350 to 400 small block

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
Oh yeah man...check out the Dart "Little M", i think it is.
Hello 4 inch stroked 434 small block!

Interesting. Good to know it's available, but at a shade under $3k (Jeg's price) you really have to be hooked on 400's to be ready to pony up thar much for just the block.
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,828
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
Interesting. Good to know it's available, but at a shade under $3k (Jeg's price) you really have to be hooked on 400's to be ready to pony up thar much for just the block.
If your gonna spend 3k for just a block might as well take the next step and we’ll you know the rest lol
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
If your gonna spend 3k for just a block might as well take the next step and we’ll you know the rest lol

Well, yeah. That's pretty much my thoughts. Or go LS. There's a lot of options on the table, especially if that kind of budget is in play for just a block.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
what is a 383 going to do that a 400 cant do in a mild build?
It will rev higher and also handle more compression... which means more heat which the 400 has issues with.
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,828
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
Like, you don't have this affliction any more???
Oh I still like cubic inches. Lol Back when I had the Monza big blocks were out of the price range. Pre LS big block price lowering thing.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Oh I still like cubic inches. Lol Back when I had the Monza big blocks were out of the price range. Pre LS big block price lowering thing.
I would love an old Monza... Spider!
Late 70's a buddy had one. 4 speed and 350 4 barrel. Thing went 140 mph, or so the speedo said.
Actually I would like an s-15 with a v8.. sb is fine! Fuel economy and tire roaster all in one!
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,828
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
I would love an old Monza... Spider!
Late 70's a buddy had one. 4 speed and 350 4 barrel. Thing went 140 mph, or so the speedo said.
Actually I would like an s-15 with a v8.. sb is fine! Fuel economy and tire roaster all in one!
I had both. I posted a pic of the S10 somewhere on here last night I think. I had a Spider and a Mirage and a normal V8 2+2.
 

fussfeld

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Posts
340
Reaction score
54
Location
east coast
First Name
j
Truck Year
83
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
4.3 v-6 262CID
I was not even aware anyone was making aftermarket 400 blocks. It's been some time since I went through the speed catalogs with the intention of building a sbc.

Give me a few hours or days. Or you can look for yourself at the GM performance site, actually i think now called Chevrolet performance:

Ok, i'm obsessed: i think it's page 157 in the catalog #12480157 block (i was going to build one), then they also have 2 aluminum blocks
http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/overview

i think Dart has one, but i don't have time for that.

Also, i think Blueprint has their own casting (?), but unfortunately i have heard too much negative comments about them.

But the bottom line, for me, is that if i was going to build a 400 (or 400+, 421 etc) i would start with a new block. Because think about how much time(and money) it will take to track a used one down. Then you have to check it out----and what if it's cracked? At the very least it will probably need to be rebuilt. The aftermarket block are also mucho stronger than stock.
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
Give me a few hours or days. Or you can look for yourself at the GM performance site, actually i think now called Chevrolet performance:

Ok, i'm obsessed: i think it's page 157 in the catalog #12480157 block (i was going to build one), then they also have 2 aluminum blocks
http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/overview

i think Dart has one, but i don't have time for that.

Also, i think Blueprint has their own casting (?), but unfortunately i have heard too much negative comments about them.

But the bottom line, for me, is that if i was going to build a 400 (or 400+, 421 etc) i would start with a new block. Because think about how much time(and money) it will take to track a used one down. Then you have to check it out----and what if it's cracked? At the very least it will probably need to be rebuilt. The aftermarket block are also mucho stronger than stock.


Yeah, the dart block was already mentioned. I looked it up, we were discussing the the price of a bare block vs other options on the page before this one.
 

fussfeld

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Posts
340
Reaction score
54
Location
east coast
First Name
j
Truck Year
83
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
4.3 v-6 262CID
P.S.
#12480157 available at Summit for $1,849.14 free shipping.

Now, again add up all the time, gas etc. it will take to find a USEABLE, GOOD 400 block, then add in the machining costs etc............and the $1850 doesn't seem so high.........
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,506
Reaction score
6,482
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
P.S.
#12480157 available at Summit for $1,849.14 free shipping.

Now, again add up all the time, gas etc. it will take to find a USEABLE, GOOD 400 block, then add in the machining costs etc............and the $1850 doesn't seem so high.........

Heh, I traded the labor of building a doghouse for a 71 400sb 4 bolt main. 4 miles from my house...
You must be registered for see images attach
 

peats

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
305
Reaction score
260
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
john
Truck Year
72k5, 81c10 short step, 83k10 short fleet, 03 SSR. 25 chevy doodlebug
Truck Model
k5 c10 k10 SSR doodlebug
Engine Size
406 360 6.2 5.3 171
$250 for a complete rebuidable 400 is a fair price i can already hear honky kong groaning but you cant get more torque for the $ anywhere else. put flat tops in it and go to mid grade gas. it won't be a high rpm engine but it will make lots of torque down low where you drive every day.
 

peats

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
305
Reaction score
260
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
john
Truck Year
72k5, 81c10 short step, 83k10 short fleet, 03 SSR. 25 chevy doodlebug
Truck Model
k5 c10 k10 SSR doodlebug
Engine Size
406 360 6.2 5.3 171
$1800 is completely doable for machine work and a performance rebuild on the 400. check out northern auto parts for their rebuild kits. pick out a cam that makes power lower in the rpm range. you wont get the thump and bump but you will kill it off the line.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,160
Posts
950,625
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top