Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Thanks for posting flips72 :)

I am anxious to hear what the dyno says.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Anyone have any new builds to post?

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

After reading everyones i figure i will put mine up here. Just pulled it out yesterday of my 68 camaro. The motor is a 406, 511 block, currently with pbm heads, rpm air gap, comp roller cam, roller 1.7 roller rockers, eagle rotating assembly and a quick fuel 750. There where a couple of reasons i pulled it and it will soon be turned into a 408.

First, has always smoked with oil blow-by. Has little to no miles on the motor and im pretty sure that the machine shop that did the short block will not see another dime of mine. Seems like the rings never did seat. I dont know if they said they checked/honed it or nothing at at all but has always used the oil. The header gaskets i just pulled off backed all that up.

Anyways reason #2 is more my fault and i kick myself for doing it, but my first time assembling a motor so you live and learn i guess. I reused the old head bolts when putting the heads on and regular old fel pro gaskets. (not the good performance ones that will soon be on it.) I had one or two bolts that would not torque down all the way and thought that it would be ok. Well as of late it had been running hot and i could not figure out the reason. Awhile passed since i had been able to mess with it, went to start it and nothing. Locked up tighter than dicks hat band. Wasn't the starter and when I tried to roatate it by hand at the crank nothing. I started pulling plugs and when i got to #5 water poured out like i had just drilled a hole in a freeze plug.

I am taking the little turd to a much better shop from what i have researched Monday morning. Where it will be done right. I'm going to have them check the heads and block, take it to a 408 (if its still good which i hope it is), up my compression to around 10:1; install head studs and 1014 felpro gaskets (which I have both, brand new), balance my rotating assmbly. Then send it to a few good ole boys i used to work for down in TN who now own and run Dyno engineering to break it in and tune it correctly before i get it back.

My wife told my buddy that helped me pull it out that she had never seen me cry but when i realized that it had locked up and needed to be pulled out, she swore she saw a tear.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Dont force it to turn over. There is a good chance that you are lucky and no damage was done to the rotating assembly. Flip the motor upside down and pull the oil pan. Loosen all the main bolts and every rod that you can. Now try an bar it over to disassemble. I have worked on a couple of motors like this and had no permanent damage. One had an oil leak and the idiot was adding oil to the windshield washer fluid! Got the truck for free because of the locked up motor. Did the above and never replaced a single peice. Bolted it back together and ran that motor for 5 more months in 120 weather without issues. I have a small project v6 that was locked up by the owner running 40wt oil in it. Came out in 20* weather to start it and only got a click. Tore it down and there was zero damage. That one will get a full rebuild one day before sliding it into a new ride, even though it is fine.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

the head bolts wouldn't torque and you just left it?

there's no need for head studs - just get the right bolts and make sure the holes are clean with a cleaning tap...the shop that built it should have done that. don't blame head bolts or the gasket for your decision not to fix an assembly problem...

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

The deck on the 511 casting is thin to begin with. If someone 'cleaned the threads' with a standard tap.... and old corroded bolts were used.... good chance he pulled the threads out of the deck. New bolts or studs ain't gonna fix that!

The 400 deck and bolt holes are a weak link for sure, Here's a 509 casting that was making just over 650 at the crank, was pushing the head up hard enough to pull the deck, cracking it from the bolt to the water ports and it pinched the piston enough to turn it to junk. Sometimes 'studs' work too good LOL

http://www.small-block-chevy.com/ima...0/400blk_a.jpg

http://www.small-block-chevy.com/ima...0/400blk_b.jpg

Think maybe we discussed this early in this thread (or in another),, sorry if it creates an echo

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

not being critical...but if a bolt won't torque just leaving it is pretty bad and that's all I was saying. sometimes the way people learn is having mistakes pointed out; that's how I learn :)

if the threads pulled it was even worse because there was no way it would seal - but if the head had been pulled no matter what was wrong could have been caught and fixed...just leaving it was a bad call, no matter what the issue was.

im calling it out so people can learn from it - that's it.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Like i said i didnt know any better and figured it was just one bolt, it would be ok. The rest torqued fine each time. I didnt say that the machine shop was at fault because the bolts would not torque, they are at fault for the not putting the short block together correctly for me.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

ok, you had said "one or two bolts" - but anyway, yeah, it's a Big Deal. any time something doesn't go just right in assembly, it's worth taking a minute to check it out :)

I don't know if the machine shop did anything wrong - the smoke could be coming from the heads or rings...without a leak-down it's hard to say, and you could have had head gasket sealing from the get-go...so the smoke could have been from that...plus running it when it was overheating (probably also part of the head gasket sealing problem) probably led to the final failure. if the bore was full of water then there are all kinds of issues. post a pick of the head gaskets and the bores and lets have look.

