There are two different motors that were known as a 400. The one most widely known is the 400 smallblock. They're great motors. They have siamesed cylinders to allow the larger bore and got a reputation for overheating when hotrodders put their double-hump heads on 'em. This WILL cause overheating cuz 400 sbcs need steam holes to facilitate the cooling. My Elky had a mild 406 (400 sbc bored .030 over) and never had any heating/cooling problems. My Monte Carlo has a hot 406...its 2nd incarnation. It was a great motor except for the high-volume oil pump I put in it. It sucked all the oil outta the sump faster than the return galleys could get it back and it flattened its cam. I haven't fired the 2nd incarnation yet...but it's turning over and gets close to firing up every day...more or less.
The other version of the 400 is a big block. It came about as the result of a block casting error that required every one of that batch of 396 castings to be bored .030 over (the bores were off-center) and that created a 402 cid motor. There was some corporate/political deal at the time that prohibited motors larger than 400 cid, so most of 'em were marketed at either as 396s or 400s. I bleeve some cars that had 'em WERE sold with 402 badges, tho. Can't remember which ones. Maybe someone else can dredge that outta the memory banks.
In other news, I spent Thursday and Friday shooting the Salt Lake Autorama. Completely wore me out, so I've taken most of today off. I'll have photos soon.
r On 3/5/2011 8:25 PM, Mary McCarthy wrote:
Classic is the step up from 'cheap model". (look for side moldings and a vinyl headliner)sprint's is a 400 which is supposed to be a workhorse. In the '76 it was dumbed down to meet federal regulation (i.e. flat cam). It's a small block that could be a big small block with the right innards. (Ray - wasn't yours a 400, too?)In '74 there were two 400's - the 2 bbl and the 4 bbl. All 400's were automatics. The bench seat was standard in the cheap and the classic. They all had the big round headlights.If you want more tech data, I have to do more research.$3600 sounds on the high end, but if it's in good shape, with a good engine, reasonable.and yeah, Sprint comes with a 25 gallon gas tank to get you from one gas station to the next.MaryAnybody have any opinions about Chevy's 400 V8 engine? Is that a big block or a small block? I don't see that engine much while window-shopping on the internet for Novas and El Caminos. I kinda have my eye on the '74 in the ad pasted below. My Dad's '79 van used to have a 400. Terrible on gas. Lots of torque. Probably not a hot-rod engine, but history has shown that I'm not really a hot-rod guy...I'd just like a nice big El Camino that runs good.Saul '73 GMC Sprint ----- Forwarded Message ---- *From:* "saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx" <saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx> *To:* saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx *Sent:* Sat, March 5, 2011 8:45:23 PM*Subject:* 1974 Chevrotlet El Camino Classisc for sale or trade - $3600 (Denton Tx)saulmarsh72@xxxxxxxxx has forwarded you this craigslist.org <http://craigslist.org/> posting.Please see below for more information.Visit the posting at http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2239660461.html to contact the person who posted this.------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1974 Chevrotlet El Camino Classisc for sale or trade Date: 2011-02-28, 3:11PMEl Camino Classisc with 400 v8 low miles runs and drives great. Asking $3,600.00 cash or best offer. Will trade for big boy toys, guns, etc...Call KC (940) 442 3758 * Location: Denton Tx * it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests Original URL: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2239660461.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------/this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to: /http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/U2FsdGVkX18xMjcxMDEyNdk9jFVeQZdgDT2bnrYwc0gFvb4BbbvScEQfTVA7n9UnE8v2TP4NEYYG9fLwBFdOXA------------------------------------------------------------------------
