What to do while the motor is out?

[LiveFastDieFun]

Alright well two weeks ago I started picking up parts for my 84 camaro I got world sportsman 2 heads, a comp cams cam and lifters, and a new intake.
Along with all the gaskets and such to go with it.

I had a friend set the valve lash (said he had done it b4 and knew what he was doing) so we get her all back togather he sets the roller rockers we are good to go. Not so much we crank her over and nothing and pops through the carb. So we take the valve covers off to watch the roller rockers valves and such and notice one roller rocker is complelty off the spring. Turns out we bent 3 pushrods 4 vavles and nicked 4 pistons.

Now i have to pull the motor and replace all that so my question to you guys is what should I do while its out? I have extra money and would like to do a nice streetable build from the ground up. The car is not my DD and wont even be driven everyday of the summer with gas the way it is. Any suggestions are apprciated. I'v never done a full build like this so Im not sure were to start.

The block is a 1972 4 bolt main 400ci sbc std bore right now, the only parts I absolutely want to keep are the heads. which like I said are world sportsman II's. The other new parts like the cam and lifters and intake if I have to change I will

[shawnc16]

Clean up the engine bay! Power wash the hell outta that and take care of that nasty rusty k-member.

If you want any kind of power out of that 400.. your gonna want to rebuild it. Those were run in trucks and vans mostly.. Where do you want to go with it? Are you thinking a higher compression N/A engine? Or were you thinking about a power adder? What transmission do you have?

Did you drill the steam holes in the heads?

[LiveFastDieFun]

im thinking like between 9-10 for compression, a n/a motor, yes the heads have the steam holes drilled. idk maybe we will do a n20 setup we will have to see. the trans right now is a fresh 700r4 with shift kit but that might go to for a turbo 350

[Phantom409]

Well you and I have talked a little about this.

You want something fun because it's not a DD so where do you wnat to go wit it.
Lots of options: Stroker, n2o, Forged parts, and what type of lifter?
Do you know the specs of the cam you have now?
A roller cam will give you a nicer setup but you will have to decide what you want to do with the motor.

Like I said, I'lll do some research for ya and help you figure out a few options

[shawnc16]

stroking a 400 can get pretty spendy.. you can make more power than you can handle out of a 406. How much HP are you thinking you want to make?

[Orange Terror]

Ok, first thing I'd recommend, don't let that friend touch your car again. Sorry, but I sure as hell wouldn't.

Just to throw in another twist, if you are thinking about stroking, why not de-stroke it to a 377? Big pistons, shorter stroke will make better rpms and still have plenty of torque on tap.

Just a thought.

[shawnc16]

Ok, first thing I'd recommend, don't let that friend touch your car again. Sorry, but I sure as hell wouldn't.

Just to throw in another twist, if you are thinking about stroking, why not de-stroke it to a 377? Big pistons, shorter stroke will make better rpms and still have plenty of torque on tap.

Just a thought.

Haha I agree with OT there.. which reminds me.. I think I was supposed to look for the proper procedure for someone.. maybe that was you?

[tenpin842]

Get yourself a steel 350 crank and go to town!
Paint the motor block up nice too.

[LiveFastDieFun]

I really don't know what I want to do, just know i have some money to spend and would like build a nice motor. that's why I posted this to see what you guys could suggest. Iv been looking at small stroker kits like 406s and 409s didn't think to de-stroke it tho.. and im liking that idea alot idk im gunna have to think on that

[lozanoa11]

well i would check your piston to valve clearence. eather your cam timeing is way off or something is sized wrong. put some clay on the top of the piston and assemble the heads (you don't have to torque it) and hand turn the engine. if it stops you eather have to much clay or your valves are going down to far.

[LiveFastDieFun]

at this point it doesn't really matter i already did the damage to the pistons and they need to go so its coming out anyway.. might as well replace this stuff while its almost out of the car already and i have the time and money ya know. id hate to put it all back together thinking the piston will be fine just to blow one up.

[shawnc16]

make sure your engine bay does not look nasty like this

[LiveFastDieFun]

will do sir she could use a cleaning along with some wire deleting lol

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

A 4 bolt 400 is arguably one of the best small blocks GM ever made, and your choices are many...still coveted by sprint and circle track racers...

0. Like OT said, don't let that guy touch your car again.

1. Destroke it like OT said...a 350 crank will make it a screamer.

2. Bore it (stroking will require a custom crank)...have seen them taken to 427 cubes pretty easily...World Products offers one such configuration...they also offer a 454 small block, but I'm pretty sure they stroke it to get it that far...

3. Heads...heads, heads, heads, heads. This is where you'll make your power. Even if you went the simple/easy route of just calling a company like Edelbrock and get a good set of aluminum heads with a matching cam and headers, you should be good to close to 400 hp (or more) at the crankshaft.

4. Get the rotating assembly balanced...not expensive to do and good insurance going forward.

So where do you want to go?

We're real good at spending other people's money...

[LiveFastDieFun]

phantom and I were discussing this kit

http://www.competitionproducts.com/p...?number=SS377F

this might be the route i take i still have to get the motor out of the car and to the shop so i have time to change my mind lol