I appreciate the minimalist approach. Making usable power with less often indicates a deeper knowledge of the principles of what works and why. When we understand, we can better match components that compliment each other for the desired outcome. Good job!
Nice to see somebody that realizes the potential of a tight camshaft LSA - you would actually do better with a 105 on this size motor and valve combo but the 106 is a lot better than most cam manufacturers try to sell you - Good job !!
With the Vortec superior low lift flow numbers, I’ve always wanted to build a similar engine, using a lift rule cam like you did. Sweet man. Vortecs on 400’s are awesome.
From Top Dead Center the Piston is 0.45 Down in the Hole? My 400 0.30 over piston is 0.16 down the hole. My other 400 40 over piston is 0.10 down into the hole down in the Hole. Check out Wallace Compression Calulator. I don't think you have as much Compression as you think. I've seen most your videos. I like your work. Your quench of 0.84 is a lot
I grew up in the 60's when this is how a hot car would look.. effectively sized tires and no goofy pro-street or fake nose-high 'gasser' stuff. I really like this car!
Not sure what's going on at launch there, maybe sounds like some lean stumble or something, but you get that fixed, it should run faster yet! Powerglides are great for consistency, but will also slow it down a bit. Awesome build, Vortec's for the win!
Awesome video! You have great detailed information on the build, plus real world drag testing. I’m planing on build about the same combo for my sons 68 Camaro with a slightly smaller cam.
Sounds like either the carb is letting fuel come up the front vent tube and flooding it on the launch (no vent baffle in the front metering block will do that), or it need jet extensions in the back.. also, the rear needs to have the power valve plugged and jetted accordinlg, fule runs away from it as well... otherwise, Im impressed with it..thats very respectable times!!
Thanks for the vid, I like the way you did it. I don't race but just finished a 406, Dart shp head, voodoo 704 cam engine for my 57. I doubt it'll be that fast but I'm looking forward to getting it in the car and cruisin'! 400's rock :)
Congratulations that’s hauling ass and with the press in studs. I think if you put a screw in studs you would be fine up to 7k. Okay 6900 lol. Let it eat. That’s damn quick at that MPh. Way more in it
I LOVE your car. I was wondering, since you have maintained the suitable Lift numbers for press-in stud clearance w/stock height stud bosses, is there any added danger to running a solid lifter camshaft while keeping the factory press-in studs ? Is this something you may look at in the future ? or is it not a big deal for this application ? 10's on such a basic (engine, not the car itself) setup is always rewarding. More people need to see videos like THIS and get that 1000HP-or-Bust idea out of their heads. VERY NICE WORK so far.
Nice, thank you. I haven't found any negative feedback from running pressed in rocker studs and low lift solid cams on vortec heads. I have kept my spring pressures under 325 lbs and rpm's under 7000. I dont think it is a problem at this level.
Might want to drop the rear-end gearing a touch to keep it under 6500. That or find a way to convert it to 4 bolt main or something. Maybe lighten the rotating assembly and just send it to 7000, regardless.
Wow thx for the detailed info on the build. Seems like a great bang for your buck. How streetable is the cam? It would be behind a 4 speed so no TC stall issues.
Congratulations, 10.91 is awesome. Did you verify the intake centerline is 102 degrees? I have seen many timing sets advance the came more, you could actually be at 99 or 100 degrees ATDC intake centerline. Which would explain the short piston to valve clearance. With a good valve seat form, and a back cut on the intakes, you could put that cam at a 103 intake centerline and it would work well. Do the pistons have a 1.540 compression height?
The pistons must have 1.540 compression height. I was disappointed when I measured how far down in the hole they were. I did verify the cam it was around 101. I have had decent luck with the timing chains lately. Thank you.
I wouldn't either. It was parts I bought for a good deal. I figured why not try it. There are plenty of dished pistons engines running around with no problems. I haven't been to machine shop in years.
You should put a 2.02 intake valve in your heads, 400 ci need to breath. I build 350 spec boat race engines, with a .450 lift solid flat tappet cam and vortech we make 450 hp at 6200
My little 327 out ran that , it has Forged 12:1 pistons and a Forged Steel Vette Crank in a 4 bolt main 350 block . Its in a 66 Chevelle Super Sport that weighs 3200lb Compression makes hp Not cubic inches
20+ years ago I ran 10:40's with a 1.94 valved vortec headed 400 using a dual plane intake, flat tappet cam, pump gas and half that stall. Your LSA is too close for one thing. Cam is way off.
Hey bro was the idea to see if you could build the least expensive motor in the world or use the most basic STOCK parts ...and knowing chevy SB like I do I'm 100% confident you 400 would have been fine out to 6500 whether or not your camshaft would have been working out there is another question all together...
In bizarro-world, if you HAD to stick with the 2bolt main 400 block and planned to throw something like an Eagle or Scat rotating assembly into it for strength at RPM etc, would the addition of an aftermarket splayed 4bolt kit and the required machine work be worth it in the end ? (or even beefier billet 2bolt main caps ?) or do you think that the OEM 2bolt 400 with only good fasteners holding it together can survive (block/mains) if pushed into the 7500RPM or greater region while on the track for a season of runs and still be capable and reliable enough to rely on taking you home after a night of racing as well as for cruising weekends on the street ?
