Update on the engine. After a month of driving the car it runs amazing. Still trying to put all the power to the ground as it spins the tires with ease. I have a set of Hoosier DOT legal bias ply tires I am about to try on it. If that doesn't get her to stick I may need to look at putting Cal-tracs on her. At 60 mph if I down shift to 3rd and floor it she lights up the tires. Crazy.. The throttle response is great. Had to go with a high dollar dual disc clutch to handle the torque and HP. In hot August weather it never got over 180 degrees. Its the best performing small block I have ever owned or driven. Super pleased with it.
I was impressed with the Hoosier DR2 Drag radials after trying a couple others. They hooked the best for me in a 2900lb car. I'm sure your running a little more hp than my stroker put out though.
That's impressive torque for a 406-407 I remember years ago when Chevy came out with their 502 performance crate engine putting out 550 torque so this 400 small block doing about the same torque is very very impressive, props👍👍
Had a SBC discussion with the guys at my local Carquest the other day. They were all in a "383". Then they asked my input. I politely said why do want a 383 when you can build a 406, 500+ torque/HP on pump gas is not that hard. I even mentioned some AFR 195's, similar compression, and similar cam ran here. It's a no brainer in my opinion and this video proves my point. They seemed to agree after our short discussion. I will show them this video.
Best bang-for-the-buck 406 small block. I had a 64 Nova station wagon with a mild 406 with 373 gears, 3100 car for 21 yrs. I now have a ZR1 which I enjoy, but I think the Nova was more fun,stealthy sleeper!
@@howardbedford6075 nice.my c3 has a 406 with 390 gears and I can blow away chargers mustangs and new camaros NA. Love it. Skip White internal balanced 11/1
@@bbtruckin3112 yes!!! I had a stock 1975 400 in a 1970 Impala Custom Coupe and I loved that power! I can only imagine the feeling of this worked 400!🤜🏿🤛🏿
This came up on my feed today .. I've been running a 406 in my '69 Chevelle since '98. Pat Musi built, driven to Boston, Mooresville NC, Wildwood NJ and Ocean City MD many, many times, still runs great, makes tons of torque and never had any major issues. Definitely made the right choice when I chose to have this built.
Pro tip: DCR Dynamic Compression Ratio determines engine octane requirements not the SCR Static Compression Ratio. Select the wrong camshaft for your compression and it can easily exceed 91-93 octane pump gas. My 4.8 LS has SCR 9.72-1 and exceeds the max DCR for pump gas due to the intake valve closing a hair too soon. JD
Right you are. Its not that "compression ratio" is a bad communication. We all picture the same thing on hearing it: bdc vs tdc volume. But... compression implies work, and since there's an open system until some degrees past bdc and the piston is up the bore, I sometimes wish we all just said "volume ratio", but... not happening any time soon. Meantime, the number really just tells us roughly how early or late intake closure is - IF the builder was mindful of dcr limits.
I know your post is 2+ years old, but it caught my attention when I stumbled across this video today, and I will say you are 100% correct! I actually ran the dynamic compression numbers based on the information they gave in the video and used the Wallace calculators and averaged the d/c for advertised and @.050 and came up with 171.40 psi of cylinder compression. The 93 octane should be able to support that just fine. Well thought out combination- I can definitely see why this engine made the kind of torque and horsepower that it did. I’m currently building something similar and these are the kind of numbers that I hope to make with my 400 sbc.
I've been snagging up 400's for a while now. Currently I have 6. 5 are untouched and still stock bores. I built one 406. LOVE IT! Watching this, I think I know what direction the next one will take. 😁
Yes I second that comment! I'll take my old 406 over anything today! Ls maybe unless I had access to a LSX cast iron block? BUT mine with 12.25:1 comp would Love 38 total advance all day long!
