[cowgirlcullen]

We're out of town and about to head home this afternoon and came across this 400 SBC for $1,600. We really need an engine, what do ya'll think? Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 881535816/

 

[MI_Ghost]

Just so you are aware. That is a pre Vortec motor.
For a swap you will need to go with 5.7L TBI intake.

Stock or Performance rebuild?

 

[Mmusicman]

It's definitely a 400... large siamesed bores with steam holes. :mrgreen:
This is a serious TORQUE MONSTER!

This engine appears to be setup for carburetor.
In my world.. that would be ideal.

Do you have to meet emissions standards where you live?
If this is cammed as a race motor.. it won't meet standards (no matter what you do to it)

I don't know if intake can be changed to accommodate stock V8 fuel injection.
Obviously, if you go this route you will need entire wiring system and computer from a V8 vehicle as well.
That high-rise carb intake would command a fair price for sale if you decided to go the FI route.

Physically, it looks fine.. same as any standard Gen1 V8.
Heads even have all the necessary accessory bolt holes you would need, which is important.
All accys from V6 would bolt nicely on the V8.

Flex-plate on 400's are unique and externally balanced.. not sure if they fit 4L60E trans bolt pattern.
I'm sure there are aftermarket solutions if needed.

Looks like a single-plane high-rise intake.. popular for racing.. less popular for street and mpg, but still doable.
No mention of cam or compression, which will also have a serious affect on race vs street-ability.
If it ran 12's in a full sized wagon naturally aspirated.. then this is a pretty serious race engine.
It would probably not likely be a good candidate for stock fuel-injection setup.

Cylinder bores look freshly honed... although that was probably during assembly BEFORE it was run.
2bolt vs 4bolt mains irrelevant for street and mild race use.

I'm still old-school, and love my simple carbureted V8 hotrod van.
One wire to HEI distributor is all that is needed to run like crazy.
But I also run a 700R4 trans.. no computer.

I do not have the answers when it comes to newer fuel-injection conversion/swaps... but this may not be a good candidate. Modern V8 (with all the stuff) may be the better choice for you.

 

[markmitch]

the TBI intake will not bot to that I don't believe. So if your ok and legal to use a carb then why not? Great torque engine as MM said.

 

[sixsix]

CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE FUN ( WORDS ) ?!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

 

[cowgirlcullen]

Musicman, thank u so much for the quick reply this morning, always appreciate your advice, many thanks!! So, we went ahead and grabbed it for $1,500 today. Whew, so happy to finally have an engine figured out! Pretty happy with the find. Now onto figuring out how to get it outfitted to work for our purposes. Pretty excited! First at hand will probably be figuring out the carb vs fuel injection issue. I don't know anything about that stuff, but will be learning a lot throughout this build. Thanks for all the comments!

 

[Mmusicman]

I still think your BEST option would have been a new stock crate engine.. not a "race" engine.
There's a world of difference.. and not necessarily always in a good way.

Do you intend to run this at a 1/4 mile track, or do you just want something with strong mid-range pulling torque that will burn rubber all day long, run great, be reliable, and still get good fuel economy?

Also MAJOR differences between going carbureted vs stock computer controlled fuel injection.
Some of this won't exactly be compatible, depending on your choice.
There may be an issue with the transmission too.. as I previously mentioned.
Emissions will also be the REAL decider on this one.

None the less, looks like you've made your purchase.

For "not knowing anything about this stuff".. it seems you have already kind of impulsively committed yourself. The race engine you've bought looks like a nice deal.

Best of luck

 

[cowgirlcullen]

Forgot to mention, no emissions here in Montana to worry about! So, I assume we'll have to do custom exhaust for this engine, but if anyone needs a cadilac converter let me know.

 

[markmitch]

you will need a custom flywheel since they stopped making the 400 in like 1975 I believe and your transmission is computer controlled so you will need a stand alone computer of some sort to tell the transmission when to shift. Sounds like a fun project with lots of learning for you and your mechanic.

 

[Ray M]

the TBI intake will not bot to that I don't believe. So if your ok and legal to use a carb then why not? Great torque engine as MM said.

You can get the Holley intake that takes the TBI and will bolt on.

 

[cowgirlcullen]

MM, Mark, and Ray thank you so much for the info, SUPER helpful! After watching some vids and learning a bit this morning, I'd really like to get the Edelbrock Pro-Flo system, but I don't think we can afford $2k for it and there doesn't seem to be ANY used ones anywhere dang it, so I'm going to look into the option that Ray suggested. Links to specific parts is always helpful guys - remember I'm a newbie at this!

Here's a pic of the wagon and my engine at play. The seller had bought the wagon with this engine already in it , so this was definitely my engine in this shot. It still had the full interior and weight in it too, so awesome!

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Sweet pic, I've always had a soft spot for wagon wheelies...

