracing.com/parts/UEM-KB240-040/

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Overdrive440] #929017 02/15/11 02:02 AM 02/15/11 02:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A. JohnRR I Win
JohnRR I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A.	Quote: Ah! at stock deck height these are 0.024" down the bore. Guess I can have my deck shaved while its all apart. I also see Ross lists custom forged pistons for NHRA stock class: 400 72-78 78691 FLAT TOP Those might work too... That piston will be .100 or more in the hole , it's a STOCK replacement piston .

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Overdrive440] #929018 02/15/11 02:06 AM 02/15/11 02:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A. JohnRR I Win
JohnRR I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A.	Quote: I read about hemi rods and 451 pistons, but not sure what pistons would work for that combination. this will not work , first the wrist pin is different ... hemi 1.031, B 1.094 .... , second the 451 piston is 1.320 CH , you need a rod that is 6.985ish to get it near zero , the hemi rod is 6.860ish. diamond semi custom is you best choice , you get it exactly where you want it and don't have to cut the bleep out of the block , heads and intake ...

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: JohnRR] #929019 02/15/11 05:08 PM 02/15/11 05:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada O Overdrive440 OP member
Overdrive440 OP member O Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 168 Manitoba, Canada	I'll have to price it out... or just go with some KB240's. Its looking more and more that it might be worth the few extra hundred dollars to get a stroker kit and add a bit of extra torque if the KB's don't pan out.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Overdrive440] #929020 02/15/11 05:49 PM 02/15/11 05:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 30,989 Oregon A AndyF I Win
AndyF I Win A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 30,989 Oregon	I've used Hemi length rods with 451 pistons before. The math comes out close enough to give you zero deck. Not sure the extra effort was worth it though, these days I'd probably just buy a 3.75 crank and build an actual 451.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: AndyF] #929021 02/16/11 03:59 AM 02/16/11 03:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,932 Finalnd, Perkele J jyrki master
jyrki master J Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,932 Finalnd, Perkele	The 440 low compression pistons with stock rods should work. We had one with TRW L2266F's and they were slightly positive deck. Just contoured the piston tops slightly, cut valve reliefs and they were good for slightly over 10:1 CR with factory open chamber heads. With big valves and a comp cams 306R cam it was a screamer, turned well beyond 7000 rpm and run 10.6/128 mph in a light 2800 lbs '73 Valiant. Plynouth VIP '67 TT IC EFI

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: jyrki] #929022 02/18/11 09:28 AM 02/18/11 09:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes... Pale_Roader Swears too much
Pale_Roader Swears too much Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes...	Quote: The 440 low compression pistons with stock rods should work. We had one with TRW L2266F's and they were slightly positive deck. Just contoured the piston tops slightly, cut valve reliefs and they were good for slightly over 10:1 CR with factory open chamber heads. With big valves and a comp cams 306R cam it was a screamer, turned well beyond 7000 rpm and run 10.6/128 mph in a light 2800 lbs '73 Valiant. That what i'm working on right now. Got some old .030 440 pistons, a steel 383 crank, buckets and buckets fulla 383/400 rods, and a 400 that was recently rebuilt (stock bore). The CH measures out to zero deck, assuming my block is straight. I was told you could hone a 4.34" 400 block out to 4.35 by more than one guy, but it looks like a slight boring job to me. Seems kinda silly to bore a block less than .010", supposedly more like .008", but its still gonna be a pretty welfare build. Just gotta cut some valve reliefs into the pistons, and bolt some 516's on top...

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: Pale_Roader] #929023 02/18/11 10:06 AM 02/18/11 10:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 375 NW Minnesota M Maximus_Wedges enthusiast
Maximus_Wedges enthusiast M Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 375 NW Minnesota	Many ultra low buck 400's have been "warmed up" with 440 pistons. I'm told the old .484 purple cam cleared pistons ok with no pockets and std. valve sizes. but as always measure

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: AndyF] #929024 02/18/11 11:20 AM 02/18/11 11:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A. JohnRR I Win
JohnRR I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 74,942 U.S.S.A.	Quote: I've used Hemi length rods with 451 pistons before. The math comes out close enough to give you zero deck. Not sure the extra effort was worth it though, these days I'd probably just buy a 3.75 crank and build an actual 451. Andy , I remember that build , you used a 6.965 Manley rod, unfortunatley Manley doesn't make them anymore and neither does any other company. I wanted to do one of my 383's with the Diamond 1.320 pistons I have after reading up on that build and I can't find the rods , the only set I know of is not for sale.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: JohnRR] #929025 02/18/11 01:17 PM 02/18/11 01:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 30,989 Oregon A AndyF I Win
AndyF I Win A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 30,989 Oregon	Yeah, that was too bad that Manley stopped making that rod. Those were really nice rods and the price on them was pretty good too. I bought several sets of those rods there at the end but I've sold them all over the years. I happen to have that 400 motor back in my possession these days. The guy I built it for ran into some financial problems and I bought all of his Mopar stuff. I don't have a use for it at the moment but I'm sure something will come along. It was a high winding 400 with the stock stroke, roller cam, long rods, and high compression.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: AndyF] #929026 02/19/11 08:47 AM 02/19/11 08:47 AM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes... Pale_Roader Swears too much
Pale_Roader Swears too much Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes...	Quote: I happen to have that 400 motor back in my possession these days. The guy I built it for ran into some financial problems and I bought all of his Mopar stuff. I don't have a use for it at the moment but I'm sure something will come along. It was a high winding 400 with the stock stroke, roller cam, long rods, and high compression. Heh... wow. MORE rod ratio...??? Crazy.

Re: Stock stroke 400 [Re: 383man] #929027 02/19/11 03:44 PM 02/19/11 03:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,245 Between a rock & a hard place C cudadoug master
cudadoug master C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,245 Between a rock & a hard place	Quote: We have the KB pistons in my sons .030 over 400. With Eddy heads milled it has 10.6 comp and runs fine on pump gas. He has a stock stroke 383 crank and uses the MP .557 cam. With a 9.5 Dynamic converter and 3.91's he has run 11.40's in good air at 3550 lbs. Ron That's VERY impressive IMHO at that weight. Think about this: 11.20's with light wheels/skinnies up front 11.0's-low teens with a 'glass 6-bbl hood sealed to the carb. Still with 3.91's, still very streetable...and a near 10-sec stock stroke 400. Wow! And based on the last pic I saw, a heavy battery is still in the stock location...

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1