Ok, I want a 502!! But....I cannot afford a 502 at the present time. So I pulled the small block 350 out of my camaro with the intentions of re-ringing it. I have came to the conclusion to keep it in there, and just build it a little for now.

So, which is the better engine, in your opinion/experience?? A 350, 355, 383, or a 400. Should I build a high reving 355. I saw a article about a 400 bored over, 327 or 350 rods, and custom pistons that made above 400 hp & torque on the dyno.

Or, should I go for cubic inches and build the 400 small block, with the ever popular controversy of the over-heating problem. I am wanting to run about 450 hp & torque and no higher than 6500 rpm prefered. WHAT DO YOU GUYS HAVE, and what kind of luck do you have with it.

I was driving this as my daily driver, but now Im ready for something else. Compression with UP TO 11.1 What do you guys recommend??? Thanks for your help!!!

Robby

Also, the 355 that I saw was the 400 block and 327 or 350 crank, and ford 6-cyl rods. Can you make a 355 by boring over a stock 350 engine, or is the reason for doing it the other way for the high-reving capability. Also, what about the 406 small block??? Please help.

what are you using this for? street? keep the revs low if its a street car, TORQUE! is what you want.

I don't know, maybe a cheap "BSE" type 454 using a P/U engine as a core, a set of closed chambered heads, 9.5 to 1 or so CR. and mild cam. pdq67

Why not do the big block? I think that you could probably build an econo big block for the same cost as any of these small blocks you are talking about and it would make more power.

What is the "ever-popular controversy over heating problems" of a 400?

[This message has been edited by Sleepy-69 (edited 04-02-2002).]

Since you already have the 350 and accessories/brackets, i would build the 350. Bore it .30 over and put GOOD crank and 6" rods with flattop pistons. About 10.5 cr. For heads go with existing if they are good flowing, etc (2.02 intake)or get the vortec heads from GM. Run a performer rpm intake, and 650 carb. For the cam somewhere between 218-230 duration at .50" and .520/530 lift. This should give you 400 hp pretty easy.

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Jay
69 SS-350 4-speed
Hotchkis suspension

First off, my mistake in the first description on the 355. It was a 400 small block, with either a 327 or 350 crank (I cant remember which one), and Ford 300 6-cyl rods, with special "short" pistons.

This will be a street vehicle only on weekends. Gas mileage is of now concern,....yet. I am looking for 12's in the quarter, and would like to see high 6's in the 1/8. I have a small block in it now, and I am not ready to build a big block, only to turn back around and buy the 502, I rather do it all at once.

I have always read, and heard that the 400's have been prone to overheating. I know that I have heard this, but maybe its nothing to be worried about. So, maybe this will cler up a few things. Thanks.

Robby

speed...the problem with overheating a 400 is very real...not something you can't get around but there is a distinct difference between it and a 350...you better go with a well built big block if you ever want to see high 6's in the 1/8...or shoot a hell of a lot of nitrous to that small block...not to mention you better be hooking it up...with some nice suspension to get your 60 ft times under 1.7...high 7's is much more realistic...and high 12's in the quarter...in the real world 6 second eighths are hard to do...kinda like 10 second quarters...but if you want to go there you better have a combo making 600 horses and getting it to the ground....wind her up and let her go!!!!

I built a .040" over 400 last August and I was very worried about the infamous overheating of small block 400's. I can tell you from experience that most of the time, stories of 400's overheating are greatly exagerrated. My engine makes approximately 400hp and I keep it cool with a two row radiator, the stock fan shroud, a four blade fan, and a high flow water pump. I have had it in 90+ degree weather and it runs in the 190-200 degree range on the highway and around 210-220 in traffic, but that was during break in and this engine was very tight. During the winter, it would run at 180-190 all day long no matter if I was stopped or going. If it still runs as hot as it did last summer, this summer, I will probably have to go with a three core radiator which still isn't bad considering all of the overheating horror stories that I heard. If you do build one, make sure that the steam holes are in the head gaskets and that they are drilled in the heads.

If I were you, and I already had a good running 350, I would build a 383 stroker motor. I have known a few people that have built these and they were very happy. They are also cheaper to build than 400's, especially when you already have the 350 block. Finding a good 400 block is getting harder and harder and more expensive. Plus, the 383 will ease your mind on the overheating issue.

if its a weekend cruiser and you want a 502 really bad, save up your money and build the biggest baddest big block you want, or whatever you want to do.
Making a goal for the car, and sticking to that is less expensive then building an engine, then building another, then another until you finally hit on one that you like, plus it doesnt take as long in the long run.

I've always wanted a Pro Street car, or a race car. When i got my camaro, i decided that it was too nice to make into a race car, so i set a goal for what i want to do (just a small block, TH-350, 12 bolt) instead of ripping the thing to peices and tubbing it and all that. I'm learning a ton of stuff doing this, so when i eventully build my race or pro street car i wont have to do anything twice.

CNC, I know you're still only part way into your project. But let me let you in on a little secret. No matter how much research, parts matching, etc you do; no matter what budget; you're drivetrain is never finished.

You'll get your car on the road with that hot small block and new tranny/rear end. You'll love it. You'll go through a set of tires in a month. Then you'll buy something stickier, and realize you can't light em up without trying any more. So what do you do? You're gonna dive back under that hood, and do something to add more power, so you can fry your new stickier tires, and go through another set in a month. It's a vicious cycle man. http://www.camaros.net/forum/wink.gif http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

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79' Z28 4-spd- built 355, TRW 10:1 forged flat tops, WP SportsmanII heads, Crane Energizer 228* duration .480" lift, Edelbrock Victor Jr., Holley 750cfm, Dynomax headers, dual 3" flowmasters :) 3.73 Posi 10-bolt

always hungry for more power!!! http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

If a little is good; a lot has to be more better. Like the man said above you are never done.

i know thats how it seems, but when i'm done my drivetrain i want to build bigger and badder projects, and try and make some money back through bracket racing (money and fun, who can beat that?)
You may never be done, but setting a goal and going for that will help you along the way. If the man wants (needs?) a BBC, he wont be happy until he has one, so he might as well put his money into that.