michael hurd
Stalker be gone.
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- Jul 30, 2012
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Stock 400's were mostly turds. Short connecting rods, soft blocks, and camshaft profiles that your grandma would like. They are externally balanced. ( unlike all other small blocks )
Trying to find a low mileage 400 is going to be pretty tough. You are much farther ahead with a vortec 350: stock roller camshaft, better cylinder heads, better connecting rods and metallurgy.
A LS platform is light years ahead of the older engines, and for good reasons, much better cooling, symmetrical port layout, higher rocker ratios, cross bolted main caps, cast oil pans, you can go on and on. To swap to an LS isn't for people that want to get it done in a weekend, and I wouldn't consider doing it on an old vehicle that has but a few years left in it's lifespan.
There is a reason why Computational Fluid Dynamics and FEA modeling software are so widely used today, stresses can be analyzed before anything is built: cooling jackets are optimized to reduce the opportunity for hot spots, and reliability / longevity has never been better.
If you are intending to put this in a TBI truck, the cheapest way would be to buy an intake and a carb, unless you intend on keeping the TBI and getting someone to burn you a chip with software that can help you out.
Either way, it's not going to be cheap. Drive it as is, and put that money towards a newer vehicle that has more power, more towing capacity, more braking power if you want an 'upgrade'. They also have a lot more creature comforts and an interior that's likely not falling apart.
Trying to find a low mileage 400 is going to be pretty tough. You are much farther ahead with a vortec 350: stock roller camshaft, better cylinder heads, better connecting rods and metallurgy.
A LS platform is light years ahead of the older engines, and for good reasons, much better cooling, symmetrical port layout, higher rocker ratios, cross bolted main caps, cast oil pans, you can go on and on. To swap to an LS isn't for people that want to get it done in a weekend, and I wouldn't consider doing it on an old vehicle that has but a few years left in it's lifespan.
There is a reason why Computational Fluid Dynamics and FEA modeling software are so widely used today, stresses can be analyzed before anything is built: cooling jackets are optimized to reduce the opportunity for hot spots, and reliability / longevity has never been better.
If you are intending to put this in a TBI truck, the cheapest way would be to buy an intake and a carb, unless you intend on keeping the TBI and getting someone to burn you a chip with software that can help you out.
Either way, it's not going to be cheap. Drive it as is, and put that money towards a newer vehicle that has more power, more towing capacity, more braking power if you want an 'upgrade'. They also have a lot more creature comforts and an interior that's likely not falling apart.
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