My personal limit on the 2 bolt block 400 would be 7000 rpm with good bolts. I would also make sure my bearing clearances were on the loose side. If I had heavy parts that would change things.
I was going to run some 906 Vortecs on my 283 but found out that my 906's are nothing more than a pair of boat anchors, I discovered one head was cracked by a bolt hole and the other had a cracked valve seat, so now I have to fall back and regroup to see what I want to do. I don't know if I want to waste my time trying to find a good set of Vortecs. I had $400 into these with the intake and Holley carb.
A better choice for 283’s is a 305 vortec head, no. 059, 520 we used them on a 287 just slightly smaller CSA but 165cc runners, 58cc comb cham, 70cc exhaust ports. A simple pocket port(leaving the small swirl ramp alone)The thing absolutely screamed to 7300. Another alternative is the L-98 Corvette alum heads, 164cc runners, standard bolt pattern, 58cc comb cham. They’d need some porting but there lighter and less prone to cracking, and easily repaired.
@@pizzandoughnutspage7817 Yeah right now I'm kind of at a standstill on the motor. Trying to decide if I want to try and find a couple more Vortecs or something else. And another thing is the valves. My 283 is stock bore and I've heard 2.02 valves won't clear the block, and I've heard others say they will clear and that they've actually have used them.
Vortec 906 have excellent flow stock,I've spent a lot of time porting them only to gain 20cfm.They were a test head that were cracked.Bought some summit vortec heads designed by Dart for 900.Best bang for all the upgrades and they flowed better on my flow bench than the ported 906 plus screwed in rockers.Stay away from the jegs vortecs,junk junk junk flowed like shit had sunken valves.
@@Wbroach24 that, or too ignorant to know better. I say let those that think that way be blissfully ignorant. I'll take the "junk 400s" that they don't want!
@joejackson9172 😆 I've been recently re learning things, I just got my 87 Monte SS on the road yesterday... not pretty button the road all that other stuff comes with work. I put a 350 in it lol it was available and not a 305 out of an IROC Z like what was in it when I got it. Maybe should have kept the TPI but probably would have needed a C4 corvette ECU for the 350 🤷♂️
@@Wbroach24 that's awesome! I am a huge gbody fan. I own 3. Monte SS is a bucket list car next. A friend just bought an 87 SS with 30k on it. It's mint. Good luck with your build. It should run great!
A couple hundred rpm will not mean squat !! Stay in it it won't hurt anything !!! My cam was a little bit bigger then yours also a mechanical and I had over 300 passes on it living at 7300 rpm !!!! That rpm will not hurt it unless you sustain for a longer period of time , much longer !!! which creates extra heat !!!! Heat !!!!! Is the killer !!!! That's a 400 which you are choking !!! It needs to be treated like a big block and allowed to breath !!!! More lift on the cam , definitely bigger valves at the least 2.02 1.60 decked at 0 , guide plates 7/16" screw in studs hardened push rods a big block oil pump which will fit and 1 7/8" headers 3 1/2" collectors !!! Good old set of callback fuelly heads which are still around in abundance are relatively cheap and flow much better than those 1.94s do !!!! Oh !! and a set of 1.6 roller rockers !!!! You'll pick up 6-7 tenths !!! You will probably need to send your converter out to be remassaged with the new specs but that 400 will be an entirely different motor once you let it breath !!! I would also go to a 850 carb and Victor Jr intake !!!! A mechanical cam 3500 - 7000 rpm range !!! Go roller if you can !!! It will wake every part up in that motor !!! A 400 will rpm decent if you let them breath !!!! What is your major concern with going over 6500 rpm ??? I ran 20 plus years with always the 406 I'm 61 now and retired from it !!! That motor works great if you give it what it needs !!!! Your weakest link is those rods !!! Try using 4340 H-beam rods with the small end bronze bushed !!!!! Eagle rods are very good and reasonably priced !!!! Just some friendly advice to another 400 man !!! If you go 406 make sure it is line bored with a head plate !!!!! Very important and necessary procedure !!!!
@@nylegreen261 those heads are like a 200% wake up call !!! Just make sure the whole combination breaths carb intake headers will make all the difference !!! Also it should work better with 36 degrees total advance !!!
