400 sbc value

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Anonymous

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Hey guys:

I just picked up another wagon(79 Olds Cutlass Cruiser) and I was delighted to discover that the supposed 350 chevy is actually a '70 or '71 400 4-bolt main (3951511 block number, CLK suffix code).

The problem is that it starts tapping when it warms up in the bottom end.

I intended to pull the motor and install an Olds engine anyway...so I'd like to know if this particular engine is more valuable than a 2-bolt. I know 400's as a whole are getting really scarce.

Thanks...
 
Shit yeah it is, and if it's got uncracked 400 heads that's even better. Good score.
 
Dm,

For a serious effort, a 2 bolt block fitted with aftermarket splayed 4 bolt caps is better, but if you have a factory 4 bolt, It'll probably bring better money than a 2 bolt. Most guys do not need or want to fit the aftermarket caps.

A 400 will have a "weighted" balancer and flexplate, as they are externally balanced. The balancer is easy to spot.

Dave
 
theres an extra freeze plug or boss on each side of the block too.
Randy
 
My  :twocents: is that its a good score if the block han't been bored past .030 over. Any bigger for a street motor and its easy to run it hot....
George
 
I had 3 of those things and had trouble giving them away.  I never had any of them apart so I dont know if they were 2 or 4 bolt.  The few people I talked to when I was trying to sell them said they only wanted 2 bolts because unlike the 350's the 2 bolts are stronger because of how thick the casting is where the extra bolts go in so it ends up being a weak point.  2 of mine were earlier ones that had edel intakes and holley double pumpers on them and the other one was all stock out of a 77 truck.  The truck one would knock when it was warmed up.  I found out that I could move the crank shaft in and out with one hand about 1/8" with all the belts hooked up. I had never seen a motor with the thrust bearing worn that bad before.  That 77 block was one that looked just like a 350 on the outside and a bunch of people told me that was worth more because people in 350 class races could cheat if they could get it ballanced right.  I ran an expensive ad in the minneapolis paper and had it them on craigs list for almost a year.  One was in a 84 1/2 2wd truck that still ran except for a broken ball joint the other two were in the box along with a THM250 transmission and some other misc parts.  I was asking $500 for all and later I gave the option to take just parts.  I ended up trading it all to some small junkyard 300 miles away for a couple of 80's olds wire hubcaps.

See if the crank has excessive end play, Im curious if that was a 400 problem.
Hope you have better luck getting rid of it than I did if thats what you decide to do.  I think its like out 500's a few years back they were worth more because they were the biggest out there but now days with all the 'crate' motors and EFI systems you can get plenty of power for the average rig with a 350 so for most people its not worth the expense or risks with motors like the 400's.
 
Any 400 bare block that's usuable will bring darned good money here. The dirt car guys have used them all up.

Dave
 
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