 

[AstroWill]

Score!!!
Flexplate will be available, no worries there.
Check: #G101 FLYWHEEL / FLEXPLATE, GM WITH CHEVY SMALL BLOCK 400 V8, 1970-1978 https://transmissioncenter.net/shop/fly ... -v8-70-78/

Your existing computer will happily keep controlling the transmission, needs very few inputs, basically going to have to adapt the TPS to the carb if you are going that route, you can DIY or there are kits: https://sites.google.com/site/astrosafa ... ontrollers

If you are going EFI, there are some aftermarket kits that can also control the transmission, either built in or as an addon. All depends on what route you want to go.

 

[cowgirlcullen]

Finally got the engine and box of parts unloaded last night. The engine came with a carb, alternator, distributor, and a fuel pump. Not sure we'll want to use this carb, but I found this fuel injection system on ebay (see link below), which is doable at $900. Helluva lot more affordable than the $2k edelbrock pro flo system, just not sure if this ebay one is the way to go.

Getting ready to bite the bullet on the oil pan and engine mounts from JTR, but since we're going to do a lift I'm not sure we need the oil pan. Was thinking of doing the 7" Journey lift, but maybe I can save some money sourcing the parts myself since the Journey kit is $700.

Guess I better get to reading and learning so I can get some parts ordered and get this project going. I plan to take lots of pics and videos for ya'll! Continued advice is always appreciated. Thanks guys!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EFI-Complete-T ... 890.l49292

 

[Mmusicman]

PICS ARE GREAT!

You have everything you need to run this motor as it is... carb, intake, HEI.
1 fuel line to carb.. 1 power wire to HEI to run! THAT'S LITERALLY IT!

That carb you are holding in your hand looks much like the one I just recently rebuilt and put on my V8-350 in my 92. Except mine is closer to 40-50 years old! lol

And a photo of it installed...

Here's my story: (you have to scroll a little ways down to get to the carb)
https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.p ... lit=holley

You "could" install everything you have now "as is" without hardly spending another dime... then possibly consider doing the fuel-injection later if you choose to do so? Only thing doing carb is that you will need a fuel-regulator to drop fuel pressure to about 6psi (from tank pump which is over 60psi). The fuel pump on my 92 TBI is only about 20psi.. but still needed the external regulator. I mounted it to the frame underneath where the fuel lines run under the driver seat.

DECISIONS... DECISIONS...

When I put a V8 in my lifted 2000 AWD... my plan to elevate the motor-mounts a couple inches, and keep the oil pan stock.

You are going to have to decide what to do with your transmission (if you don't pull electronics from a V8 donar)

Looks exciting!
Document everything.. take tons of photos of everything.

Have fun!

 

[AstroWill]

You "could" install everything you have now "as is" without hardly spending another dime... then possibly consider doing the fuel-injection later if you choose to do so?

That is exactly what I would do for now.

You are going to have to decide what to do with your transmission

Just use the stock Astro computer to control the transmission.

 

[cowgirlcullen]

Thanks for the continued advice guys, I am mostly just doing what you recommend, so you are shaping this build! I have decided to just stick with everything I have and go with the carb. I did decide to add a box to go with the distributor though, based on the recommendation of the guy I bought the engine from.

Now, I'm trying to decide on the tranny. I'm a bit unsure if the 4L60e can really handle this engine. I just don't want to pay again down the road to put in a different one. So, I'm currently researching the 4L60e and the 4L80e.

I found a perfect high top in Eastern Oregon for $350 so I bought that today for our next van. We already have a parts van with a high top for this current van, but we want his and hers vans eventually so decided to grab it.

Anyway, because we have to make that trip from MT to OR, I decided I better get the tranny, transfer case, or anything else we might need figured out since there are very limited parts here in Montana and we will have good opportunities in the cities on this trip to get parts. So it looks like this build might actually get going here in about 2 weeks. We will only have a month to get it done, so it will be lots of fun for ya'll to watch!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[AstroWill]

A properly built 4l60e will handle it just fine.

 

[Bigforkg]

Update? Did you start on it?

 

[cowgirlcullen]

Update. After getting overwhelmed and confused about the 2 part main and custom oil pan thing I quit the project for a year. I also got super confused about what to do about the tranny with this engine. And, the third part of contention was the carb and whether or not it would work in this situation. I'm getting this project going again though and I have the money, fortunately.

However, I have a guy that desperately wants to buy this engine, so I have to decide ASAP whether or not to keep it or if I should sell it and just install the new 4.3 V6 crate engine I have.

I also have to find someone to do it for me because everyone here in Montana, which is slim pickings, will only install the 4.3. I can haul the Astro and engine though, so I could take them anywhere (within reason) to get it done.

But, first things things first, I have to figure out what all it's actually gonna take to get this 400 in without making a hard project any harder. Then I can make this decision to sell it or install it and then move forward from there. Ya'lls input will sway me so please reply! Thanks so much!