@@nylegreen261 My 406 was in a 73 Vega built in my garage from the ground up over time !!! It started extremely simple and cost me about $2000 with old outdated parts !! A 400 from the junk yard with a good hydraulic cam .500 lift 228 degrees @ .050 and a 106 centerlobe a single plain intake and a 750 double pumper out of the box !! A set of headers a 350 turbo trans with a shift kit a 10" GER converter ($199) the stock Vega welded spider gears 1966 Chevelle welded on ladder bars heavy duty shocks and a set of 13 inch rims centerline copies speed rated tires in front and a pair of M/T 13×24.5×8.5 slicks !!! Unbelievably it had 3.73 gears in the rear factory !!! A slapstick B&M star shifter and a 10 point cage frame connectors and an aluminum seat with a Deist 5 PT harness !! Ran it like that for 3 years in the late 80s !! Never broke nothing !!! 1.62 60 ft times it ran 12.50s @ 107.6 mph !!!! People couldn't believe it and it always passed tech !!! By the end in 2015 it had a narrowed Ford 9 inch 13.5×29×15 Hoosiers a Lakewood ladder bar suspension koni coil overs 4 gal fuel cell the same block now a 406 making around 600 HP a glide 8" ATI converter 4.86 gears full spool mosier axles real solid satin centerline some fiberglass items hood and hatch sues fasteners B&M pro stick 12 PT cage aerospace 7 inch snorkel functional electric fans and water pump !! 3800 - 7500 rpm range !! 3000 rpm off the foot brake and 7,200 shift point !!! 1.40 60 foots 10.0s @ 132 mph !!! What a difference time makes !!!!! Now it's sadly all over !!! 61 years old and all this knowledge and nobody to help !!! I wish it were different !!! I have one friend I call from time to time and live with my 33 year old son and his loving cats !!! I'm a fully disabled veteran just biding my time til I leave this earth and thankful I have a roof over my head and food in my belly and a son who cares and a wonderful friend in my VA rep !!! I love talking shop and reading my Bible !!!! Would love to talk more shop with you and follow the further advancements of that extremely cool Chevy 2 !!! If I didn't have my Vega I would have had a Chevy 2 !!!!!😊😊😊😊😊👍👍👍👍👍
Great video! 400's with vortec heads are fun engines, great response and torque. I ran one in my 1980 Monte, 3400lbs, 4.10's, stock 906 heads with screw in studs, 9:1 compression, RPM air gap intake, CS XS282S-10 cam. It ran 11.70's @ 113. Ran it hard at the track and on the street for 8 years, never missed a beat until the block cracked.
Always enjoy the updates. I finally have the funds to finish the 383 vortec/roller block-based motor I’ve been saving for. I considered going to aluminum heads, but you’ve convinced me to try the 906s. Thanks
Cool. You might already know, if not , David Visard has a vid on porting vortec heads - He showed great results. Cool to see how much porting would improve. Hope to see a latter video
Nice, when I started putting these combos together 1 year ago. I was thinking it was going to take more head work to go 10's. The vortecs are good heads.
Awesome car, all the way around and great to the point video. I’m trying to get where you are now, my best out of my 350 78 Malibu is 7.5 in the 1/8 and 11.8 in the 1/4. I want to squeeze a 10.9 out of my car so bad, not even sure what that would be in the 1/8.
I have done engines on the cheep and have won alot of races, against high dollar equipment in the past,but i would suggest to at least pin the rocker studs. It might prevent alot of damage .
Lot of gear for 400. Even with 29 tire 430 be enough most like funny car. Are only 410.or less. I had a r.p.m chart half to figure out ratio to tire Height your getting to many r.p.m at the end if you know what I mean that car should be high 10.s 125 miles a hour or. More.
That miss as soon as you leave is caused by fuel rushing to the back of the rear bowl and uncovering the rear jets. Put some jet extensions on it and it will pick up. Also, why don't you want to push the short block? Stock rods?
Yes still using the stock 400 rods. Good call on the jet extensions. I noticed something was wrong that day at the track. But when watching the video from inside of the car you could really notice something was off. Unfortunately the first time watching the video was yesterday. Thank you.
You need 5.18 gear’s from what you explained about your setup,I’m just saying from experience. Sounds healthy and great content. I’ll watch it a few times 😊
Super bummed, i just opened my speedway shim gaskets for a 400. They're trash, I'm still at 4.125 bore. No way they'd fit an overbore. No wonder they're discontinued
? did this chevy 2 come from nashville tn. ? around 1980 i put my oil, temp an volts in the dash rite where those are ? an gave tha dude who bought it a set of dougs fender well headers . an yes i had put a straight axle under it when i was 18, lol a while bak who knows but if its tha same car would make me proud to know its still goin 😎
I ran vortec heads on my stock bottom end 40 over 400. Done the spring upgrade. Ran a vortec rpm and a 750 hp. Th350 and 3.42 diff. Got a lot of wheel spin and ran 13.0 on street tires. Car iscan 82 camaro
At the beginning I was like somebody is sandbagging and stabbing the hell out of the brakes at the big end lol. 109 trap with an 11.0? Unless that is a bracket car then hell of a job. Nice car and awesome combo.
Nice combination you were out of hole pretty quick. Great seeing these builds still going and hopefully over this winter ill finish a 355 i had on the nack burner so thanks for the post.😎🏁
What a mean machine with a 2 bolt main set up..Goes to show the high price blocks are a waste of money on the low buck racing...I love it!!!!!!!!! Great video!
2 bolt main will hold plenty good.I run a similar set up with AFR 195’s with 11-1.These little dinosaur motors are a beast on the street.The 106 lobe is fantastic for that motor.I ran a similar dur but ended up having it reground down to 236 244 for the street.I felt more midrange torque with the smaller dur.Beautiful car you have.Sounds healthy.
