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402 block?

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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:08 AM
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Default 402 block?

I have a lead on a 402 block from 1972. Will all 396/454 parts bolt-up to this motor (e.g. head gaskets, lifters, cams, etc.)?
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:17 AM
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A 402 big block is a .030 over 396...
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:23 AM
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Yes , the gaskets, haeds, cams all fit. the 454 blocks were notched at
the bottom of the cylinders for the 4 inch stroke. 427, 454
has a 4.250 bore and uses a 4.370 head gasket. you can use the 4.370
gasket on the 4.155 bore 402.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Jun 6, 2006 at 09:30 AM.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:30 AM
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BBC weighs a lot more than sbc. It takes hp & tq to move weight. Much of the other BBC stuff will fit 402 but BBC stuff usually costs more ... especially heads. Compared to 427/454 ... 396 & 402 piston choices are limited.

BBC 402 = 4.125 bore x 3.766 stroke.

sbc 400 = 4.125 bore x 3.750 stroke ... only sixteeen thousandth's less stroke than 396/402/427.

suggest ... if you're impressed with 400+ displacement ... forget the BBC 402 and build an sbc 400. Tons & tons of choices when assembling an sbc 400 ... and cheaper than equivalent BBC part.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:31 AM
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How much do I have to bore out the 402 to make a 427? Or is that pushing it?
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by jackson
BBC weighs a lot more than sbc. It takes hp & tq to move weight. Much of the other BBC stuff will fit 402 but BBC stuff usually costs more ... especially heads. Compared to 427/454 ... 396 & 402 piston choices are limited.

BBC 402 = 4.125 bore x 3.766 stroke.

sbc 400 = 4.125 bore x 3.750 stroke ... only sixteeen thousandth's less stroke than 396/402/427.

suggest ... if you're impressed with 400+ displacement ... forget the BBC 402 and build an sbc 400. Tons & tons of choices when assembling an sbc 400 ... and cheaper than equivalent BBC part.
Yeah, I'm on the fence. Always wanted a BB car, but...money is key.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:32 AM
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You would have to bore it to far to do that.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:34 AM
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The nice thing about using the 402 big block is how well big block heads
flow air. And you can use a longer rods with the 9.8 deck height. 400
small blocks have thin cylinders compaired to big blocks. its possible to
put the 4 inch stroke crank of the 454 in the 402 if you want more cubes.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Jun 6, 2006 at 09:41 AM.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Little Mouse
You would have to bore it to far to do that.
My calculator says 4.250 bore x 3.760 stroke. That's too much? .125 over?
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
Yeah, I'm on the fence. Always wanted a BB car, but...money is key.
There's your answer $$$$$. A good BBC 408 (thirty over 402) will cost a lot more to assemble than a good sbc 406 (thirty over 400).
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:53 AM
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to make the 402 chevy just took the 396 block and bored it 030
to 4.155. you would have to bore it another 095 to get to 4.250.
the 4 bolt 427/454 blocks can be bored 1.25 but even then they
recomend sonic checking the block before boring them that far.
396 wont go 1.25 overbore. If you want more cubes put the 4 inch
stroke crank in it and bore the cylinder another 030 or 060 over
396

Last edited by Little Mouse; Jun 6, 2006 at 09:56 AM.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 09:59 AM
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Seems there's some confusion on 396

BBC 396 = 4.094" bore x 3.766" stroke
BBC 402 = 4.125" bore x 3.766" stroke

-edit- ... BTW, near certainty that 72 402 block has 2-bolt mains.

Last edited by jackson; Jun 6, 2006 at 10:11 AM.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 10:12 AM
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Ok anyway if you bore a 396 060 to 4.155 and use a 4 inch 454
crank you end up with 433 cubes.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Little Mouse
Ok anyway if you bore a 396 060 to 4.155 and use a 4 inch 454 crank you end up with 433 cubes.
Again, 396/402 piston choices are limited ... just try & find an off-the-shelf piston for any similar BBC 396/402 w/4" stroker combo ... suggest it'd cost BIG$ for custom stroker pistons.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 10:39 AM
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I respectfully disagree with comparisons of a SB-400 to a small BB.

A BB-396 or a 402 will smoke a SB 400 if they are cammed and built with similar specs. The heads are the difference. Large SB heads have 220cc runners,..mid-sized BB heads have 290cc (O-ports),..or you could even go bigger (square ports) if you're building a real snotty 402.

And if you used aluminum heads and intake on the BB, she'd weigh only a fraction more than an iron SB.

If cost of the builds aren't too far apart, go BB.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 10:49 AM
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I was thinking of bringing up that point 73 454 the small BB
will make more torque and HP then a 400 even without the
4 inch stroke crank. If I were doing it I would just use the
3.76 crank.

Last edited by Little Mouse; Jun 6, 2006 at 10:52 AM.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 10:51 AM
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I have a 1966 396 bored and stroked to 454 and the machine shop says it can still go another 30 over... Lots of meat in the old BBCs.

Audie
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 12:06 PM
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There's no doubt OE BBC heads have larger ports & valves than most sbc heads and have more POTENTIAL than most sbc heads. But how much of that potential is gonna be used in a budget 402 build? ... Nacho wrote "money is key". It'll take big$ for pistons if block won't go to 427/454 bore, more $ block clearancing (454 crank), sonic testing etc. And I just dunno if most 402 ... or even Nacho's 402 block can safely go another whole eighth inch (427/454)? Two-thousand dollars is kind of an arbitrary number ... but I suggest if you throw the same $2K at building either a worn-out 402 or a worn-out 400 ... a 3200 lb car would be quicker with the freshened sbc 400. Suggest the same would be true if only $1K were spent.
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 02:28 PM
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This is the one I was looking at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
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Old Jun 6, 2006 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
Looks like high compression pistons.
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