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396/409 Questions..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 378
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396/409 Questions..
Is it possible to bore my stock 350 block out to a 409? I went to Speed Demon Motorsports awhile back and he said he could do it...BUT, would it be reliable for a daily driver? because I would like to produce alot of power and still be able to drive it wherever/whenever without having to worry about it blowing up on me? Can someone give me some advice/specs on the best size to go to, and the power gains that I would have with the new displacement? Thank you all! 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
A 409 is a .030" overbore with a 4" stroke crankshaft... It can and is done but wedging a 4" stroke in a standard 350 block is a PITA; I'm in the middle of building a 415" LT1 right now for a customer. I've taken quite a bit of the pan rail out in order to clear the rod bolts with the 4" stroke. The block was previously clearance for the 383 I built him a few years ago and I milled more out on top of that.
I would actually suggest a 396 or 401 (4.030" bore and 3 7/8" crank and 4.060" bore and 3 7/8" crank) over the larger stroke. You don't have to clearance as much and your rod/stroke ratio is much better.
It's absolutely imperative that you get an excellent builder who is well versed in building long stroke/stock block SBC's. I usually shy away from punching a standard 350 block .060" if I can help it; it taxes the cooling system more. However, if you have a good block with no core shift and the thrust sides will have .250" or more after boring you'll be fine. PM me and I'll give you some additional tips.
-Jeb
I would actually suggest a 396 or 401 (4.030" bore and 3 7/8" crank and 4.060" bore and 3 7/8" crank) over the larger stroke. You don't have to clearance as much and your rod/stroke ratio is much better.
It's absolutely imperative that you get an excellent builder who is well versed in building long stroke/stock block SBC's. I usually shy away from punching a standard 350 block .060" if I can help it; it taxes the cooling system more. However, if you have a good block with no core shift and the thrust sides will have .250" or more after boring you'll be fine. PM me and I'll give you some additional tips.
-Jeb
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Gee whiz I wish someone like World Products would get off their **** and cast us poor LTx owners a LTx block like a Dart M or similar. Then we can build one hell of a stroker motor 
So maybe if everyone here that owns a LTx engine call World products up and inquire about a LTx block. Maybe they will get the message that its wanted and a viable product for them.
So maybe if everyone here that owns a LTx engine call World products up and inquire about a LTx block. Maybe they will get the message that its wanted and a viable product for them.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,642
Likes: 0
From: The last place on earth to get cable... Sacramento
Originally Posted by jburnett
A 409 is a .030" overbore with a 4" stroke crankshaft... It can and is done but wedging a 4" stroke in a standard 350 block is a PITA; I'm in the middle of building a 415" LT1 right now for a customer. I've taken quite a bit of the pan rail out in order to clear the rod bolts with the 4" stroke. The block was previously clearance for the 383 I built him a few years ago and I milled more out on top of that.
I would actually suggest a 396 or 401 (4.030" bore and 3 7/8" crank and 4.060" bore and 3 7/8" crank) over the larger stroke. You don't have to clearance as much and your rod/stroke ratio is much better.
It's absolutely imperative that you get an excellent builder who is well versed in building long stroke/stock block SBC's. I usually shy away from punching a standard 350 block .060" if I can help it; it taxes the cooling system more. However, if you have a good block with no core shift and the thrust sides will have .250" or more after boring you'll be fine. PM me and I'll give you some additional tips.
-Jeb
I would actually suggest a 396 or 401 (4.030" bore and 3 7/8" crank and 4.060" bore and 3 7/8" crank) over the larger stroke. You don't have to clearance as much and your rod/stroke ratio is much better.
It's absolutely imperative that you get an excellent builder who is well versed in building long stroke/stock block SBC's. I usually shy away from punching a standard 350 block .060" if I can help it; it taxes the cooling system more. However, if you have a good block with no core shift and the thrust sides will have .250" or more after boring you'll be fine. PM me and I'll give you some additional tips.
-Jeb
Good advice for bowtie smallblocks... overheating was a big issue with the 60 over blocks I've had... strokers are great for increasing torque, but your windage tray will need adjustment too... that stroker crank dips lower into the pan.
