Ok I have a dumb question for everyone. I am new to the car seen. I have a 400 smb do not know what all has been done to it but I was told its not stock. I have a th350 transmission in my 89 rs. A buddy of mine has a 91 with a 305tpi and a 700r4. We both have the same rear end. Well needless to say we got bored and made a few gentlemen wagers on which car was faster. Well he beat me. In a 305 camaro against a 400 smb. Could him having a 700r4 made that much of a difference in his take off.

 

His car might end up being faster in the high top end due to the trans having an extra gear. The 400 has way more torque than the 305, so your car will smoke him off the line and into highway speeds, even with your slightly higher first gear. Play with that, and bet him how many car lengths of a head start he's going to need.

 

Sounds like you need to get to know your car.... How do you know you have a 400/TH350 combo?

 

I think your right. Because it has three freeze plugs and the size and style of the harmonic balancer.

 

Ooooh boy.........there is only 3 ways a 305 is gonna beat a 400

1) Thats one SUPER worked 305. (not likely)
2) Your 400 is tuned worth a **** and you cant drive. (slightly possible)
3) You dont have a 400.....

 

Scott ill go with number 2 but i know how to handle my car. i dont think its tuned

 

Even a POORLY tuned 400 should SMOKE a 305. How do you KNOW, for SURE, its a 400? (the balancer was a good starting point, which one are you running?)

 

I would starting trying to figure out something. I wouldn't be embarassed to even tell someone that my 400 got smoked by a sorry 305.

 

Well thirdGenCrazy I have to say I am really embarresed to say that. But atleast it was to a close friend whose is helping me try and get to the bottom of things. I dont care what scott has to say it is a 400 we did some deep checking into before we put the motor in. We have found out my car is running hotter then it should be wich would not help me at all. We also think the carb and timing need some slight tweaking. That motor has been a pain to time. Also He is thinking the person that he bought the car off put a beefed up 350 which would make more since. I just posted this because im new to this stuff and didnt know if anyone could help me get to the bottom of this but instead some people have said I just dont know my car and I dont know what i have.

 

Cad, dont get your panties in a bunch, we are trying to help. Im just stating the obvious, a 305 WILL NOT be able to beat a 400 (unless that 400 is sputtering and stalling out of tune) I asked if you were SURE it was a 400 because ALL SBC's look pretty much the same and the ONLY real way you can tell is to either measure the bore or run the casting numbers. You said you knew it was a 400 because of the freeze plugs??? MANY people have been sold 305's but mislead into believing they are 350's (or 400's) So if you really do have a 400 (which I dont doubt either way) there has to be something MAJOR wrong with it. So please, stop acting like a butt hurt teenager and tell us a few things about your car....

Did you tear it down and rebuild it?
Did you cam it?
How much timing are you running?
What kind of carb?
Whats your rear end gearing?