Ok I am begining to build my 93 camaro. It is currently a v6 . I am am looking to build an 11 sec turbo car so here are my 2 engine choices I have access to a 4 bolt sbc 400 and a 4 bolt sbc 350 which I will stroke to 383. ON the surface I want to go for the larger displacement but I heard the the walls are thin on the 400 and the block itself is not that strong. I really want the 400 but I will settle for a 383 let me know what you guys think. And eihter scenerio will have a forged bottom end.

 

i just picked up my 400 last week and yes i've heard that same story about the blocks but i checked into it before i started with this block and my engine builder told me if it's the block that only has 2 freeze plugs per side that is the good block

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400 blocks are hit and miss the casting supposedly to have is the 509 casting. The 400 block can be thin due somewhat to coreshift in the castingyou would want to have the block sonic checked to determine the wall thickness.My advice would be to save upabout $800 more which would be the difference in machine work you would need to do on a factory blockand buy a dart block. The four bolt 400 is considered weaker than the 2 bolt 400 because of the webbing thickness. If you would still choose to use a factory block the 350 block will be safer but it will not keep up with a similarly prepped 400. I also think the turbo setup is not really necessary for a 11 second car it may make it more streetable though.On the cheap non turboI would use the 400 it will be cheaper thefactory crank is up to the task change the rods and pistons get somedecent heads on it put some strip gears in the car andhave fun. I am a firm believer that if you are going to dump alot of cash into a turbo engine dont use a factory gen 1 block.

 

Did anyone see last months car craft there is a guy funning 9's with a stock 350 bottom end and a twin turbo setup. I am definatly going to check the casting # the engine came out of a 77 suburban does anyone know whoch block this is?

 

I have built a lot of 400SBC's over the years and sell a ton of parts to guys for them every day. If your not going to get crazy with it then 550 to 600 hp is pretty safe in a street motor. That is in two or four bolt. As long as the block sonics ok I have taken them to .060 and it still sonic ck'ed at up to .193 while others were thin "under .100 " at .030 but I have seen 350's do just the same. If you clean the inside of the water jackets really well and plug and redrill the steam holes before they crack then they work pretty good. They breathe better and you have more cubes.
Bob

 

I have a 383 stroker in my Camaro with a 4 speed. Pulls very hard.