This story happened a few years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I've heard of a guy who was redoing his early 70's corvette that was supposedly going to be one of the nastiest cars around. I was told it was red with a huge cowl hood that underwent a full restoration. At the time I had a 71 Chevelle that didn't look the greatest by any means, but I built one nasty 400 SBC. I honestly never lost a street with this car (no lie), but then again I never raced a Buick with it. Anyway, I was cruising in the Chevelle one night and this guy with the red corvette with the huge cowl hood pulls up to me and I have to admit the car looked very intimidating, but I usual don't turn down a race. We're both sitting at the light and he starts revving his engine. We both took off once the light turned green and all he saw was my tail lights. :laugh: I let off and he started to catch up to me and when he got close again (once we were moving 40 MPH or so) we both romped on it again. I slowly pulled away this time. We both hit another light and he looked over at me dumbfounded. I saw him at a car show a few weeks later and he couldnt believe how my car took off. He was amazed. I sold the Chevelle once I bought my Buick (which I'm glad I did b/c I love my Buick). I sold my Chevelle to my mechanic and he ran it at the track (which I never did). He showed me the time slips. Once he tuned it right it ran 11.80's consistently (with slicks). I knew it was quick, but I didn't think it was that quick. Sorry for the long story, but I thought maybe some people would like it.
Man those 400s can run good. very torquey too. I'm surprized so many people ignore them as a performance mill. Maybe its the heating issue- with the proper cooling system it's no big deal really. My bro is currently building one actually. .030, AFR 180 heads and 6 inch rods. Should be pretty nasty. a few years ago we built a 400 for his 86 Trans am. it was a short rod motor, with 882s. it took about two weeks for the T5 to blow. That was a really budget build with the stock 5.65" rods. Very excited to see how this new motor comes together with good heads and long rods. tell me about your 400, and the whole car. :3gears:
Joe, It's hard for me to remember everything that I did to my 400, but I'll tell you what I do remember. I bought the heads off a guy who strictly raced. My father's cousin has a well known machine shop around here. He did all of the work on the heads and the guy wanted to up grade to aluminum heads. I ended up getting them for $700 and they were fully ported. I just put all new parts in them. My father's cousin called them "racing heads". He said the only way you could get a better set of heads is to buy aluminum and the only thing that would do is save weight. I bought those heads and they were simply awesome. Here are some of the specs that I remember. 400 SBC 2 bolt mains bored .030 over (406ci) Aftermarket cast iron heads fully ported Victor Intake (forget if it was a super or junior) 800 Holley Double Pumper Carb 10.75:1 compression All ARP bolts Headers and a Crappy Exhaust 2.25 from the muffs back. Stock Crank Hydraulic Roller Cam (If I remember correctly 232/232 Duration @ .050 with a total of .595 lift with 1.6 roller rockers) I'm not sure about the connecting rods etc. If you want me to find out more (such as connecting rods etc) let me know and I'll tak to my father's cousin. This engine was truly decked out. I didn't scrape on anything and I ran my TH-350 transmission behind it with no problems (modified). I loved that motor. It sounded somewhat stock with the cam and it didn't look to great, but it ran like he**. Everyone always took a second look if they tried racing me or my father. As far as the car goes, it was pretty much stock as far as the suspension goes. It had a 8.2 10-bolt posi rear with 3:73 gears. It burned through street tires with easy, but it hooked nice with sticky street tires. I ended up selling the car for only 5K b/c I bought my Buick and I was informed (by my parents) that it had to go, but I love my Buick and I wouldn't trade it unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. If you want to know anything else please let me know. P.S. I never had any problems with that vehicle overheating, no matter what temperature it was outside. Brian
