400 Chevy Small Block

[TXZane]

I just checked the numbers on my 61 Chevy Viking i
just bought. Its not running yet but turns out it
has a 400 small block in it. I was expecting a 283
or 327. Has anybody ever driven a 400 small block
truck? I hope its got some good power/torque. The
only thing i can compare it to is a 292 that i
have in my 66 C60. Im hoping it will be a more
powerful engine. ill find out in a couple weeks
when i get it running.

 

[8NChris]

(quoted from post at 12:18:33 09/10/20) I just checked the numbers on my 61 Chevy Viking i
just bought. Its not running yet but turns out it
has a 400 small block in it. I was expecting a 283
or 327. Has anybody ever driven a 400 small block
truck? I hope its got some good power/torque. The
only thing i can compare it to is a 292 that i
have in my 66 C60. Im hoping it will be a more
powerful engine. ill find out in a couple weeks
when i get it running.

f it turns out it still has a standard bore you have something valuable. About the fastest around was a local man and his brother ran small blocks and Quadrajets. In the Camero's and pickups they raced the 400 small block needed some help keeping cool. That may not be the case with the big truck radiators.

 

[deene]

they do have good torque, i think 4 1/8 in bore and 3 3/4 stroke vs the 3.48 stroke for the 350 and 305.

they have siamised bores in the middle so steam holes are drilled in the block and heads for better cooling, in slightly over stock forms (mild cam and compression) they run very well and have good longevity, while no v8 has the low end like a straight 6 it will run out across the rpm range way better than the 292 you have used before.

 

[deene]

they do have good torque, i think 4 1/8 in bore and 3 3/4 stroke vs the 3.48 stroke for the 350 and 305.

they have siamised bores in the middle so steam holes are drilled in the block and heads for better cooling, in slightly over stock forms (mild cam and compression) they run very well and have good longevity, while no v8 has the low end like a straight 6 it will run out across the rpm range way better than the 292 you have used before.

 

[riveroadrat]

(quoted from post at 20:18:33 09/10/20) I just checked the numbers on my 61 Chevy Viking i
just bought. Its not running yet but turns out it
has a 400 small block in it. I was expecting a 283
or 327. Has anybody ever driven a 400 small block
truck? I hope its got some good power/torque. The
only thing i can compare it to is a 292 that i
have in my 66 C60. Im hoping it will be a more
powerful engine. ill find out in a couple weeks
when i get it running.

don't know if a 400 will work in a big truck with the large flywheel as a 400 is externally balanced. It should be OK if you use the smaller externally balanced flywheel and front damper.

 

[Hdonly]

(quoted from post at 05:55:50 09/22/21)

(quoted from post at 20:18:33 09/10/20) I just checked the numbers on my 61 Chevy Viking i
just bought. Its not running yet but turns out it
has a 400 small block in it. I was expecting a 283
or 327. Has anybody ever driven a 400 small block
truck? I hope its got some good power/torque. The
only thing i can compare it to is a 292 that i
have in my 66 C60. Im hoping it will be a more
powerful engine. ill find out in a couple weeks
when i get it running.

don't know if a 400 will work in a big truck with the large flywheel as a 400 is externally balanced. It should be OK if you use the smaller externally balanced flywheel and front damper.

Depends on what you want out of the truck. Heavy flywheel for low end torque. Lighter flywheel for faster revs and high end horsepower.

 

[fixerupper]

Was the 400 even made in a truck version?

 

[oldjohndeere]

(quoted from post at 20:18:33 09/10/20) I just checked the numbers on my 61 Chevy Viking i
just bought. Its not running yet but turns out it
has a 400 small block in it. I was expecting a 283
or 327. Has anybody ever driven a 400 small block
truck? I hope its got some good power/torque. The
only thing i can compare it to is a 292 that i
have in my 66 C60. Im hoping it will be a more
powerful engine. ill find out in a couple weeks
when i get it running.

I had a 400 in a C 60 Chevy, Very strong. They make a balancer plate that goes between the crank and flywheel to balance it and an adapter plate to adapt the large bellhousing to it.