400 SBC Possible Purchase

[claude]

I've been thinking about replacing my 350 Mr. Goodwrench for the last year.  Even after installing a different cam, a performance Edelbrock dual plane intake, headers, and 2.25 inch exhaust system, it is one gutless engine in my 1985 K20 pickup. Engine was installed in 1997. One of the replacement engines I have been contemplating has just come available by a person I know (small town). It is a 400 SBC 4 bolt main that was machined 15 years ago by a very reputable machine shop in Portland, Or. It has been in a garage in a bare block stage the entire time.  Paper work shows it is bored out to a 406, line honed, holes were torque plated on final hone, forged steel crank, 8.7 compression and has been balanced. New "RV" cam, pistons and rings. The seller showed me on paper where he has $3500 into the engine but would take less to get rid of it.  I told him I would like to see it and asked about block and rust because it has been sitting for a long period. This upset him and reiterated it has been sitting entire time in garage. PO was a respected self employed Porsche mechanic for 30 years. What do you think of this deal, and in particular about a block being stored for many years?

[fitz]

I would think the motor is fine.
After sitting for 15 years you may want to replace gaskets & seals.
I would prime the oil pump prior to starting it.
How much are you paying for it?

[claude]

It is a bare block with all the parts listed. He is a motivated seller as he knows that he will never build it as he no longer needs a tow rig. I haven't offered anything yet but don't plan on paying more than $2800.

[Irish_Alley]

sounds like its still apart. you could buy a block and change the cam and be putting out some power for 2k and know the block is good. or buy a 400hp/tq for 3k with a warrenty. me personally i would pass on parts that have been sitting if you can pay for new parts for about the same amount

[Rattler12]

How tall of tires do you have on the truck and what's the rear end ratio.......37 inch tires and 3:08 ratio will make any engine a dog  ........

[Stewart G Griffin]

1) Treat ANY used engine as if it needs a rebuild.  The problem here is if it's cracked then what?   Now you have to find another 400 block......and we know how difficult that is..........

2) Investigate Blueprint's new 400 block.  i think they cast their own NEW block, not reman.
i Don't have time to look into it, but here:
http://www.blueprintengines.com/index.php/products/bp-gm-crate-engines-landing/gm-400-main

3) If i was going to build a 400, which is not likely, but if i did i would start with a gm perfomance bowtie block.  Yes, it's over $2000, but think of the time, gas, money etc. saved vs. hunting down a used 400---which could be cracked etc.  And the bowtie can handle much more power.

3a)  Dart and others also make aftermarket 400 blocks.

i think #2, 3 and 3a  are cheaper in the long run.

[VileZambonie]

Your 350 should be fine. You'd be better off putting some decent heads on it and ignition system. I agree with Rattler12 your problem is not likely solved by a 400 SBC.

[claude]

How tall of tires do you have on the truck and what's the rear end ratio.......37 inch tires and 3:08 ratio will make any engine a dog  ........

Tires are 265x75xR16, manual transmission with 3.73 rear end

[claude]

Your 350 should be fine. You'd be better off putting some decent heads on it and ignition system. I agree with Rattler12 your problem is not likely solved by a 400 SBC.

Current engine with new heads still would probably only produce 230-240 HP. Not a good scenario for towing.  Looking for about 330 HP with low end torque.  Most crate 400 engines are over 420 HP

[claude]

sounds like its still apart. you could buy a block and change the cam and be putting out some power for 2k and know the block is good. or buy a 400hp/tq for 3k with a warrenty. me personally i would pass on parts that have been sitting if you can pay for new parts for about the same amount

Sitting for all those years was exactly my concern.  It doesn't look like many people on this site are fans of a 400. Maybe I'll go to my original plan and build me a 330 HP stroker with a high rpm of about 4500.

[fitz]

I liked my SB 400, but it didn't like me.

[claude]

[quote author=fitz l
I liked my SB 400, but it didn't like me.

I guess it didn't like you. Did you go to a different engine or back to a 400?

[fitz]

I parked the truck 6 years ago when it happened.
  I just pulled it out of storage this week

[morrow07]

Look at my old posts. My 406 is 16 years old. I BEAT it the snot out of it. Build it right, and you are more then safe with your power goals. Go have a machine shop check the block out and make sure it's in good shape.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[claude]

Thanks Morrow07 for advise. Spending a few dollars on getting block checked out will allow me to move forward with the 400 or a 383.  Will build motor my self. Only two I've done were years ago when in my late teens - a 409 BBC and a 327 SBC. Both ran well and took tremendous amount of street drag racing and were running when sold.