Engine performance/hp upgrade

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Jun 25, 2011 | 01:08 PM

rzkas

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2007

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Engine performance/hp upgrade

Hi? I have a chevy 400 small block engine. I do not have plenty money and my status is a student. I want more horsepower from this engine.

What tricks or what can i do to increase the horsepower on this engine without breaking the bank.

Some external upgrade or some internal engine upgrade. All ideas are welcome and if you can pls give me a rough or approximate estimate on cost to do that upgrade will be great. Thanks and god bless.

NB: MY CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC

Jun 25, 2011 | 06:35 PM

Golden

Pro

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 593

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From: London England

How much do you want to spend?

What's your skill level like?

What sort of tools/facilities do you have to work on it?

Jun 25, 2011 | 06:45 PM

MelWff

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 18,665

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what is on the engine now? what year engine? etc.

Jun 25, 2011 | 10:04 PM

rzkas

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 302

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden

How much do you want to spend?

What's your skill level like?

What sort of tools/facilities do you have to work on it?

just regular tools. my skills level is around 6 out of 10 level. but i have a friend who is a mechanic that sometime helps me with work. i am willing to spend like $500 to gain some power and throttle response.

Jun 25, 2011 | 10:06 PM

rzkas

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 302

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MelWff

what is on the engine now? what year engine? etc.

it a 1978 chevy 400 small block. currently the engine has a edelbrock performer intake and a quadrajet carb and i believe, inside the enigne is stock.

Jun 25, 2011 | 10:09 PM

scottyp99

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 5,948

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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!

For starters, recurve the distributor, it's easy, it's practically free, and you can feel the difference in power. If you don't know what I'm talking about, say so, we'll explain.

Scott

Jun 25, 2011 | 10:32 PM

427Hotrod

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From: Corsicana, Tx

2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner

2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)

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Get a better cam and some headers. If you or your buddy can do some simple port work on the heads it will help a lot too.

JIM

Jun 25, 2011 | 10:34 PM

Jeff_Keryk

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 1,879

Likes: 38

From: Los Gatos CA

Free flowing exhaust.

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Jun 27, 2011 | 10:46 AM

rzkas

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 302

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyp99

For starters, recurve the distributor, it's easy, it's practically free, and you can feel the difference in power. If you don't know what I'm talking about, say so, we'll explain.

Scott

please explain to me what those recurve the distributor means, how it help to increase power and how to recurve the distributor?

Jun 27, 2011 | 10:47 AM

#10

rzkas

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 302

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff_Keryk

Free flowing exhaust.

Are saying i should remove the cat converter

Jun 27, 2011 | 11:09 AM

#11

jackson

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 7,739

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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

duplicate

Last edited by jackson; Jun 27, 2011 at 11:53 AM.

Jun 27, 2011 | 11:18 AM

#12

jackson

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 7,739

Likes: 630

From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina

after a good tuneup & true duals, a stock 400 really needs better heads & cam ... but $500 probably won't do it. A pair of vortecs & a cheap cam really wakes 'em up!

check these ... particularly part 1 ... think on it as a guide not a decree from on high.

http://chevyhiperformance.com/techar.../148_0306_406/

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...imp/index.html

yes, remove cat if you can (legal/smog) ... or at least run duals with 2 newer, hi-flow cats. ... or GUT the cat(s) ... whatever's doable in your jurisdiction.

as for recurve ... look up LARS white papers on distributor ... very good info ... study up

Jun 27, 2011 | 12:27 PM

#13

Jeff_Keryk

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 1,879

Likes: 38

From: Los Gatos CA

Free flowing exhaust - My 68 L36 runs Hedman headers, 2.5 inch dual exhaust with flowmaster (hate 'em!) mufflers. This is pretty good for a basically stock 427. Based on your local laws and pocketbook, this is a good basic free flowing exhaust. For more $$, you can do mandrel bends. On a limited budget, look for the point of most restriction. In many cases, it is the muffler.