I built a similar motor,stock 400 block (509) with those same AFR 195 heads. Chris Straub hydraulic roller cam .547 INT .510 EXH , Eagle crank and rods 6 inch, edelbrock RPM air gap intake, holly 750 dp. It’s in my 65 chevelle. Car goes like hell. In the process of installing and edelbrock pro flow 4 right now. Hopefully it runs the same or better. Great build guys thanks for the video.
I have a 406 with a pro-flo 4. The engine is not installed in car yet (sitting on engine stand) but has been on the dyno. 501.1hp @ 5600 and 517 hp @ 4500. I think there is more there. My engine has a slightly smaller cam and running 1.5 rockers vs 1.6 like in this build. Same AFR heads. Full forged assembly. My compression is 10.7 We didn't play around with it a lot so I think it needs a little more tuning. Going to use the chassis dyno once I get it installed. The engine builder said it was a breeze to set up. He normally uses Holley FI but liked the Edelbrock ease of insulation. 406 torque curve is flat and pretty. The cam idles nice. Should be a great engine for my '89 IROC.
I built a 421 sbc and was also running the AFR aluminum 227 heads!! Dart block, fully forged internals, and full roller set up!! Mine definitely needed more air so we installed a 1” carb spacer and was able to gain another 30 HP!!! I was able to run it on a dyno to get everything broke in before installing into my vehicle!! We was just shy of hitting 700HP but the torque numbers were also amazing across the whole board!!! Definitely one of my best builds for sure!!!
I built a 406ci for my 86 squarebody with 10:1cr,Promaxx 200cc aluminum heads,a 480/480 lift with 110* cam (small cam /had a vortec topend before got heads) -12cc dish 4VR pistons with 5.7 rods,performed air gap intake,Holley dual line pumper 750, oil valley plugged off,long tubes headers,running a 10” 3800 street/strip stall converter …wanting 500hp+ …straight beast on the roads!! Gonna chassis Dyno this summer and fiqure out RWHP so I know what motor is around hp
Nice I built the same motor. Only I used 220 CNC ported flotek heads .622 lift and 10.98/1 compression internal balanced with all forged internals 292 cam. I never dynoed it so this gives me a good guess that I'm 550 plus. Ty!
Hey Sean it's John from tiktok and people think sbc are a thing of the past because they don't have any fucking clue what they're talking about lol I'll take my sbc over a LS any day
My buddy has one of these in his 67 Camaro with turbo 350 and it has no traction at all on the street,even with drag radials. The thing is that the hyd cam kit to run a roller in an older sbc is 1400 bucks. That is more than I paid for my very good running 6.0 and 4lL80e. A much bigger than stock cam and some valve springs are about all it will take to get close to that 500 hp for way less than half of what it cost to build a 406.
Back in the day I cured traction issues on my similarly powered 67 Camaro by putting a set of 275/60/15 drag radials on stock 15x7 rally wheels, bolt in sub frame connectors and South Side Machine lift bars. A pair of Calvert/ Lakewood 90/10 front drag shocks would also help.
What's the part number on the intake? I'm in the process of a similar build of a 406 but was thinking of a Victor Jr.Dont know if I should go a duel plane or open plane..Can't believe the HP your sbc produces..Great combination guys!!
I have a 400 block, any advice on the best heads ? I would like to put the engine in a truck , any advice on keeping the engine kool and helping longevity? the truck has 4:56 gears Thanks
Do you think the loose rockers are a result of lifters failing to stay pumped up? Are they roller lifters? I am having issues with my 385 Lt1, Gen2, rockers.
What is the torque curve down low as I am replacing a 350 vortec and was thinking to use a 400 block for torque-I’m also not opposed to a few hundred extra horsepower as well
My engine is similar but with Edelbrock pro-flo 4 and I'm at 443TQ at 2500. I peak at 517 at 4500 and end at 442 at 5800. Its a nice flat load of torque. Torque all the time. LOL. I did hit 501hp at 5600.