If you're plan is to drive it on the street a lot, I'd pick a 396.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati Oh
why not snag a 400" block for a couple hundred bucks and stroke that one to 421ci (or what ever the rounding gets you). You'd probably pay more to have someone clearance a stock 350 than to get the 400" block to work (especially for a 406ci)?
Just a suggestion!
Just a suggestion!
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Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Originally Posted by amm0bob
...If you're plan is to drive it on the street a lot, I'd pick a 396.
Last edited by tobijohn; Jul 14, 2004 at 09:51 PM. Reason: typo
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,642
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From: The last place on earth to get cable... Sacramento
Originally Posted by tobijohn
How come? TIA...
There are fewer of my friends with complaints of a hot motor w/396's than 409's (larger motors make more heat)... but then again I only know one fella that still has his 409 sb.
I sized up motors several times on a block over the years... 30, 60, 80, over+, chevy sb's and mopars... but my faves were the olds 455's to over bore, they never got hotter than a normal one would, they just wiegh a boatload.
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Originally Posted by amm0bob
Entirely My Personal Preference
There are fewer of my friends with complaints of a hot motor w/396's than 409's ...
There are fewer of my friends with complaints of a hot motor w/396's than 409's ...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,642
Likes: 0
From: The last place on earth to get cable... Sacramento
Originally Posted by tobijohn
Oh, I thought you meant you preferred 396s over 383s for reasons other than additional HP. Thanks...
383's... run warmer than 350's...
383's... chevy's run warmer than mopar's, but they are different block types/makes...
383's... Love em... bowtie or mopar... good mid-cube number.
But I kinda lean to the big blocks for power... it's just a PITA to squeeze em in a car sometimes. And being in Cali means I don't get to put one in my 90 vette (502 would be nice). I've put in dozens of chevy sb's over my time... 283's and up... some with boost, some with juice, and along the way I learned that heat is a direct function of cubes (OK I'm not the brightest bulb in the shed, I learned the hard way most times)...
I have an opinion about 396's because of driving em... and my bud's telling me how much they like theirs. adding a little stroke to a sb chevy is a good thing... but my experience has been that 4" strokers are nearing the limits of the motor to be a long running one... however, if it's put together well and the clearances are good, it's hard to beat em when they're running.
Bench Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 15
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
Originally Posted by amm0bob
... however, if it's put together well and the clearances are good, it's hard to beat em when they're running.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by Ramanstud
why not snag a 400" block for a couple hundred bucks and stroke that one to 421ci (or what ever the rounding gets you). You'd probably pay more to have someone clearance a stock 350 than to get the 400" block to work (especially for a 406ci)?
Just a suggestion!
Just a suggestion!
Im thinkin about building a 396 LT4 motor right now. I think it would make awsome power. Build it for nitrous and be ready to beat the best of them
What size rods are the way to with the 396? 5.7, 6.0in? Im guessing that would put the wrist pin hieght really high though.
Last edited by StealDads67; Jul 15, 2004 at 01:07 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 23
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by tjwong
Gee whiz I wish someone like World Products would get off their **** and cast us poor LTx owners a LTx block like a Dart M or similar. Then we can build one hell of a stroker motor So maybe if everyone here that owns a LTx engine call World products up and inquire about a LTx block. Maybe they will get the message that its wanted and a viable product for them.
So maybe if everyone here that owns a LTx engine call World products up and inquire about a LTx block. Maybe they will get the message that its wanted and a viable product for them.A 427 LTx would be nice.
There is a yellow C4 vette there, sounds nasty. I would like a shot at him
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville Fl
Originally Posted by Hammer
I'm going to call today, they're about 4 minutes from where I work.
A 427 LTx would be nice.
There is a yellow C4 vette there, sounds nasty. I would like a shot at him
A 427 LTx would be nice.
There is a yellow C4 vette there, sounds nasty. I would like a shot at him
please let us know what you find out. i know there is a lot of ppl on this board that would be very interested in a LTX block that could handle such cubes like our LS breathren
