I was talking with my machinist a few days ago about eventually replacing my stroker 388 with something well over 400 ci. As I have mentioned before on the board, shortly before I deployed I successfully adapted a gen I sb chevy with LT1 fuel injection components, so I was going to give this a try.

I have a 400 block at the house needing full-on machine work and repair (melted wall between 5 and 6 1/8" due to nitrous) I got from a guy I knew for nothing. Wonder why. He offered me a fully prepped 400 block, 2 bolt high nickel, std. bore (wow) and studded, for $300. After telling him what I wanted to do, build a 434, he suggested that I just clearance an LT1 block, and after the clearancing operation, have the are welded back up before the machining began. Didnt sound like a bad idea to me as long as the welding was professional... but as far as metal goes, I'm no pro.

He also suggested sleeves, but the cost is far too high. Leaving me with either a 4 bolt splayed and studded 400 block with main girdle, 4" clearanced LT1 on a .030 overbore, or aftermarket block (my preference). This engine will most likely see a set of brodix 18X heads, single plane, monoblade, 72# injectors and a small base circle cam with linkbar lifters. I was considering sb2.2, but I dont have the time of money right now to fab everything up. Before building up this engine though, I will be running a 406 under the hood just to sort out an issues beforehand.

Problem is I see blocks that I can use. Do these manufacturers also make them in a 1 pc RMS?

Not really a serious consideration, just a thought. Let the flaming begin

 

I'm pretty sure you can get a kit for that.

 

How much power do you want to put thru this block???? A good 400 is hard to find and the only good way to tell is mag the block to check for cracks and take a sonic checker to the thing.

I would rather have a Bowtie or Dart block if I was doing this....

I wouldn't go to a aftermarket casting other than a 23° deal on most 400 blocks because you will outpower the block easily, especially with a head like a SB2 which if you get them cheap and have someone who works on them normally fix them up they will be a killer deal.

Bret