What’s the internals, I’m building a 406 sbc. I’m using stock crank, flat top pistons, and an edelbrock performer rpm intake. What cylinder heads and cam should I run? Daily driver so needs to be street able but have some power to it
This thing is Meaty! I bet in something lightish 3500 or less at that it would scare most people to death to drive! I would do a 70 Nova with a stick shift! 355 gear. Of course that's a window shopper build.
When I build my 400 and stuck in a 4 speed manual K5 1984 No one believed me when i said i don't need nitrous. She is going back together this spring. And doing alot more this time.
At what RPM? combustion chamber volume?..valve size? flat or pop ups? compression ratio?..early or late exhaust opening and how long(degrees)?..thanks 45 G town Texas
All that is discussed in the video if you listen close. has 10to 1 comp ratio. 2.05 intake valves AFR heads, Forged Calies crank, Compstar forged H beam rods, Forged Mahle pistons, balanced rotating assembly, GM block bored .030 over, Hyd roller cam.
I had a 406 built with forged internals, 11cc dished pistons,AFR 210/65cc chamber heads, victor jr intake, Erson hydraulic roller .584 cam with 1.6 rockers, solid roller lifters, 750 FST billet extreme carb, electric water pump, and 1 3/4 long tube headers and mine only made 526hp / 504tq. Does that seem low or maybe it’s the Dyno being a little tight on the numbers. It runs well and I beat a lot of cars that seem to have way nastier motors than mine but it bugs me that I have seen more than a few videos where 406’s make more power with less. 7.46@95mph 3.73gears, turbo 400 in a 73 camaro.
What's the duration and static compression of your engine? To mee your cam, intake and carb are too small for a 406. I'd run a 248/254 @ .050 cam with at least .630"/.630" lift and a 110 LSA, super victor intake and a 1000 cfm carb. Also are the numbers you posted flywheel or rear wheel?
@@daleyoung601 I think it is a 236/242 .548/.548 Erson hydraulic roller grind, solid roller lifters with 1.6 rockers makes it .584 on a 112 LSA. The builder tried a 2” Wilson spacer with same carb and then a 950 Holley XP and it only made a couple numbers more. I like to drive the streets most of the time and I knew there would be a trade off between strip and street but it just seems low. On the local dyno it only made 388whp with no alt belt, electric fan and an electric water pump. Talk about a let down. Made 2 pulls from 3500 to 6000 and the graph never really went up except on the hit it was just level. Also I am running a Hughes 3500 to 3700 stall
That's not unreasonable, especially at that intake duration. I have a 383, 236-242@.050, 575 lift solid roller , 10.5:1 cr , 220 pro topline heads 290cfm. Only made 428hp 6200 rpm. Seemed sketchy to me , but runs WAY better than all the so called "400" hp 350s I've been around. Same Dyno 421 SBC 12:1 comp, circle track engine made 520hp.
How about a torquey 400 build that will work with a TBI and be able to pass smog. Not all of us need an engine that will rev to 7k, just need better pulling power for our trucks
@wreckanchor I know this video was posted two and a half years ago, but I wish I could tell what intake manifold is on it. I can't quite read what is cast into it.
What's the cam specs? I only saw the lift with 1.6 ratio rockers. What's the duration @50 ? Also is it a roller hydraulic cam or a hydraulic flat tappet cam?
@@wreckanchor Did you drill the AFR heads for the steam holes? Also how does it idle? Does it have a lope or slightly choppy? Or civilized and silky smooth? I would like to build a similar motor for my 1990 Corvette convertibale, but want my mother to be able to drive it as well.
@@sportsmansparadice42 Yes AFR drilled the heads for steam holes at my request when I ordered them. Cam has a pretty nasty lope but the throttle response is amazing due to the dual plane intake and the 195 heads paired with everything. I would not give this to my mother to drive however its too powerful & can get away from you quick if you dont know how to drive something with this much torque IMHO.
