I finally broke down and got a 400engine today. It is a salvage yard engine. It appears to be unmolested. It is a 2 bolt main,"511" casting. I have already disassemled it and plan on taking it to the machine shop for hot tanking and checking the bores and crank. I am a little concerned about the crank. It appears to have a couple of "dings" on one of the rod journals. I am sure that it will have to be turned but, what is a safe amount to have on turned? I am not building a high dollar race engine or anything, just a mild street engine.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
I bought my 400 for $250.. which was from a friend who got it at a junkyard.. but he also had it cleaned and checked and I paid him the amount he had in it
Thanks for all the comments. As far as price goes...well...400's are becoming a rare item around here(north Carolina), bare blocks are going for $200-$250 and complete engines are in the $350-$400 range. These are junkyard engines with no work or cleaning having been done. Definitely not the prices you see in some of the car mags, where they say they picked up an engine in the junkyard for $100. But, I guess if you are gonna play....well you know the rest.
I managed to get the engine disassembled and to the machine shop today. I had them "mic" it before going any further with cleaning, etc. It checked out fine. All the bores are standard and all the journals were on the low side of standard. It is now being hot tanked,checked for cracks and having cam bearings installed. Then it will have to sit in the garage for awhile , while I decide on exactly what parts to get.....oh well.
Are you saying that you have one for sale? I might be interested in it.
Jay
Yes. Let me take a good close look at it so I can give you an accurate rundown on it. I believe one of the rod journals has a small ding that would require a polish.
Definately let me know. I'm trying to stockpile some parts for a 400. I don't have the money to build on right now, but I'm trying my hardest! It sux being 17 and paying for it all!! Anyway, keep me updated.
Jay
400 small blocks are becoming harder and harder to find. I know around this area most of them get used in circle track cars.....which may last a couple of seasons at best.
Definately let me know. I'm trying to stockpile some parts for a 400. I don't have the money to build on right now, but I'm trying my hardest! It sux being 17 and paying for it all!! Anyway, keep me updated.
Jay
OK, it's a cast crank that has been welded up and offset-ground to provide the extra .082" stroke. (3.832" as opposed to 3.750"). Two of the rod journals have small imperfections that I believe can be polished out. If you're seriously interested I'll run it by a machinist to confirm that a simple polish will take them out and get you all set up. I'd also be willing to have it magged just so both of us would have some peace of mind. Let me know if you're interested for $200 plus actual shipping. (Provided that it checks out OK, of course.)
I assumed that it was a forged crank. That's what I really wanted. I'm in the planning stage of a 400 sbc with 6in rods and Forged Pistons. I really want to spin it to 7,000rpm. I don't know if that crank will be strong enough. I've been looking at the Scat 9000 cranks. They're only a little over $200, but you can't get any stroker cranks. Do you think your crank will be strong enough?
Corvette Store
Got my 400 today!!
