Need some advice, stock 400 motor, tune up and possible carb upgrade?

[Charger1973]

My car I just recently bought is running a 40-50,000 mile stock (as far as I know) 400 motor.  It has a 2bbl intake and carb. It hadnt run in over a year when I bought it and I havent done anything as far tuning it up yet, it was running fine the first few times I drove it but all the sudden it started running bad.  It doesnt sound as nice at idle, kind of lumpy, and when I drive it, it feel like something is holding it back and I dont have much power like I did before.  It also dies when I step into it from a stop unless I baby it.  It died the other day about 3 times in 2 miles.  Anyway I plan to do the usual, plugs, wires, cap, rotor... etc but was wondering if you guys think it might need some carb work?  The fuel pump wasnt working when I got this car so I installed an electric pump and also cleaned the tank out and put it back in.  When I did this I put a clear fuel filter just before the pump (just for now) to make sure there wasnt any crap going to come loose and find its way into the fuel pump, which it hasnt yet, so I dont think thats a problem. 

I have another 400 (HP) motor with a 4bbl intake, but the carb that was on it looks like junk to me.  It hasnt run in 10+ years.  I was thinking of just going ahead and buying a carb and putting on this intake when I do the tune up.  Is this a good idea?  What carb would be best for this? 

Im also wondering if I need the vacuum lines that go to the firewall valves, etc.  I see alot of street rod cars that dont have them anymore and most of the Chargers I have owned have had them missing as well.  What is their purpose, and how can I go about getting rid of them for a cleaner look?  The ones on the intake seem to find their way to the brake booster and carb.  Some others go to the firewall. 

[Brightyellow69rtse]

i remember that manifold it sure is heavy! my street dom is 20lbs lighter id i remember right. what pressure is the electric pump running at? im thinking its higher than the mechanical one was at when it worked and thats why its running bad and dying when you stomp it. is there a reason you didnt go back to a mechanical pump? the carter street pumps are great ive never had a problem with mine. depending how much you wanna play with the carb get a eddy for a bolt on and go or a holley for best performance but your gonna have to play with it for sure to get it right on. i say holley but thats me ahhhh my eyes lol all part of the experiance

the you can wake the 400 up for a minimal cost carb,manifold, have the 452's cut to raise compression or get closed chamber heads, cam, headers dadadad stuff like that  but the killer on the motor is the crappy pistons mine are .107" down the hole cant polish a tird so to speak, thats about all you can do without pulling the motor now im rambling anyway ............Mike

[Charger1973]

Id like to use an aluminum intake, and I plan to at some point...  but im on a budget, so its best to go one thing at a time. 

I was having trouble getting the mechanical pump to work, but it may have been the push rod.  Im going to try replacing both again.  The car was running ok for a while with the electric one though... 

The Edelbrock carb is basically the same as a Carter, isnt it?  I bought a new Carter 600 cfm carb for my last Charger and loved it, but that was on a 273 motor.  It was a big carb for that motor.  What size would be good for the 400?  I wouldnt mind another of those carbs to be honest, I really liked it. 

[moparguy01]

id stay around the 600 cfm area for a stock 400.

[supserdave]

I would swap out the cam with the small summit cam, new timing set, and get another carter carb. Should be able to get that done for about 350, and it should run a 100% better.

[Charger1973]

I would swap out the cam with the small summit cam, new timing set, and get another carter carb. Should be able to get that done for about 350, and it should run a 100% better.

I dont have much experience with motors, so, I am not sure what it takes to change a cam?  Ive changed intakes before, but thats as much as I know how to do from past experience.  Id like to do it all myself though if possible. 

[supserdave]

It's not to bad of a job, even with the engine in the car. Take out the radiator, all of the accesories off the front of the engine, ANd then take off the water pump housing. Then the timing cover and gear set. Then take off the valve covers, remove the rocker shafts. Then take out the push rods, make sure you mark the order, remove the lifters, and then the cam.

That is the job in a nutshell, probably 8-10 hours worth if your doing it by yourself. A Mopar engines book would be a big help.

[Charger1973]

Sounds like something I could do without too much trouble.  I'll read up on it a bit.   

[Chryco Psycho]

If you go with an Eddy carb , I wouldn`t get the 750 & preferably the Thunder series , at least it is somewhat adjustable
I would do a compression test & get it tuned up first to make sure the engine is in good shape now before doing a cam or heads
the symtoms you describe sound like carb problems with the Holley 2 bbl on there & the other one looks far worse

[Charger1973]

If you go with an Eddy carb , I wouldn`t get the 750 & preferably the Thunder series , at least it is somewhat adjustable
I would do a compression test & get it tuned up first to make sure the engine is in good shape now before doing a cam or heads
the symtoms you describe sound like carb problems with the Holley 2 bbl on there & the other one looks far worse

Would or wouldnt?  Im not sure if thats a typo or not.  I have been thinking 600 is too small. 

[deputycrawford]

     You should go buy two Eddie 500 CFM carbs and the throttle rod kit. Then you can buy my dual quad intake for next to nothing and go dual carbs. They might not be the best thing for performance but can be tuned pretty good for the street; and look cool also. You see, I have to sell some things because I'm going to be single again soon. My soon to be ex-wife is  at me.

[RD]

If you go with an Eddy carb , I wouldn`t get the 750 & preferably the Thunder series , at least it is somewhat adjustable
I would do a compression test & get it tuned up first to make sure the engine is in good shape now before doing a cam or heads
the symtoms you describe sound like carb problems with the Holley 2 bbl on there & the other one looks far worse

Would or wouldnt?  Im not sure if thats a typo or not.  I have been thinking 600 is too small. 

naah... the carb is fine.  you really only need a bigger carb if you plan on rapping that puppy out on the rpm, then more fuel flow is necessary.  If you do not plan on driving 4000 rpm to and from work everyday, the 600 will work fine for what you need.  I know.  I took a stock 400, 284/484 cam and a 600 eddy carb and ate many of ricers with it.  Is it the best combo, no, but it is what I had at the time, and the lope of the cam gave me a semi, and that is all that matters

[LargerCharger383]

is there any certain years of 400 engines that're best for a 451?

[Charger1973]

I did a tune up and also yanked most of the emissions crap off today.  Its already running 100 times better.      I havent got to road test it yet but so far so good. 

[RD]

is there any certain years of 400 engines that're best for a 451?

it isnt the year per se as it is what the sonic test shows.  but generally the 1971 casting from july through october had the thick main web design that stroker guys/gals like.

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