72 400 BIG BLOCK

[01CHARGER]

DOESS ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MOTOR, I HAVE ONE IN MY 68 NOW THAT RUNS WELL. BUT SHOULD I UPGRADE THIS ONE OR START LOOKING FOR A 440?

[41husk]

if your 400 runs well keep it, if you need to rebuild I would look for a 440, but thats just me.

[John_Kunkel]

http://www.arengineering.com/articles/frame1.htm

[01CHARGER]

THANKS JOHN, LOOKS GOOD. JUST HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN DO IT

[Runner]

check and see if its a 230 block,  if it is,  you have a gold mind between your fender wells!!    they are the most sought after 400 blocks because they have beefer main webs.   they were the first 400s cast in late 71-early 72 i believe

[Chryco Psycho]

your call , it will be a low comp engine but if ti runs well you can leave it , or stroke it to a killer 451 , or replace it with a 440 depending on your budget & desire
I agree on the 230 blocks   

[01CHARGER]

HOW CAN I TELL IF IT IS THAT BLOCK?

[471_Magnum]

HOW CAN I TELL IF IT IS THAT BLOCK?

Casting number will end in '230' and the number will be about 1" tall.

Casting date will be prior to 10-12-71.

There are 230 castings produced after this date that will have shorter casting numbers and not have the more desireable bottom end.

230 blocks are somewhat overrate IMHO... although I do happen to have one in my engine bay.

Deep skirted big block mopars rarely have a failure in this area. Given the choice between two 400 blocks, one 230 and one non-230, I'm going to take the one that sonic checks the best. If they check the same, I'll take the 230, but I'm not going to pay a big premium. This assuming you're not planning to make more that 600 hp.

[AKcharger]

I'd go with the Stroker, Gobs of torque, same displacement short stroke...what more can you ask for?

[471_Magnum]

I'd go with the Stroker, Gobs of torque, same displacement short stroke...what more can you ask for?

A big budget. Building a stroker ain't cheap, but they are gobs of fun.

[Runner]

doing a stroker doent have to cost much more than a good rebiuld. i have less than 4k in my junk with aluminum heads.  with the iron heads i had less than 2500 in it and it still ran plenty good.

  the crank work is the only added cost. everything else is the same.