I have a 400 chevy 4 bolt main(weaker than 2 bolt) that has been rebuilt 30 over mabey 1,000 miles ago. How much power can this thing handle with stock internals. I want to build a low budget sleeper for my 75 nova 4dr and looking between 400hp and 500hp.
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How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
i have a z28 140 off road solid mech cam int .494 adv 304? .50 257 .Im not sure what heads to run though i have a set of world s/r or a set of 882 both have been pocket ported and have 2.02's, but i also for the price of having those redone i can get a set of afr 195 that are ready to go but im just worried it will be too much power for the stock internals. I also am going to run an air gap and a 750 duble pumper that i have.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Grind the parting lines on the rods, and polish them,
plus replacing the rod bolts w/ ARP rod bolts,
and maybe some ARP main cap bols. Cheap insurance.
After grinding and polishing you may need a balance job,
but that should be checked anyway if you replace pistons.
If not, you should still have it checked.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Do you think bolts will be ok or should i go with studs, i want to do this really cheap, ?. Also i have heard about half filling it with block filler for extra strength is it worth it. I really want to cruise it around and flog it every once in awhile.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Originally posted by CooL-NeWeLLDo you think bolts will be ok or should i go with studs, i want to do this really cheap, ?. Also i have heard about half filling it with block filler for extra strength is it worth it. I really want to cruise it around and flog it every once in awhile.
I'd stud it, but that may require having it align bored/honed.
Depends on how much you got to spend.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Originally posted by CooL-NeWeLLDo you think bolts will be ok or should i go with studs, i want to do this really cheap, ?. Also i have heard about half filling it with block filler for extra strength is it worth it. I really want to cruise it around and flog it every once in awhile.
As for power I'd say your safe at 500hp.
Go with the AFR's they'll make that 500hp goal a lot easier.
Other than that I agree with Min301 on polishing the parting lines on the rods, it's just cheap insurance.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Originally posted by min301Grind the parting lines on the rods, and polish them,
plus replacing the rod bolts w/ ARP rod bolts,
and maybe some ARP main cap bols. Cheap insurance.
After grinding and polishing you may need a balance job,
but that should be checked anyway if you replace pistons.
If not, you should still have it checked.
we do a bunch of budget stuff this way "the devil is in the details" good hardware clean polish leave nothing untouched lol
the rods are strong just short
if it is a 406 or will be step up to a 5.7 rod it will wake it up over the 5.56 rod
let it breath is the keygood intake heads and cam just like any other engine
the lower will hold up with "factory"parts
my 400 i never fill and they always run around 195 temp wise even my 454 sbc runs cold temp will kill a 400 easy
my 440 was a 2 bolt with all the fun stuff my 454 was a 4 bolt 400 that is studded billet main caps and a girdle because it is the weaker block been in the car for bout 10000 miles so far and i punish it
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
When I saterted working for VanPeenan, he had built a 406 of Ron Heeney
a few years prior. That was 15yrs ago, and that same motor is still in use,
though has been freshened a time or two.
I agree on the 5.7 rods, though that will bump up the price for balancing,
and require the use of new pistons(not a bad thing).
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Originally posted by min301When I saterted working for VanPeenan, he had built a 406 of Ron Heeney
a few years prior. That was 15yrs ago, and that same motor is still in use,
though has been freshened a time or two.
I agree on the 5.7 rods, though that will bump up the price for balancing,
and require the use of new pistons(not a bad thing).
Hot Rod or Car Craft did a shootout on the three rods and the 5.7 was best all around.
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Ill take the MIN advice and just polish the stock ones save myself some $. Im only looking at maybe 550hp at most, but i do have a nitrous kit but i dont think the stock 30 over pistons will handle that. Here is another question i have ran into from reading forums is not to use a high volume oil pump with a stock pan or it will suck the pan dry and cause damage. Any one have thoughts on that should i just get a good stock melling pump?
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Re: How much rpm and hp can a 400 small block handle?
Originally posted by CooL-NeWeLLIll take the MIN advice and just polish the stock ones save myself some $. Im only looking at maybe 550hp at most, but i do have a nitrous kit but i dont think the stock 30 over pistons will handle that. Here is another question i have ran into from reading forums is not to use a high volume oil pump with a stock pan or it will suck the pan dry and cause damage. Any one have thoughts on that should i just get a good stock melling pump?
Stock Melling, with a good pickup(retained), good oil pan and/or a windage tray should be all you need.
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