mos90

ok, i cant seem to make up my mind on the best route...

my local machinist has a 4 bolt 1pc rear seal roller block.. im not a big fan of a 383 so i decided to go with a 396 ci.. he pulled out the block and cleaned it and was getting ready to prep and he gave me a call..
he said "i have a 2 bolt 400 block here and before i start your engine i need to make sure this is what you want, for the same price as the 396 i can build a 434 with the 400 block. all i would do is put on some billet main caps."

so after that convo, i called shaffiroff racing to get price on a rotating assembly and he said a 400 would probalby not last to long with 625 hp plus a 150-200 shot of nos. he recommended a dart or world block..
now your talking about another 2k that was not in my budget.. but i do like the idea of a 434 over a 396.

what route would be the "best" route to go??
talking into consideration either short block will be around 3k completely balanced.. but if you add in a dart block i might a well buy a short block from shafiroff for $4300 that already has a new dart block.

Steve85

Check out dyno-flo on ebay. They are a shop in Nevada (vegas area I think) and have some really well priced stuff. Fully assembled 434 with a dart block for $3700.

Do a search for "short block" . They are usually offering a few sizes 421, 427, 383...

I only suggest this because I recall a member here that visited the shop and was impressed, very impressed as I recall. It seems to fit your budget well with all forged parts and comes assembled. You still have to overcome that ebay angst though.

kopbet89c4

The bigger, the better! Not for economy of course. If I could just get myself to start spending, I'd get a 454, tune it, stuff it under and get some good holding up drivetrain and a spare tranny. I'd get a turbo/supercharger if needed. Or heck an all aluminum BBC 572 crate would be better but I'd need wheelie bars even for the street!

STL94LT1

Wake up Tommy, time to get up for school.

Bruce

Bigger is not always better. It all depends on how to put the combo together.


Bruce

93 ragtop

With that kind of power the whole drivetrain will not last long!!

mos90

im having the rear done now, cryo parts and gears.. should be able to hold up. now the tranny i have a good year zf6 , should be ok if i dont spray out of the hole. i think a 434 is the way to go, but i really need a dart block to keep it together. i think...

tjwong

I just dyno'd a 95 F body that has a local built 396 that laid down 414 hp on my chassis dyno. The engine is a callies stroked, Lunati rods, LPE CNC ported LT4 heads, LPE ported intake and a comp 306 cam. I beleive the owner said that he was running 11:1 compression with this engine using Arias pistons. Power peaked at 6000 RPM and was flat to 6300 RPM. It was mild enough as a daily driver, I beleive there is a bit more in it if I get my hands into the PCM It was owner tuned with LT1 Edit.

Alvin

I always tell people to weigh the cost of a bigger CID engine with the cost of better heads.

In other words, heads are where the powers at.. make sure you spend enough there.


I've got a handicapped kid running high 10's on motor. First time hes driven since his accident 3 years ago. Its a 396 trans am with nice nice AFR heads.

GeosFun

Both sizes will make great power. My own experience is to get what you want, even if it means waiting until you have more $$. That is what I am doing. If you like the 434 better, you will always wonder what you gave up. And once you are in the new one for about $10,000, you will kick youself in the hind-end endlessly and think, "Gee, for about 1,800 more, I could have had a dart block(which is better anyway) and 434." So my advice is, don't look at just price on the front end. Plan the end result you really want and then go for it and don't look back. Once you have it, you will go to bed at night smiling and wake up the same way. I look at the shortblock and cubic inches as the foundation for a house. If you want a great house, you cannot cut the foundation short. Pithy, eh?

By the way, Ohio Crankshaft advertises extensively in National Dragster. They have a 434 kit or assembled short block for something like $3200 unassembled kit or $3600 assembled, I think World/Bill Mitchell block. I am sure you just need to tell them what compression piston to install.

Edit: I am not finding their websight. I will dig up an ND to find their ad, and add their websight here.
Edit #2: It is www.ohiocrank.com , no "shaft" in the end. Duh. Anyway, my guess on prices was wrong: Shortblock unassembled, $3645, assembled, $3845 (JE pistons, total seal rings, Motown block, fedral mogul bearings, Ohio crank and 6" rods. Now get this, for $1600 more, you can get the Motown aluminum block! If you like to show off (and who doesn't...after all, we DO drive Corvettes!), this is not too shabby This is really a pride of ownership issue and what melts your butter, more than anything.

mos90

alvin.. either set of heads for the 396 or 434 will cost about the same..
$2000-2300. it the cost of the dart block i realy wasnt planning.

mos90

good stuff geo...

GeosFun

MOS,
As an afterthought, Caboboy (this forum) recently completed a 421" engine with a 150 NOS shot and is on the road with it. His is a very similar 400 block with 3-7/8"stroke crank as you are considering. As configured, his should make around 500fwhp NA and is California emissions compliant. You might want to kick around your options with him. He is full of good info and willing to tell all. We all have too many REALLY GOOD options!

mos90

geo, the 434 i want is with a 4" crank. but it really doesnt matter..