Hey fellas, I need help!! I have an engine that I bought off of a guy to rebuild to put into my 71 Firebird. I thought I was buying a "common" 400. I ran the numbers and found out it is out of 1967 GTO. It is a long block minus the main caps (he took the main caps off and lost them!! ) I am not sure if I should rebuild this and use it or sell it to someone restoring a 67 GTO?! Any comments or opinions will be welcomed! Thank's, Tim.
I just picked up my 73' 400 longblock for $200, even came with .060 trw forged pistons and a fresh .060 bore less then 3k miles lol. dropped it off at the machine shop and everything is good! Im going with kauffman 85cc d ports 241/249 @ .050 lift lunati cam, ohio crank 4.210 stroke 3" mains etc..
I was leaning mor toward about 415hp or so. I really want somthing that makes decent horsepower but at the same time I would like it to be something I could cruise out of state and back (pro-touring style). Thank's for the feedback, Tim.
I don't have heads yet. I was gonna go with maybe 670. I have thought about even going with an LS engine, but I love the look of "old muscle" . Tim.
Personally I would keep it with a Pontiac motor. Ok 670 heads have a 72cc chamber with 2.11/1.77 valves and would be great, however are you going to have them ported? Are you going to utilize the stock 400 crank, rods, pistons?
A block without caps is nothing but a PITA and IMO not worth working on, since you cannot just get caps from another 400 and bolt them on- you have to get them milled down and have the main journals align bored/ honed to assure the main journal bore is perfectly straight (pricey machine work usually reserved for fitting 4-bolt caps to 2-bolt blocks).
Earlier blocks also only have 2 motor mount holes on the sides, and you need the later 5-hole block to mount it in a '71 Firebird. I personally would find a later 70-75 no.481988 400 block and start from there.
Geno is right. Pontiac mills with the caps in place and when they do that those caps fit that motor only. Otherwise it's a crap shoot to see if you can find others to somewhat fit then have the machining done.
And just go and get some edelbrocks unless your 670's have already been done. They may also be too much compression for iron heads and todays pump gas. With the e heads at least they are aluminum and can dissapate that heat so you are safe with those 72 cc chambers. I ran mine for years and wound up at 11.9 at 114 without really tuning it and in a non wieght reduced street car.
So do you think I would be better off selling this block to someone who may have a 67 GTO with a cracked block that acn utilize his main caps? I just hate to dispose of something that really in my mind is a piece of history (a GTO engine). I may just buy an LS engine....duno.
Post it in the classifieds. Maybe an LSx would be cheaper or better suited to your needs. They are getting more and more plentiful and can be steals sometimes. Just make sure that you get everything you need like wiring, computer, etc.
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) I am not sure if I should rebuild this and use it or sell it to someone restoring a 67 GTO?! Any comments or opinions will be welcomed! Thank's, Tim.
. Tim.
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