Building a Big Block?

[RustyRatRod]

Yeah that's true.......in cars. But in trucks you can find steel cranks all the way up to the demise of the big block.

 

[Meep-Meep]

So do I, but people have caught on and they are not always as affordable. I really don't think a 4.250 bore will have problems shrouding. lol At least not with most valve sizes.

....Or with those funny heads!

 

[Cranky]

So do I, but people have caught on and they are not always as affordable. I really don't think a 4.250 bore will have problems shrouding. lol At least not with most valve sizes.

When you have a bore that's nearly .100" larger, it does help. Even with a mild build (if you raise the compression up), a 400 usually runs pretty dang good. If you build a 400 with about the same deck height as the 383 roadrunners had, it will usually run harder and it's not just because it has 17 more cubes

 

[Meep-Meep]

I don't know how nasty you need to go for a street motor but you can look up my info on my green Belvedere build in the 12 sec forum. It's not the fastest thing around and I'm sure to be leaving some HP on the table, but that 77 440 pushes a 4000 lb (weight as raced) to high 12s (low 13's on street tires and 3.55's) and is 100% street drivable, even with stock power brakes, all year long from hwy to heavy traffic. This combo will probably hold together with minor maintenance and good oil for 50 K miles or more. And it's cheap and simple to build!

 

[Cranky]

I don't know how nasty you need to go for a street motor but you can look up my info on my green Belvedere build in the 12 sec forum. It's not the fastest thing around and I'm sure to be leaving some HP on the table, but that 77 440 pushes a 4000 lb (weight as raced) to high 12s (low 13's on street tires and 3.55's) and is 100% street drivable, even with stock power brakes, all year long from hwy to heavy traffic. This combo will probably hold together with minor maintenance and good oil for 50 K miles or more. And it's cheap and simple to build!

Only 50K miles? You're not giving yourself enough credit....

 

[RustyRatRod]

No kiddin. That's a damn good combo you got Meepamous.

 

[3500haulin]

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?50590-First-pics-of-my-new-project-71-Bird

On the second page I got some pics of the parts from 440 Source. Im currently in the build of a 383 block 438CI I did this for some extra cubes and keeping the #'s matching block. Honestly, get a modern cam and keep the comp ratio around 9.5-10.5 depending on stockish or alum heads and she will hold vacuum for brakes and still run off this crap gas. I'm shooting for an optimistic 500hp out of my build with 438CI 10to1 flat top pistons, Stealth Alum heads, Roller rockers, comp cams xtreme energy hi lift .525 cam, 1 7/8 headers, MSD 6AL+Billet distributor+blaster coil, and FAST EZ EFI on a Edel brock performer RPM dual plane. I'm gonna consider this a respectable street motor and with a GV overdrive it should be a blast to drive.:headbang:

 

[747mopar]

I saw those kits on there too. How street-able would the 400 to 512 or 500 be? Sounds like a lot of fun thought!

$150-$200 for a block seams pretty reasonable to me? should i stay way from something that has previously been bored?

747 you got any videos of it running?

Sorry, I don't have a digital recorder or a cell phone for that matter, so no video's.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Only 50K miles? You're not giving yourself enough credit....

I'm thinking in 1/4 mile increments! My STD re-ringed 302 Ford was at over 90K when I sold it and still going strong, but it was very stock and only beat on occasionally. My 50K estimate has a built in safety margin.

- - - Updated - - -

I should see about recording some video footage of the green Bel in action. I do have a recent chassis dyno run but the file is huge and I don't know how to post it.

 

[rebootej]

Very cool! thank you for all of the help guys! I am really excited for this build. Gotta decide what size and start gathering parts.