406sbc Build Help

[Blake B]

I found a 400 local and i am looking for direction. this is my first engine build and i've been doing alot of research but coming up with 100 different answers.

this is what i have:

I have a 511 --- 4 bolt main block thats been bored .30 over making it a 406. Block is painted black with balanced scat 5.7 crankshaft and i beam rods. Arp bolts. Has .30 over .135 dished 4 eyebrowed pistons. Block was honed and asslembed by machine shop. Comes with new balancer and auto flexplate.--

Sooo, i'm curious about the cam and head selection. when i see builds online, alot of ppl are putting 350 etc heads with 185-195cc intakes on and adding steam holes and are off and running. when i look at professional build i see them using heads in the 215-225cc intake range. i have no idea on where to go with the cam..

Here's what i'm looking for out of this engine; good street manners with a nice bite. i'll be mating her up with a 200r4 and hopefully a T56 over the winter. i don't need a 500hp monster but i'd like to be able to flex some muscle when want to. i have about another $2k to drop into her. so hopefully my noob-ness hasn't offended anyone.

any and all input is greatly appreciated.

 

[565bbchevy]

Re: 400sbc Build Help

It looks like a good foundation to make some pretty decent power with a nice set of heads a good cam it will make a lot of power and a ton of torque but what I am wondering is your $2000 budget to put into the engine is that for just the long block or a running engine?
What do have besides the ext. bal. harmonic balancer and flexplate?
Do you have a carb,intake manifold,distributor,wires,water pump,pulleys,pushrods,rocker arms,timing chain,valve covers,headers.oil pump and pan etc,etc. if all this stuff is needed that can easily eat up your budget on top of needing heads and cam.

 

[DRIVEN]

Re: 400sbc Build Help

^^all good questions^^

 

[Blake B]

Re: 400sbc Build Help

the block is covered. the $2k is what i have to spend the cam, heads, valvcovers ect.. i know what i'm going with the carb, intake, dist, pumps etc etc.. i have a 350 to pull some of the accessories off of and a buddy at a salvage yard to help source some little odds and ends.

thank you,

 

[565bbchevy]

Re: 400sbc Build Help

Just to be clear on where the $2000 will be going why don't you make a list of things that are only coming out of that budget the more you can use for heads the more options you have and the possibility to make more power, cams pricing will all be relatively in the same price range of each other assuming you will be going with a standard hydraulic lifter camshaft.

 

[Blake B]

Re: 400sbc Build Help

my apologies.

lets just keep it simple. heads and cam for the $2k and not coming out of that budget but i would also like feed back on carb/intake.

and to keep things realistic, the less expensive and more street mannered the better. not looking for a track warrior.

sorry for being vague in the beginning. hopefully this helps?

 

[CdnCutlass]

For heads I used Patriot Performance #2121. They were a good value for all the features and came fully assembled. I spoke to comp cams and they recommended an XE274H cam for my specs. Any more cam and it wouldn't have done me any good without bringing up the compression ratio.

As for an intake and carb I got an Performer RPM Air Gap. You can save yourself some money and just get a performer RPM as Hot Rod magazine just did a dyno comparison and they make almost the same power. I have a Holley Street Avenger 770 carb. The motor sounds healthy, can't comment on how it runs until the body work is finished.

 

[jdietschweiler]

For 2g I can set you up with dart pro 1's, Schneider solid roller cam, crowler solid roller lifters, roller rockers and a Victor jr


All used of course.

 

[Blake B]

thank you for the replies.

i've continued to research (probably more harm than good) but i'm curious, i will be driving the '79 as many days as possible until November-ish so fuel efficiency plays a small part in this build.. i know i may not get 25mpg on the hwy but i need over 15 or close..

i will be getting a OD trans and gears to help but one thing i cannot find info on is intake/exhaust port vs fuel efficiency

i read somewhere, that an engine is like a vacuum, the more air in/out the stronger she is.. but will more air comes more fuel- is this the correct way of thinking?

so the larger intake ports, the more fuel being consumed?

thank you guys.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

i will be getting a OD trans and gears to help but one thing i cannot find info on is intake/exhaust port vs fuel efficiency

i read somewhere, that an engine is like a vacuum, the more air in/out the stronger she is.. but will more air comes more fuel- is this the correct way of thinking?

so the larger intake ports, the more fuel being consumed?

thank you guys.

The more air you bring in, the more fuel you need to bring in to compensate for the additional air. As for MPG-I think with a nice OD trans you could see mid-late teens depending on your rear gear. If your still on the fence about which heads to run I would suggest you take a look at the Patriot Performance 2.02 Vortec heads. Vortecs are the best stock head you can get for a Gen 1 small block and since your not looking for massive power the lift limit wont affect you. I think with that 406, the OD trans and 3.73s you could have a great all around cruiser.