400 small block
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Sault Ste Marie Mi
400 small block
I'm starting a build on a 400 small block and would like some input on cams, heads, pistons, cranks or whatever anyone has advice on or experience with. I would like a setup for street in the 400-450 hp range with matching torque. Also would like carb size info. Thanks, :p:
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 10,258
Likes: 1
From: Calif.
Re: 400 small block (Mighty Mouse)
I'm starting a build on a 400 small block and would like some input on cams, heads, pistons, cranks or whatever anyone has advice on or experience with. I would like a setup for street in the 400-450 hp range with matching torque. Also would like carb size info. Thanks, :p:
Heads = Dart Pro 1 (200/210/215 c.c.)
Pistons = Forged flat-tops like SRP 138100.
Rods/Crank = Eagle.
Carb = Q-Jet/750-800 Holley.
That'll be $250.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 182
From: Toronto, Canada
Re: 400 small block (The Dude)
Does the car have a manual or auto tranny?
I would look for a cam with short duration and high lift with fast ramps. A 400ci can tolerate more cam than a a 350ci, but as suggested somewhere around 230-235 @ .050 will work nicely.
No need for a forged crank, a good Scat 9000 or Eagle will suffice for your goals.
:cheers:
I would look for a cam with short duration and high lift with fast ramps. A 400ci can tolerate more cam than a a 350ci, but as suggested somewhere around 230-235 @ .050 will work nicely.
No need for a forged crank, a good Scat 9000 or Eagle will suffice for your goals.
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: 400 small block (95vettski)
Here's a thread that going on right now in the C3 section, my be worth checking out before you get too deep into your buildup.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=308755
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=308755
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
From: Tracy California
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: 400 small block (Mighty Mouse)
Mighty Mouse
I ran a 406 in my 88 last year. My combo used Canfield 195cc heads with additional porting. I used the CompCam XE268 flat hydraulic 224/230 @ .050 with 1.6 RR's. My compression was 10.1
That engine made a Hell of a lot torque! I bet it had to be around 500# or more. The little cam idled great and the engine never stalled on me. But If I had to do it over again I'd go with a bigger cam and way bigger heads. The motor was done pulling by 5200RPM or so. The power band was ideal since I was using OEM 5.7's, crank etc.. parts in the bottom end.
I never really tried to max it out in the 1/4 because I couldn't stop the dam thing from leaking oil. But the few times I did run it, it would pull Z06's in the first 60' and they'd never catch up.
I ran a 12.50 witthout dumping the clutch and granny shifting 3-4th. I felt that the engine was not breathing adequately through the M.A.F. and would have done way better with a DFI.
I also did some track testing of various parts! email me if you'd like more info.
KM
I ran a 406 in my 88 last year. My combo used Canfield 195cc heads with additional porting. I used the CompCam XE268 flat hydraulic 224/230 @ .050 with 1.6 RR's. My compression was 10.1
That engine made a Hell of a lot torque! I bet it had to be around 500# or more. The little cam idled great and the engine never stalled on me. But If I had to do it over again I'd go with a bigger cam and way bigger heads. The motor was done pulling by 5200RPM or so. The power band was ideal since I was using OEM 5.7's, crank etc.. parts in the bottom end.
I never really tried to max it out in the 1/4 because I couldn't stop the dam thing from leaking oil. But the few times I did run it, it would pull Z06's in the first 60' and they'd never catch up.
I ran a 12.50 witthout dumping the clutch and granny shifting 3-4th. I felt that the engine was not breathing adequately through the M.A.F. and would have done way better with a DFI.
I also did some track testing of various parts! email me if you'd like more info.
KM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
From: Tracy California
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: 400 small block (CORKVETTE1)
Corvette1
Your car is impressive! No doubt about it... I don't know what the hell was wrong with my 406, but it just wouldn't run the MPH for me. It seemed like everytime I did a induction Mod, it dropped ET and gained very little speed.
Perhaps if it wasn't leaking all the time I would've kept tunning on it. The last time I ran it, it spit out the complete seal behind the dampner. How and why it did that, I will never know. That seal had been replaced 3 times with two different covers. My paitence had reached the end. LeakZilla was retired and eventually sold.
Who did your chip? I wonder if mine was just to conservative?
KM
Your car is impressive! No doubt about it... I don't know what the hell was wrong with my 406, but it just wouldn't run the MPH for me. It seemed like everytime I did a induction Mod, it dropped ET and gained very little speed.
Perhaps if it wasn't leaking all the time I would've kept tunning on it. The last time I ran it, it spit out the complete seal behind the dampner. How and why it did that, I will never know. That seal had been replaced 3 times with two different covers. My paitence had reached the end. LeakZilla was retired and eventually sold.
Who did your chip? I wonder if mine was just to conservative?
KM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: 400 small block (88-406)
i was running a stock chip for a while then i went to formato i do not think i gained much performance other than better idle and more mpg :)
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
