Well to start off my car is dead (spun rod bearing) and I have a stock bore SBC 400 2 bolt main sitting in the shop. I have bought a few parts to rebuild my LT1 but started thinking into other options (extra cubes). With alot of people going to single plain intakes and seeing great gains on their LT1s, I started to wonder why not just build the 400 have a larger selection of heads and put a single plain on top. Would I be able to get it to run on LT1 fuel injection? Either way I go with this I am going with a single plain intake plumed for fuel injection and direct port nitrous, I just need pointed in the right direction with the engine.

My primary question, is the sbc 400 conversion worth it or should I stick with my LT1? Also what would be the benefits from each direction?

 

The LT1 pcm needs the optical signal, that can be grafted to an HEI but is not something particularly easy.
Everyone likes to talk about gen1 head selection BUT LT1 casting ported by one of the reputable shops are all 95% of us will ever need.

 

Unless you're willing to drop the coin necessary to get an aftermarket fuel management unit like an Accel DFI or a F.A.S.T. system, don't even touch it. You may be able to frankenstein the optispark together with an old school distributor, but even IF you're able to get it to work, how reliable is it going to be?

If you absolutely insist on keeping the stock PCM, stick with the LT1.

 

I would like to stick with the stock pcm but if I needed a standalone, I wouldnt mind swapping over to a F.A.S.T. or a Accel DFI. I have never delt with a standalone system before though.

 

Ironically, when my LT1 broke a rod, I was at the same crossroad, I too had a 400sbc 2bolt in my garage, the reason I sold it. the SBC400 heads I had were 76cc you'd have to get something like from an L98 Vette I believe with a 64cc chamber to be worth it or just put a really big dome on the piston to keep the compression higher not to mention the PCM change, I found it easier just to repair the LT1

 

L98 heads flow a lot less than LT1 heads, the ONLY way to get better than LT1 heads for a gen1 is aftermarket $$$$$$$, the Vortecs equal the better flowing LT1 heads but do not exceed them. The old musclecar era stuff everyone drools over is crap compared to even stock LT1 stuff.

 

I was looking into aftermarket castings either way I go. I havent researched the sbc heads too much but they have a wide variety of 18* and 15* heads that flow some major cfms. I also have been looking at the afr 215rr for the lt1 afr # 1197. I know they are bare heads but that will give me option to build them the way I want them and get them ported. I was roaming around on ebay and found a set of sb2 heads and intake the bid was at 1500 and will prob climb over 2k. I was wondering if these heads are any good or is the price too good to be true.

 

I would like this motor to run on pump gas 93 octane if that has any affect on the decision.

 

Two questions....

1. What are your goals for the build?
2. What is your budget?

The 15, 18 and sb2.2 are all good heads but none of them are cheap to build on.

-Mindgame

 

400 SBC, SB2.2 heads, single plane intake, carb, for the win.

 

The car is going to be to driven only on weekends and will visit the track quite often. I have no set budget on the car it is a progressive build. I can tell you that I would not like to drop 10k in the top end and not be able to drive it to the track. I dont own a truck or a trailer so this car cannot be a trailer queen. I am starting to feel like the lt1 may be the best bet considering the short block is almost complete. I just started thinking about cylinder head and intake selections and am tempted to go SBC.

 

Everything you do is gonna be expensive. If you go with an aftermarket head then you have to remember LT1 headers will no longer work and youll never find a set in a Jegs that will. Im thinking 383, full port LT1 heads or maybe trick flows and then slide in a solid roller cam and valvetrain... if done right that combo will get you moving pretty fast and you could drive it on the street.

 

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...0&autoview=sku



Ryan

 

Yeah, it would nice. But after buying the heads for $1,200 you spend another $2-3K setting them up and another five grand or so on the other parts needed, then about 5K more on the engine mangement system/fuel injection parts and you would be good to go.

Rich

 

It would be both cheaper and more cost effective to rebuild your existing LT1 as a 396.

The main reason to not do the conversion you're considering is NOT the high cost for the big ticket items, which are predictable; it's the way you'll get nickle-and-dimed by all the little things until your budget balloons by 50%.