that doesnt seem bad of a price considering theyre sellling fully built 400s around here for the same price. just throw some vortec heads on it call it a day if you decide to get it. there is a guy with a malibu around here that takes stock 400, vortec heads, and of course nitrous usually runs 13. i dont know if he is just messing around or not but he does go through blocks left and right. > From: chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 11:22:51 -0500 > Subject: [elky] Re: 400 ci engine? > To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Nice write up Ray. When I saw the question last night I thought I'd > search around today to supplement my foggy memory, but you nailed it. > I recall the big block versions being marketed as Turbo-Jet 400s. > > Back to Saul's questions, the 400 is a good powerplant. The stock > short 5.565 rods are not desirable, but the extra cubic inches > certainly are. There are a few other minor differences between 400s > and a 350: steam holes, bore, stroke, gaskets. For all out > performance the 2 bolt blocks are preferred because they have more > material, so you can add splayed 4 bolts, but there is a point where > an aftermarket block starts to make more sense. My '80 has a 0.030 > over 400 (406.6) also , stock stroke, internal balance with 6" rods. > > I agree with Robert, that '74 would have to be in good shape to > warrant that price. What is the status of your current Elky? Looking > to replace it, or? If you're looking for another I suggest finding > one with the best paint, (2nd would be good engine) you should be able > to repair most everything else reasonably easily. > > Chris > > On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Ray Buck <rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > 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. > > > > Mary > > > > Anybody 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 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, 3:11PM > > > > El 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 > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > > > Rules: Please play nicely with others. > > -List members page (text & pic links): > http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm > -List members page (all pics): > http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htm >