Building a stroked 400 ci
 

I am new here not sure how all this works, any way. I was wondering how to build a 400 ci stroked engine. I was told all i need is a 440 crank and clearance the block and bore the cylinders out 30 over and that gives me the stroked 400. My question is, is that true or is there more to it and what kind of benefits does that make. Thanks ahead of time for any replies.

Check out 440Source.com they have rotating assemblies that you can drop right in. All the bits ya need are there. Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum.

how you described it is more like a bore and stroke. If you want to just stroke it, you will need all that minus boring. There is probably more to it than just that though. Take a look on 440source like Polar said.

welcome to the forum

Out of curiousity, what's the base block you're using?

To T.Mihm, I am not sure what the base block is or for that matter what that means. I pulled the engine out of a 1977 cordoba and the only information i have is, I was told it is a 400ci. I am not knowledgeable on how to tell what the block is and or any of the other technical stuff. But if you know how to tell i would love to know.

there should be a casting number on either the right or left hand side of the block. If you can post that up here we can tell you as the size is the last three number if I remember correctly.

first off thanks for all the warm welcomes! ok i looked on the left rear side of the block and found this numbers4006530-400-3 and 102176. I think the second set is the cast date. but given the info i guess my block is really a 400ci?

Yes it is.

Yes, it's a 400 ci "B" block engine that was produced between 1976 to 78.
Was there any other #'s or symbols on the ID boss ?

I can check i did not look the whole block over but those numbers i found on the left rear side so will check both sides, for that matter i will check all sides. thanks again for all the information and help.

No problem, thats what we are here for.

find the #'s yet?:D

also you may want to find other heads those heads were a low compression head at about 81 cc. the 440 crank will not just drop into a 400 with out turning down the mains and maybe even cutting down the counter weights of a the 440 crank

ok the only other stampings that i could find are on the right side of the block it has the 4006530-400-3 and then just a little under that it had the letters D N, then on the back of the block it has the stampings 4L and then a 5 written on it with like a paint marker. So unless there are other number elsewhere that i am not finding those are the only markings that i can find.

66sportfury, thanks for letting me know that i was thinking that it wouldn't be that easy just to drop it in. I was unaware that the heads were so undesireable but now i know. Question for heads I am sure this has been asked many times but i will ask cause i have never been given a straight answer can heads off of a 440 bolt onto a 400 block. Thanks again for all the information. I am really gald that i found this website. you all have been very helpful. thank you again.

Pics of my block
 

here are the only numbers or stampings that i could find

The #'s on the other side that you have a pic of...the D and the N and that little clock looking thing to the right of it. It denotes that the block was cast on a "N" ight shift, and there should be a pointer telling time on the clock piece.:) Maybe it's 9 pm, I can't quite see it in the pic.
If you pull a valve cover and get a # off the heads I can tell you exactly what they are or if there is anything else you'd like to know, let us know.

stampings on the heads
 

this are the only markings that i have found on the heads. this are the numbers 3046, 4006452(both heads have this number), there is a 27 and the letter F just under the 4006452 number and on the other head there is a 29 and F, and then 3076.

here are the rest

Those heads were available in 76-78 on the 400 and the 440. They are the "452" heads with 2.08" and 1.74" valves and a 81.5 cc combustion chamber.:)

so are they worth using or is it true what 66sport' said that i should find other heads? Thanks again

What are your plans for the car ? Daily driver or ? I am going to be doing basically the same thing for a Polara project. I 've got the almost the same engine as you. Iam going to do a little work to the existing heads as it's cheaper than new ones and drive the snot out of it once it's together.:)

yes any big block head will fit 350,361,383,400,413,426,440. they are not a bad head just a low comp head 81.5 cc compared to a 67 440 head at 73.5cc

Polaradude, I plan to just have it as a daily driver that i can have some find behind the wheel in or every now and then take it to the drag strip for more fun. Truth is i am still ignorant to everything about building engines and what to plan for and what to do with them.
66sportfury, thank you for the info. to avoid being stupid(to late i guess) what does having low compression heads mean, not enough power?

If money is an issue, run the heads you have, it's a good project for you to cut your teeth on..as they say. What Bob was saying about the compr. being low, just think of it as when the piston reaches the top of its stroke there is more room between the top of the piston and the combustion chamber on the head due to the larger cc's of the head. If the heads were a lower cc there would be a smaller space above the piston thus a higher pressure. Conversely raising the comp. ratio. I hope that kinda made sense. Ask as many questions as you need to understand this or anything else you'd like to know.:D

money is somewhat of an issue so knowing what i know now i will stick with the ones i have. That makes perfect sense about the compression. So here is the truth of all my questions my Cordoba has 290000 miles on it and one day it just started making the loudest knock i have ever heard on accel. parked it at that time. finally found time to take it all apart and found the cam had two cam journals next to each other, so i thought at first:o. then i grew a brain and realized that one of the cam lobes had completely been ground off. why that made a knocking noise i do not know it was a lobe for the exhaust. with all that said i am just wanting it to run again with more than just stock power. thanks again.:)

Money is an issue with all of us.

I would just have the heads you have cleaned up and gone through. As long as the valves are good and the springs still have good tension, it shouldn't cost you that much to get them rebuilt.

No problem, if you have any questions, ask away.:)

good luck