Has anyone used 6" rods in a 400? Did you have any clearance problems around the skirt? I recently sold my heads, and the Green Meanie is going to emerge bigger, badder and faster than ever. In addition to some serious flowing heads, I'm taking the opportunity to do some other upgrades. I was thinking 6" rods with a matched set of pistons. Any of you guys come across a good combo that works? Second question regarding lifters. I'm assuming a solid roller has better RPM potential than a regular solid lifters, any comments? I'm intending to keep my compression between 10.5:1 and 11:1 and a very light valve train. I'll be running a cam with lots of duration and overlap so It will still be a pump gas machine. In theory, I think the motor will look something like this:

406 SB
6" rods, Hyperutectic Pistons
10.5:1 to 11:1 Compression
Ported AFR Aluminum heads, 195-200CC intake vol.
Victor Jr Intake

Cam: TBD, but it will have lots of lift intensity, probably solid lifters. Total lift about 0.5"ish.

Shawn Peterson
1969 Z28, 406SB
www.geocities.com/corsican69 (http://www.geocities.com/corsican69)



[This message has been edited by Shawn (edited 04-25-2000).]

Heh heh heh... http://www.camaros.net/forum/tongue.gif



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http://www.geocities.com/dmdirks/Automotive.html

I have two 406's with six inch rods. One has a Pro-Charger on it with bushed rods and ARP bolts from Speed-o-motive. These are standard beam rods and had no interference problems. The second engine has h-beam rods and 11.5-1 compression (parts also from Speed-o-motive). These rods appear stronger but required grinding on the block for clearance. The cam cleared okay but I am told a small base circle roller should clear but may need some rod bolt grinding (minor). I run both engines on 92 octane with no problems.

The standard-looking 6" rod motor has had several cams in it up to .640 lift with no interference problems. I believe a solid roller will accelerate better than any of the other cams, price being the only negative (but worth it in my opinion). My combo is very similar to yours other than heads; I am using Dart Iron Eagle 215's with forged pistons. Same basic compression, Victor Jr., and enough overlap to stop detonation (but not kill performance).

Camcojb,

How do you like the Iron Eagle heads? I was looking at them quite closely as an option. I had even ordered them at one point then cancelled it. I have been waffling back and forth for the last few months trying to decide which heads to get. Everything I've read about the Iron Eagles has been good. Everybody raves about them. They're expensive for cast iron though, and a few hundred bucks more buys Aluminum so I started looking there. I'm leaning towards AFR because of the way they flow, but they're not cheap either. It would be nice to have the cooling and weight of the Aluminum heads. What's your verdict on the Iron Eagle heads? Is the motor happy on the street with 215 CC intake runners?

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Shawn Peterson
1969 Z28, 406SB
http://www.geocities.com/corsican69

Maybe you can steal some ideas from "The 350 Engine Chevy Should Have Built" - and go with the 6.25" rods. That thing made over 425 ft-lbs of torque and they had small heads and a mild cam. Put the same rod/piston/crank combo in a 400 with good heads and a stout cam and you'd have an awesome motor! It also ran on low octane gas....

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Scott
'69 400SB, Richmond 5-speed; '99 HD Road King Classic
www.geocities.com/sdenning1 (http://www.geocities.com/sdenning1)

Shawn,

I run the Sportsman II on the other 406. There is a local machine shop here that specializes in sprint car motors and I trust their opinion. They claim the Iron Eagles outflow a number of more expensive heads (out of the box) and are the best cast iron heads they have seen. The AFR's are top notch also. I have had no detonation problems with either iron head motor; the Pro-charger 406 runs 12 pounds of boost on 92 octane (Sportsman II's) and 11.5-1 on the naturally aspirated 406 with the Iron Eagles. Bottom-end torque does not seem to be a problem with the 215's, at least on a 406 with decent compression.

Shawn, Competition Products have some awesome rods. They are 4340 American steel I beams. 5.7 and 6.0 are both 395.95. These are stroker rods w/7/16 ARP capscrews. Rated to 700 hp. Excellent price and quality. I run the 5.7's in my 400. They are also bushed for floating pistons. They advertise in most mags. They call them Power Detroit Sport Rod. 1-800-233-0199. Also if your interested I have a Crower mechanical street roller cam. Part# 00426, adv. 288/290, duration @.050 is 250/252, lift .570/.584. 112 degree lobe center. It is used, but only about 300 miles. I'm still using the lifters, so cam only. $100 + ship. And if your taking votes for heads, the AFR's get my vote.

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67 410sb 11.63 @117.6

Shawn, I would urge you not to go with the hyperutectic pistons. I HAD a 406 with KB hyperutectics. I lost a chunk off the top of one piston about 4 months ago. Thought it was probably just a fluke, so put in a new one. Last week the same thing happened on a different cylinder, but this time cracked the block. I had the clearance checked, and everything was fine. Maybe it was caused by something other than the piston itself, but I will go with forged from now on!


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David
68 SS Camaro
72 Chevelle
73 Nova Hatchback

I think it's time you stepped up to the 421 stroker kit, some 18 degree heads and a sheet metal intake. Quit playing around with rod length and get serious! (BTW - I hear RacerX may be planning a few stealth mods so his car is STILL faster than the Green Weenie - but that's just a rumor....)

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Scott
'69 400SB, Richmond 5-speed; '99 HD Road King Classic
www.geocities.com/sdenning1 (http://www.geocities.com/sdenning1)

That's not what the time slips say..... http://www.camaros.net/forum/tongue.gif

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Shawn Peterson
1969 Z28, 406SB
http://www.geocities.com/corsican69

Besides, he'll need stiffer rear springs just to haul all the nitrous it would take to beat the Green Meanie... http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif

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Shawn Peterson
1969 Z28, 406SB
http://www.geocities.com/corsican69

Shawn,

You might look into the Canfield heads if you're wanting a good-flowing, cheap aluminum head. I put a set on a 406 I built to put in a guy's '67 truck. They are really nice heads. I liked the intake ports and pockets. I put 2.055/1.625 valves in them. One other nice thing about the Canfields are that they already have the steam holes for the 400 block. They were built specifically for the 383/406 engine. I don't have their number, but I do have some pictures of the engine I will send to you. I hope your e-mail address is correct. Take care.

Shane

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69 SSRS Frame-off Resto
81 Z-28 377ci Drag Car

Shawn,

Don't make me list the 1/4 mile speeds...Mr. Traction-With-No-Passengers... http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif



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