Hey guys. I am thinking of building a new bottom end for my '88, was wondering what is the easiest way to tell a 400 sbc at a junkyard appart from other SBC stuff. What years and what vehicles did they come in. Thanks.

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1981 Olds Delta 88 455/th400/3.23 posi

1988 Trans Am WS6, 355/T5/3.27 posi; RPM heads and Intake; Crane Fireball cam; Holley 750 carb; soon Comp RXE294H; th350 & 10" converter.

1994 Trans Am LT1/T56, no cat; Hooker CB; Hotch. SFC and STB; Ripper shifter; Poly mount; Lakewood LCA; K&N FIPK; Hypertech Airfoil; soon to port&polish MAF; Sprint springs & Bilstein shocks; GM Motive 4.10; Hypertech PowerTuner III

 

It will be set off to the side, cause the yard owner already spotted it as a 400 as is asking buxx for it! j/k

400 balancer is not complete all the way around, it has a scalloped section. 3 freeze plugs on side of block (or 2 and a raised section in the middle for a 3rd). Casting #509 is a common one for 400's, but not the only one. check out mortec.com for a complete listing of casting #'s.

 

Yea, what he said, and look for a 2 bolt block, the 4 bolt blocks were weaker.

 

The center 2 cylinders on each side are siamesed.