I ain't trying to be hard on you - but engine building is pretty unforgiving.

I guess i'm just not ready to blame the shop based on what you wrote, but I hope you have better luck with the next build - just take it slow and do everything just right :)

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Anyone building a 400/406 this Winter?

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Any completed 400/406 builds or new builds going on?

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Anyone with a new engine build to add?

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

here is what I am working with -

Dart Short block 400 (03114002)
AFR 195 or 210 head eliminator street head
Howards OE style lifters (91113)
Howards Roller Cam either a 180885-10 or a 180265-10
Comp Ultra Pro Rocker Arms (1602-16)

any more thoughts on the cam selections please feel free

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Got my 408 back together and headed to the engine dyno on the 18th for break in and tuning. New speed pro pistons, 5.7 eagle rods, ARP head studs, and a set of Blue Print Engines Aluminum 195 heads. Should be a little of 10:1 compression. Lesson learned, trying to do it right this time.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Good luck, and please let us know how great it did !

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Thanks, will do. Hopefully ill get plenty of pictures and a video or two.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

I am building a street/strip engine for my 64 Chevy II. Let me know what you think.
.40 over 509 block
Comp 280h
Scorpion 1.6 Rockers
GMPP FastBurn Heads yielding approx. 11.2 compression
Edelbrock Vic Jr
Holley 750 HP
TH350 with 3000stall

What do you think of the cam selection? Any recommendation for better choice? I already have all of this on the shelf.

Rusty

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

The 280h is a bit of an old school grind by today's standards, but I totally understand the want to use what you already have. Have you calculated your dynamic compression to see if you can run the fuel that you want to with that cam? You may need a different cam or pistons with a dish to get your dynamic compression where you need it.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Back from the dyno the other day. Brian and Chris at DynoTune Engineering in Paris, TN are great to work with and anyone local that is wanting to dyno their motor I would recommend them. We went through a couple different setups and I ended up with 445 HP and 485 ft/lbs of torque. Not breaking any records but I'm pretty pleased with it. Should be fun in a little 4 speed car.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Should be a great combo 68nou1.

I ran the numbers and seems my compression is higher than I would like. A little more research to be had on my end on DCR. I could bump up to a larger comb chamber (72cc-76cc) head and that might solve the problem. Definitely want it streetable. My 84 C10 engine is a beast and I want this to more street friendly. What kind of cam profiles does one look at to bleed off DCR?

Thanks,
Rusty
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Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Thats going to be a nice street motor!! Almost 500 pounds of torque will put a smile on your tire dealers face for sure. ;)

Can you give us the cam specs you used?

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Sure will. I can't rattle off all the specs but will get them as soon as I can and don't want to give you any wrong info. My compression was a little higher than I would like but is still streetable, just need to have a good octane boost additive with pump gas. I had a set of heads that were 74 cc on the combustion chamber but from what ive read the 400's like to breath and those heads were really choking it down. From what we found I could be over 500hp if I had them worked. but like I said I am happy with it for now at least. Any recommendations on a good octane booster in a bottle would be helpful though.

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Yeah if you find one that has any PROVEN effect on a 16 gallon tank of 91 pump gas let us know.

99% of these miracles in a bottle are nothing but Toluene and Zylene and they have a dramatically reduced effect on the 10+% ethanol fuels at the US pumps today.

Only thing 'I' know of to make a true 95+ octane (MON,, no one cares about RON or the 'pump' names),, Here's what I mix up for my 11.5:1 sand buggy.

5 gallons of VP C-12 (108 motor octane and 4.23g lead per gallon)
+ 10 gallons of Pump 91 (most is motor octane of less than 89)

mix well and enjoy with a frosty glass of iced-T ;)



BTW here's some interesting reading on blending octane boosters with pump fuels. You have to make believe you understand the technical crap and the references to the Aussie fuels, but interesting stuff starting around page 16

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Sorry it has taking me so long to get back with the specs. Been laying hardwood after a water leak and taking care of things around the house. Anyways the cam is a Comp xe274h 230/236 @ .510/.520 lift with 110 LSA

Re: 400/406 Builds
 

Im in the early stages of putting one together for my 47/S10 build. somewhat low buck build.

2 bolt .020 over 400. dont remember casting number.
fully rebuilt and ported cammel backs. 292 I believe
ported, cast 327, holley flange stock intake
2 inch ram horns for now, 2 1/2 if I find a set for cheap.
Not sure on cam yet. open to suggestions
600 vac secondary holley

Not looking for a full race motor but would be happy with 400HP. Not sure if I will get there with that intake and exhaust but will see what happens. the truck will only be around 3000 pounds so it wont take much to be quick.

Nick