SB Chev 355 or 406

parkdale · 10-14-2016, 12:57 PM

building a street and strip engine and was wondering on the pros and cons on these two engines . I was told to stay away from the 400 . any comments ?

larrylomascolo · 10-14-2016, 01:48 PM

400 externally balanced,and do you see many out there,,i dont ,so that tells me enough ,,,,

Dave1695 · 10-14-2016, 01:59 PM

There is nothing wrong with the 400, with some minor upgrades that Chevy could have done. I ran one for years in my 67 Camaro, with small valve heads and cam from a 350. The car weight was 3100 and with 4.56 gears, ran 11 flat in ugly air and low 10.70's in good fall air.

gd31 · 10-14-2016, 02:30 PM

I'll add to the mix. How about a 383?

TOSTO RACING · 10-14-2016, 03:01 PM

Have had a ton of 355's very reliable low maintenance motors. Roller cam Brodix track 1's and 13.5 to 1 comp 10.30's all day long in a 3400 pound camaro . Had a tunnel ram and splits on one in my 70 camaro back in the 90's ran. 9.80's at 3400 pounds ! Yiu can buy everything reasonable for one .

parkdale · 10-14-2016, 03:56 PM

i have some parts in stock for the 355 and the 406 but none for the 383 such as the stroker crank to fit the 350 block , i believe the rods are all 5.7

dmir55 · 10-14-2016, 11:07 PM

If you build a 383, you must cut the mains, of the 400 crank, to 350 size. Then you use standard pin height 350 pistons with a 400 rod. Good torque engine for the money. The 350 block seems to have better head gasket sealing. But nothing beats cubic inches.

Eman · 10-17-2016, 02:47 PM

Street,strip, bracket build a 350. There is no engine better for the buck, with incredible durability. If you want to build a 400 buy an aftermarket block now...or later when you waste a lot of time and money.

carl hinkson · 10-17-2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eman

Street,strip, bracket build a 350. There is no engine better for the buck, with incredible durability. If you want to build a 400 buy an aftermarket block now...or later when you waste a lot of time and money.

X10000000000000 I have seen a lot of guys spend good money on bad when it comes to OEM 400 blocks !!!

Rich Biebel · 10-17-2016, 06:31 PM

Build a 383....best bang for the buck in a street engine.

Stock 350 block...none of the 400 block problems...

I built lots of them....and with all the piles of inexpensive rotating assemblies out there now it's a no brainer and easy to do. You don't have to use a Stock GM 400 crank or the short GM 400 rods...

Only minor issue is rod to block and cam clearance and it's not much of a problem with any stroker type h beam rod.....

Stroker type rods usually clear a small cam with no problems.....

Easy to check during a preassembly...Only 2 pair of rods ever get close to the cam lobes anyway...

A decent stock block with little or no core shift just needs a little grinding at the bottom of the cylinders for the added stroke..

The cam to rod clearance is real easy to check.
I used strips of cardboard, or clay and a mirror....

A 383 has great torque and a perfect street strip engine...

400 blocks are nothing but problems...

10-14-2016, 12:57 PM	#1
parkdale Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	SB Chev 355 or 406 building a street and strip engine and was wondering on the pros and cons on these two engines . I was told to stay away from the 400 . any comments ?

10-14-2016, 01:48 PM	#2
larrylomascolo Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario,canada Posts: 438 Likes: 62 Liked 64 Times in 28 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 400 externally balanced,and do you see many out there,,i dont ,so that tells me enough ,,,,

10-14-2016, 01:59 PM	#3
Dave1695 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 160 Likes: 0 Liked 15 Times in 11 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 There is nothing wrong with the 400, with some minor upgrades that Chevy could have done. I ran one for years in my 67 Camaro, with small valve heads and cam from a 350. The car weight was 3100 and with 4.56 gears, ran 11 flat in ugly air and low 10.70's in good fall air.

10-14-2016, 02:30 PM	#4
gd31 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 8 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 I'll add to the mix. How about a 383?

10-14-2016, 03:01 PM	#5
TOSTO RACING Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: DRAGSTRIP Posts: 809 Likes: 605 Liked 472 Times in 137 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 Have had a ton of 355's very reliable low maintenance motors. Roller cam Brodix track 1's and 13.5 to 1 comp 10.30's all day long in a 3400 pound camaro . Had a tunnel ram and splits on one in my 70 camaro back in the 90's ran. 9.80's at 3400 pounds ! Yiu can buy everything reasonable for one . __________________ 5664 AA/SA 1970 NOVA

10-14-2016, 03:56 PM	#6
parkdale Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 i have some parts in stock for the 355 and the 406 but none for the 383 such as the stroker crank to fit the 350 block , i believe the rods are all 5.7

10-14-2016, 11:07 PM	#7
dmir55 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: northern Minnesota Posts: 64 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 If you build a 383, you must cut the mains, of the 400 crank, to 350 size. Then you use standard pin height 350 pistons with a 400 rod. Good torque engine for the money. The 350 block seems to have better head gasket sealing. But nothing beats cubic inches.

10-17-2016, 02:47 PM	#8
Eman Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: E TN Posts: 442 Likes: 14 Liked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 Street,strip, bracket build a 350. There is no engine better for the buck, with incredible durability. If you want to build a 400 buy an aftermarket block now...or later when you waste a lot of time and money.

10-17-2016, 06:31 PM	#10
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: SB Chev 355 or 406 Build a 383....best bang for the buck in a street engine. Stock 350 block...none of the 400 block problems... I built lots of them....and with all the piles of inexpensive rotating assemblies out there now it's a no brainer and easy to do. You don't have to use a Stock GM 400 crank or the short GM 400 rods... Only minor issue is rod to block and cam clearance and it's not much of a problem with any stroker type h beam rod..... Stroker type rods usually clear a small cam with no problems..... Easy to check during a preassembly...Only 2 pair of rods ever get close to the cam lobes anyway... A decent stock block with little or no core shift just needs a little grinding at the bottom of the cylinders for the added stroke.. The cam to rod clearance is real easy to check. I used strips of cardboard, or clay and a mirror.... A 383 has great torque and a perfect street strip engine... 400 blocks are nothing but problems... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479