Brady,
Gm has replaced many a motor in trucks...Warranty replacement was a large call to the removal of the 400 in production vehicles. Living in PA (home of the cheapest racers in the world) I see a good bit of local guys breaking 400's with 5-600 rwhp. Most of the time they are unaware until a freshen (they are ussually curious why the right side of the block is still stuck to the motor mount while the engine is on the engine stand?)

MG is certainly correct that their are some thick 509's availible. The thrust thickness is not your only concern..Lets take a look at this a little closer...

The Situation
1. 3000+ lb vehicle (this is assumed)
2. >1200 HP net (30 years ago, if you were making this kinda of power
it most likely would have been blown on alky...and you were still replacing parts)
3. you are most likely leaving with timing control and supplemental fuel. This will cross cylinders up on the brake.

The Downside
1. Even with .200+ thrust. the cylinders are still floating in the block. the deck and main web are not strong enough to support the diameter of the cylinder with the little engagement they have. On the other hand a siamese block integrates all cylinders, the cylinder not under pressure aid the ones
that are.
2. What is the reason you wish to run a 400 block? their are other solutions, and with the amount of artifical respiration what is the reason you HAVE to have a big bore?
3. If you start to distort a cylinder, the block will not be able to contain the hemorage. This will most likely lead to a massive block failure...say good bye to everything from the oil pan, to that nice BRC crank...to the turbo.
4. In the case of number 3, you have a fair chance that you will track over the carnage unglueing you from the track. Normally sending you on your lid and into the wall, I lost a friend in this situation, and hope to never again. If you do it. buy a diaper their cheap insurance!

their are also ways in order to make the 400 block live. This solution is nothing short of expensive...

you are led to believe that the rules that are in place in any form of racing are to protect the racer... when in reality they are to protect the pocket books of the manufacturers.

I would be glad to offer assistance to this issue, call me anytime...but I stress that whatever decision you make, please sleep on it more than one night.

I'll climb down now...
Dennis

 

Thanks Dennis!

 

Thanks Dennis, that's a good read (I read it twice)..

I don't have to have a 400" block, it would just be easier given the parts I already have, and the 18° heads have 2.15 and 1.60 valves. I felt it would be an equitable conversion power-wise. (If it wouldn't grenade.)

One other contingent in this scenario is: Trans-brakes are illegal. This is going to pose quite a challenge to get the car to leave (3400#).. We're going to leave off idle and spray about a 150 shot (dry, FAST controlled) for the first second or so to get the turbo spooled, then drop the nitrous. Tuning won't be an issue, I can make that part happen.

Per "Downside #2", what do you feel is a viable option to the 400 block. We'd like to have something that will last a year anyway, and it pretty much has to run at least 8.50's @ 3400# with a stock block and no trans brake... Geez, these rules are great..

And if you don't think my goals are attainable, by all means let me know.

 

Oh, and if it isn't painfully obvious, I'm a drag racer, not an engine builder

 

Have you actually called and talked to someone in charge about the use of an aftermarket block?

 

yes, it's specifically outlawed.. It would be a little tough to sneak the Iron Eagle in.

 

Are you restricted to a small block? If not use the DRCE II block...made by GM. Or you could put a carb on an LS2 or C5R block!

Zach

 

Too bad those are LS and BBC blocks and are outlawed from what he said.

I just wouldn't race the class if the rule are this dumb on block selection.

Bret

 

Here's the deal for those who can't read between the lines.
My 1996 Z28 was purchased by a fine Gentleman in Bahrain. The Bahrain Drag Racing Club has established the aforementioned rules. If you've ever dealt with the Middle Eastern people, you know that they are very "matter of fact" and rules are rules. Nothing is open for interpretation. These rules are quite concrete for the remainder of the year.

Bret, you'd race this series if the money was right, and that's all I have to say.

We'll be making the voyage to Bahrain in November, it's going to be pretty cool. The buyer of the car has recently bought Mr. Pat Musi's '69 Camaro, and in talking with Pat, he plans on going to Bahrain in November as well. Mark Dantoni and his crew along with Sonny Leonard and his guys will be going, it should be a fun 24 hours on the plane... Me and MadMan are going to have a wild time in the middle east... Hopefully Brian will return with both hands.

 

Oh dear God...battin' down the hatches...here comes WW III! lol
Or maybe Madman can take a side trip and take care of our problems "over there!"

 

Super Street rules summery

10. All vehicles must run factory equipped engine (Block)


This is the only rule included in this set, (in classes below Pro Street), that dictates anything to do with your choice of engine block. It's actually pretty vague. "Factory Equipped" could be taken a number of ways:

1. The actual original numbers matching engine that was installed in the car
from the factory.

2. The same MODEL of engine that all cars of that type were equipped with
from the factory, but not necessarily the original motor.

3. Any engine that was produced by the same factory that produced the car
it's in.

4. Any engine that was an original factory production engine, regardless of
make.

Now, you're talking about running a 400 block, which pretty much rules out possibilities 1 and 2 as being dealbreakers. So if it's okay to run a 400, seeing as how not a single F Body from 93-02 was ever equipped with one from the factory, then why WOULDN'T it be okay to run an LS1, which was? If I were you, I'd be making some phone calls and asking some questions to gain some clarification about what "factory equipped" actually entails. Because it would seem that if these middle eastern people are as strict about rules and as "matter of fact" as you say they are, then using any block other than a good ol' LT1 is completely out of the question.