ORIGINAL: Lee Willis


Good choices, Lee, but where do you find a 400ci crate motor? Is GM even offering such?

There are gobs of ads in GM High Performance magazine, Hot rod, Super Chevy, etc., all advertising crate engines or long-blocks at some very good prices. I've seen 350, 383, 396, 400, and 427 cubic inch LT- series small block derivative engines in the $3500-$6000 range a couple of times, but never really paid a lot of attention, except to one 427 ad which I called just to find out how and what it was. (I really want to do a late model C4 vette with a full 427 cubes running a "grandfather" cam - would be a great daily driver street car).

Just by thumbing through a copy of the Jan. '06 HOT ROD which I happen to have here in my hotel room (I'm on the road this week), I find the follolwing two ads: they don't number the pages with only ads, but counting from page 110:
Page 118 if they numbered it:
Burt Greenwood Chevrolet ad for CRATE ENGINES (800-867-3010)
In the small blcok chevy section, they list:
350 cubes 290 HP $1619
350/330 HP $2,379
ZZ4 350/355 HP $3779
385 cubes/385 HP - $4379
ZZ383/425 HP - $4779

page 120 Iif they numnbered them)
Ultra Street ad (800-295-7142)
434 cubic inch small block 625 HP - $7995
472 cubic inch small block 675 HP $10,950

These last two are more $$ that we were talking about, and because they probably use decked blocks (certainlty the latter has to) they are not going to be an easy fit, but these two examples -- which I found within ten seconds of opening the mag., make the point that if you shop around there are lots and lots of choices. do your homework and you can find good prices
And these engines all come with guarrantees, guys!!!!

I would think $5000 could buy a complete, H.O. crate engine in the 383-414 cube range (I'd goe with cubes by someone else might want to go with slightly smaller and more revs), with enough left over for a good set of headers. THAT would be quick, reliable, really wake up that car, and provide a solid base for future upgrades.

ORIGINAL: Lee Willis

"Good choices, Lee, but where do you find a 400ci crate motor? Is GM even offering such?"

I don't think GM does. But there are gobs of other crate engine companies and I have seen it somewhere. I remember seeing one in some ad sometime back - same ad that I called about an exactly 427 cubic inch small block. I do believe, however, that the 400 was a rather mild engine -- might be meant for replacement in old Impalas, etc., those that came with the original siamesed cylinder wall 400s. I just didn't pay that much attention.

I tried googling "400 crate engine" and so forth but all I get is stuff for the new 400 HP circle track crate engine kit. Thats 400 HP, not 400 cubes, however.


It may be that 400 cubes is not a popular crate engine size, I suspect that is the case: probably the siamesed cylinder block is not a good base for mods (too weak?) and people avoid it and either stay slightly under of over tha #, or if they use it bore and stroke it to take every cube they can: I would.

Mostly what I see are the 383s and a few 396s (More Performance) -- displacements right below that # -- but most who go over 400 go way over, 414, 427, or 434s. Then there are the guys with the decked blocks for super stroke - up to 572 in a small block, but that gets expensive to install.

I can't find that 427 ad now, which is the one that had a 400 listed, too. (most in find in this month's mags offer 434) now and when I get one I'll go find these guys for the 427. I just like that #. But it will be a while. Whife says I have three toys now and she has only one kitchen and it needs new countertops (which, believe it or not, cost more than a crate engine!). she has a point, so my C3 or C$ 427 small block project will be on hold for a while.