400 block...

[31]

So I went to a guy's house yesterday to look at a 400 block he had listed on the classifieds. It supposedly had a edelbrock performer cam, new cam bearings and he had all the rotating assembly but it was in pieces. So I call the guy and start asking questions..:

#1, what is the casting # on the block?
ans: I don't know.

#2, has the block been checked for cracks?
ans: I'm not sure.

#3, what is the bore size on the block?
ans: I think it's stock.

#4, is it a 2 bolt main or a 4 bolt main?
ans. I don't know.



Ok, well since we're already out here in slc we will drop by and take a look at it.

I got there, looked the block over and couldn't believe my eyes

509 casting, 2 bolt main, virgin bore, bores look clean, and couldn't find any visible cracks (of course I am blind, but that's another story)

here are some pics.

 

[retorq]

Good find .. I have a 350 roller block in my garage ... kinda holding out for a 400 though.

 

[31]

since your only a state away.. He has 2 other 400's and a 454 if you want his #. I didn't get to see the other two so I can't tell you if they are in good shape or not tho.

 

[KylePBZ]

Did you buy it?!

 

[31]

yep. $175 for the block, rotating assembly (although I won't be using it) and a eddy perf rpm cam 7102

 

[KylePBZ]

Not too bad of a score.

 

[zbugger]

Not bad. I got a 400 block for free not long ago. Just had it checked at the machine shop and the guy claimed it to be ok, but as it's already at .030 over I'm gonna have it opened up to .040. I'm really happy that it's a 2-bolt block as well. I can't wait to get the parts together so I can build it.

 

[Aceshigh]

Dude, those are probably the same answers I'd have given you a few years ago.

Not everyone is born with car knowledge.

 

[31]

point taken ace. I really expected him to know if it was a 2 bolt and a casting # considering how easy they are to get. Another thing, when I pulled the camshaft out yesterday, it was a hydraulic flat tappet and only the journals had oil on them. No assembly lube anywhere. Now in theory, it didn't look like he had planned on starting it up very soon but still.. why put the cam in if you're not going to do it right? You would just have to pull it out again anyway.

 

[Dirt Reynolds]

point taken ace. I really expected him to know if it was a 2 bolt and a casting # considering how easy they are to get. Another thing, when I pulled the camshaft out yesterday, it was a hydraulic flat tappet and only the journals had oil on them. No assembly lube anywhere. Now in theory, it didn't look like he had planned on starting it up very soon but still.. why put the cam in if you're not going to do it right? You would just have to pull it out again anyway.

#817 and #509 400ci castings are two bolt. The #511 comes in either 2 or 4 bolt. Out of the 3, the #509 is generally considered to be the most desireable. I have a 509 currenty (408ci) but have ran an 817 @0.060"-over (413ci) in the past and had no problems with it.