Get the head just before the ones you have to run offset rocker arms for them. Can't remember but I think they are 220's any horsepower you loose below 3500 you will find it plus some at 6500-6800
@@TPVPRO The intake is a Holley 300-36. Best dual plane intake ever made for the SBC in my opinion. Close copy of the 69 z28 Winters intake. Has the biggest runners and plenum volume of all the aftermarket dual plane intakes that I am aware of. I have them on a few cars and they always perform well. I typically add a 1 inch spacer. They out perform the Edelbrock AIr Gaps and performers by a noticable difference.
Boneshaker I was running the Edelbrock air gap on my 67 L30 327 but I wanted a vintage look as it's in my 57 Gasser. So I replaced it with that 69 Z28 manifold you mentioned (eBay .. not cheap) and it seems to run as strong or stronger!
How about a budget 400 build? Something like a stock shortblock with a hydraulic flat tappet cam and say fuelly heads and such.Something your average working man can afford.Not a $10.000 or more custom drag engine.
I had a 400 sbc with flat top pistons and GM Vortec heads, flat tappet hyd cam and the same intake manifold and it made 423 hp @ 5500 rpm and 520 ft pounds of torque. The cam is a fairly mild comp cams 280H. The 400 sbc is a torque monster and you dont need to rev it high to get that power. Avg man can build this engine
hi AFR street or Competition heads . part no. ?? 2.05 or 2.08 valve. small chamber so must use a dish piston ... 64cc , 401, Flat top =11.3 cr Carby size , carb spacer , step headers , maybe the inlet manifold ? all these would give 20-25xtra HP seen 395 [stroker 350] with 230/236 weiand 7530 1 3/4 primaries do 495 hp
AFR PART #: 1040 2.05 valves, 65cc chamber, 850 cfm Holley, 1 inch spacer. Dual plane Holley 300-36 intake. Dynatech Headers SBC 1-5/8-1-3/4 Stainless With 3″ Reducer. Car has a custom bent 3 inch exhaust front to back.
I didnt think you where going to make any hp/Tq at 6000 rpms the those tiny heads on a sbc 400 engine afr 195 heads are excellent when put on a sbc 350 or smaller engine they hit a choke point in the cylinder hezd at the push rod area
Dart SHP 4.125” Eagle 4340 3.75” Ross 2 valve flat top 6.125” Scat 4340 Mike Jones solid roller Afr 210 heads Crower 1.6 shaft rocker Mamba lifter 11:1 HVH hand ported by me AED 850
If you don't mind i'm curious what cam you used in this build? Also what heads, my engine is not far from yours and i'm just trying to compare how we're making power differently. My engine is primarily for street use with 10.85 to 1, some trips to the track anticipated.
@@wreckanchor ; I was asking regarding Phillips engine. I would be very happy with your engine build as my full roller 383 is very similar with 200 cc eddy Etec heads, if I were to do it again I would trade my heads for the AFR 195's. The reason I was asking about Phillips engine is my 10.7 to 1 399ci. 1st. gen is putting out 641 hp. and 560 ft lbs. on 89 pump gas.
Why would you not take it up on a timing more it was gaining horsepower I think that motor is good for like 42° initial timing I think it would have put out more power and you did not see what RPM you were revving the engine to to acquire that horsepower for me I need to know the RPMs and the torque curve at the precise RPMs otherwise I would not be interested in further washing your channel
What do you want to know? 406 cubic inch factory GM 400 block. Calies forged crank, forged rods, and pistons. Just over 10to1 compression, hydraulic roller cam. AFR 195 heads, Holley 300-36 intake, Holley 850 carb. I think a huge part of this engines performance is due to the efforts of the engine builder Karl Ellwein. Search his videos here on youtube and you will see how super particular he is in everything he builds. Everything he builds seems to over achieve power wise. I dove 5 hours each way just to have this man build this engine for me. Would do it again in a minute.