Moparts

400 block 440 Mains

Posted By: cochez

400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 04:36 AM

Have not posted on the board for years... Engine build came to a halt for personal reasons... I have a 400 block BCR Alum caps and 440 4.25 stroke crank w/ Chevy rod journals.. Is anyone still line boring 400 Blocks to 440 Mains??? Most Machinest I've talked to won't do it... Anyone had issues since 2006 when I last posted?
Posted By: ahy

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:00 AM

The longer stroke cranks with 400 mains seem to do fine if it is a good steel crank.

I know Rich Eherenberg did the "over bore" mains on a low deck MA project car and don't know of any problems... perhaps he'll post.

If you have already bored the mains oversize, I'd put it together and run it. Otherwise, it might be easier, cheaper, better(?) to simply get the crank turned down to low deck size mains.
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:04 AM

440jim did it to his 400 , no problems reported , that I have seen . A plus is better choice of main bearings .
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:06 AM

I have a good chunk invested in this Crank (Callies) and would rather not cut it (a more expensive process...to have it re-hardened and rebalanced etc.)... wondering if there are drawbacks since a few places won't do it (or maybe they can't)???
Posted By: dmking

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:11 AM

well if they do not want to do it on the main caps being on the thin side put a good stud girdle on it with main caps. then they have to be bored and have more metal. maybe they will like that.
Posted By: Jeepmon

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:28 AM

My old motor is a 400 block with 440 mains and even tho it was only 650-ish HP.. We did not see any problems with it..
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:31 AM

Quote:

well if they do not want to do it on the main caps being on the thin side put a good stud girdle on it with main caps. then they have to be bored and have more metal. maybe they will like that.



Quote:

440jim did it to his 400 , no problems reported , that I have seen . A plus is better choice of main bearings .



I actually copied his build way back when...and hoped he'd chime in... if he remembers me... I have a place to do it (Weston Machine) and also the main girdle from Chenoweth... I'm trying to get this project up and running again... Really I would like to see some pics if anyone has any? Or links I could check out......
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 05:32 AM

did you take any pics???
Posted By: AndyF

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 07:15 AM

It is a real pain to machine the main line that much. Plus the bearing tang reliefs then have to be cut into the block which isn't an easy process. The only shops that can do this type of work economically are the ones with high dollar CNC equipment. Depending on where you live, you might have to travel a fair distance to find a shop who can even do that type of work.
Posted By: Performance Only

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 07:53 AM

it's not really a big deal IMO. back before I bought the CNC, we just did them the old fashioned way. the CNC makes it a little easier now.
when 440jim bought his Callies crank from me we discussed the option of opening the blocks mains so he wouldn't have to cut the journals on the crank. IMO and obviously Jim's as well, it was better to cut the block. i think the longevity of his engine as well as the performance speaks for itself.
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 02:44 PM

Quote:

it's not really a big deal IMO. back before I bought the CNC, we just did them the old fashioned way. the CNC makes it a little easier now.
when 440jim bought his Callies crank from me we discussed the option of opening the blocks mains so he wouldn't have to cut the journals on the crank. IMO and obviously Jim's as well, it was better to cut the block. i think the longevity of his engine as well as the performance speaks for itself.



If This is Dan? I got my Crank, Rods & Pistons from you also. (Have not put it together yet) I haven't been up on the latest and greatest for the last few years.... I'm trying to reclaim all the data I've lost over the years and finally get this up and rolling again. This is Rich if you remember me????
Posted By: 440Jim

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 03:42 PM

My 511 CID low deck (4.375 x 4.250 stroke) has aluminum main caps and enlarged to 440 size. I run a Callies crank. This block has almost 800 passes now. I was so happy back in the winter of 2010-2011 I did the same main change to my spare 400 block.
Posted By: 440Jim

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 04:18 PM

Quote:

I have a place to do it (Weston Machine)

That is who I used. Highly recommend that shop. They will get it done right, and turn it around quickly. No 3 month wait like some shops...
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 04:25 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I have a place to do it (Weston Machine)

That is who I used. Highly recommend that shop. They will get it done right, and turn it around quickly. No 3 month wait like some shops...



Quote:

My 511 CID low deck (4.375 x 4.250 stroke) has aluminum main caps and enlarged to 440 size. I run a Callies crank. This block has almost 800 passes now. I was so happy back in the winter of 2010-2011 I did the same main change to my spare 400 block.



Yes! I copied your short block plans... good to hear no issues my stuff has been on the shelf since 2006... Did you have to notch the block at all and what kind of oil system do you run...
I was suposed to drop the block of today but Snow is in the way...
Posted By: 440Jim

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/21/12 04:40 PM

As I recall, the rod bolts (2.200 H-beam) cleared the cylinder bores, but I ground clearance there anyway while I was preparing the block. I did have to just touch the oil pickup boss on the block, picture attached. I run a 1/2 NPT Moroso internal pickup. I had the Callies 4.250" crank counterweights turned down to 7.14" dia before balancing, 2185 gram bobweight.

Attached picture 7029641-Oilpickup_boss_grind.jpg
Posted By: cochez

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/22/12 02:15 AM

Quote:

As I recall, the rod bolts (2.200 H-beam) cleared the cylinder bores, but I ground clearance there anyway while I was preparing the block. I did have to just touch the oil pickup boss on the block, picture attached. I run a 1/2 NPT Moroso internal pickup. I had the Callies 4.250" crank counterweights turned down to 7.14" dia before balancing, 2185 gram bobweight.


did you turn the counterweights down to reduce mass? Or was there clearance issues?
Posted By: 440Jim

Re: 400 block 440 Mains - 01/22/12 02:29 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I had the Callies 4.250" crank counterweights turned down to 7.14" dia before balancing, 2185 gram bobweight.


did you turn the counterweights down to reduce mass? Or was there clearance issues?

The counterweights need to be turned down to 7.25" dia to clear a low deck block. Or grind clearance in the block, or put 3/8" bevels on the counterweights. But since the bobweight is so "low" (for a steel rod motor), reducing the counterweights helps balance the crank without putting big holes in it. I tell everyone, each crank brand, stroke, and bobweight is different. So, go carefully when cutting smaller than 7.25" dia. The shop actually checked it on the balancer at 7.20", before cutting the dia down even farther. Then a fine balance with a shallow hole.

Attached picture 7030555-blockweb3dim.jpg
© 2024 Moparts Forums