Trevor K

Is there such a thing as a budget 406?

The shops around here all quote $6000 for a 450HP 406 (Canadian prices).

All I want is something I can drive daily, so it doesn't need to be 11-12 second capable.

What kind of combo's can I build to get around 300-350HP (Enough to do mid 13's on street tires)?

Could I just use a rebuilt 400 with a cam/dart iron eagle heads?

wesilva

iTrader: (35)

If you can assemble your own motor, you can come in at around $3000 carb to pan. You will have to shop around. Look for complete street performance rebuild kits with quality parts from places like Northern Auto Parts (with crank around $700)http://www.northernautoparts.com/Ima...alog/cat70.pdf
or Summit without a crank for 309.95. Insist on the the 5.7" rod combinations. These will use reworked 350 rods. Much easier on the cylinder walls and will live longer. If you have a L98, go with those heads. Have them rebuilt and maybe some pocket work and 35 degree cutbacks on the valves. A Performer manifold with a 650 Holley or 670 Avenger (sell for around $250 all day on Ebay). A Summit High Performance HEI, good wires and plugs. Good machine work on the block (around $600 for vatting, line honing, boring and decking ).....and your there...easy 325 horses and about 425 ft/lbs. How cheap can you find a good block? Never go more than .040" to be safe. This plan above gives you about $400 to find a good block, assuming a $3000 budget. Don't pay retail for anything!!

Make use of sources like Ebay, racersauction.com, the classifieds on this website and be a little patient for the best deal. I've built two 400's this way and have come away happy.

DTL504

iTrader: (1)

Here is how you build a SBC 400 on a budget for close to 500 HP: This is what I have for mine. Some of the parts you might not need that I have listed. I build a Nice bottom end with Forge Pistons, Eagle H-Beam 6" Rods, Scat 9000 Crank for about $1100.
Do a lot of your shopping on Ebay, this is where I got some parts from http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.as..._Track_Thunder Just search and you should be ok and save some money by shopping around. If you cannot find on Ebay then Jegs and Summit will be your next course of action. Buying parts locally will really put a BIG dent in your pockets. I save a couple of Hundred Bucks by using Ebay and Summit.

SBC 408 PARTS and PRICES
MANUFACTURE DESCRIPTION PART# PRICE
AFR Heads 195cc AFR-1035 $1,250.00

ARP Main Studs ARP-234-5501 $51.95
Head Bolts ARP-134-3601 $49.99

Oil Pump Stud ARP-230-7002 $6.50
Oil Pump Shaft ARP-134-7901 $13.95

CLEVITE Main Bearing MS1038P $27.00
Rod Bearing 8-CB663P $27.00

CLOYES True Roller Timing Chain CLO-9-3100 $39.99

Crane Lifters CRN-99250-16 $79.95

Lunati/UD Solid Mechanical 280/284F10 $169.99


EAGLE H-Beam Rods CRS6000B3D $335.09

FEDERAL MOGUL Cam Bearings 1235M $19.00
FEL-PRO Head Gasket 375-1014 (2x) $63.98
Intake Gasket

HARLAND SHARP Roller Rockers CSP-1002 $197.95

Midwest Motorsport Claimer Oil Pan MWM-15120 $59.95

MILODON Oil Pump Pick-Up Screen MIL-18311 $34.95

Milodon Crankshaft Scrapers MIL-32640 $9.95
Windage Trays MIL-32250 $74.95
MELLING Oil Pump MEL-M55 $15.95
Mr. Gasket Oil Pump High Press Spring MRG-26 $3.95
PIONEER Brass Freeze Plugs $16.50

SCAT 9000 Int Bal Crank 400-3750-6000 $222.50
TURNER MACHINE Bore w/ deck plates $120.00
Install Cam Bearings $25.00

K&P MACHINE Deck (.000) $150.00
Align Hone Mains $120.00 Tap Starter Bolt $25.00
Tap 3 Oil Holes $15.00
Mount Pistons to Rods $40.00
Install Main Studs $0.00
Balance Rotating Assembly $185.00

WISECO Pro Tru Forged Pistons PT020H4 (0.040) $419.00

TOTAL COST $3,335.04

twiztid dreams

if ur just lookin for a good running 400 thats been rebuilt i would check out http://rebuiltengines.com then go to chevy them caprice/impala and look up the '70 400. couple of friends have gotten motors from there and so has my uncle. they run i think like $1395+shipping and all meet or exceed factory power rating's. and the 70 put out 330hp i think it was off the top my head.

Lumberg

I can't beat either of the 2 posts above this one, I mean if I had it to do again I would look hard at the buildup for around $3300 listed above.. I pretty much did the same except went cheap on the crank (cast steel fillet) and rods (reconditioned 5.7's) and pistons (KB hypers). a machine shop assembled the bottom end and balanced it, I had some crank-to-cam clearance problems and that grinding cost extra but I got away with about $2200. I used a set of 883 casting rebuilt iron heads off ebay for like $320 but learned my lesson about always using screw-in studs later.

If you're like me, and can't do the bottom end assembly but can do everything else (heads, intake, cam, and motor/trans/fuel-injection installation) then look at more details, trials and tribulations, gotchas etc on my (disorganized) write-up...

http://www.dzy.org/92z28/92Z28.html

feel free to public or private e-mail me... the help is free so try not to trash my attempt at honest advice or anything

wesilva

iTrader: (35)

Great car. I'll be tapping you for information as I muddle through my T56 swap.

wingnut

I picked up a used 408 SBC out of the local news paper for $1,500. It was out of a street/strip Chevy S-10 pickup. It was complete, minus carb & distributer.

I'm happy with the results.