what`s your 400 stocker combo??

[dirty dan]

Iam looking for any and all info on 400 strocker engine combo`s.
What Iam looking for is Short block info.
I am reffering to a combo based on a 440 crank
(not off set ground)
What Rods
,What pistons?
Name brand
Part #`s
Price
What is the finale deck height?
Piston weight
And anything else that should be noted.
Any info would be appreciated and thankfully read.

[451Mopar]

I'm using the Muscle Motors 451 stroker kit with custom (dished 13cc) ross pistons, stock, reconditioned 440 rods with ARP bolts.
Muscle Motors built the short block to my specs, and I'm pretty sure they decked the block to get zero deck height.
The reason the pistons are dished, is the B-1 B/S heads I'm using have very small 65c chambers. Flat top pistons would have given me about 13:1 compression, but the dished pistons drops the compression to a more pump gas friendly 11.0:1.
The blocks oiling system was modified for 1/2" oil pickup too.
The rest of the short block is pretty basic. double roller timming chain, Mopar windage tray with the louvers opened up more than stock, Melling 7-qt low profile pan and 1/2" pickup, cam thrust button, and Mopar bronze geared oil pump drive for use with the Roller cam. The Dampner is a SFI spec, cheap one from Summit (I'm not sure who makes it?) and the flexplate is a Mopar SFI approved unit. All the bolts/studs are ARP (main, rods, heads, etc..)

[Doug Wilson]

I'm interested in this too - for a future project - it will only take me a hundred and fifty years and $10 million to get the ones I'm already doing finished!

Could you tell us about your whole setup? Car, chassis, ETs (or whatever you use it for) and how you like it.

I'm also curious as to why you would go for a 400 stroker for that displacement, instead of a 0.060 over 440 - which is 452 cu. in. ? I've got one of those as a project, now. Did you do it primarily to save weight?

Thank you.

[451Mopar]

If your asking me, it is partly because I started from scratch (I did not have a 440 or 400) and everyone wants an arm and a leg for a 440, but they will almost give away 400 blocks.
Second, my stock engine was a 383, and all my engine brackets will fit the 400 because it is the same deck height (my car had A/C too.)
I was also intrested in a lighter weight engine assembly, but also the light weight of the pistons which (I believe) has allowed the stock rods to survive at 6,500+ RPM. Otherwise, I would have had to spend more on aftermarket rods.

Now that I have a 440 in my R/T I will rebuild it because I already have the engine.

Everyone has already heard about my '71 Charger.
It's a #4,150 street car and runs mid 12's @ 110 MPH here in Denver (5,800+ ft altitude.)

The rest of the long block is a mild Ultradyne street roller cam 251 duration @ 0.050", and a "theroetical" valve lift of 0.620" using 1.6:1 rocker arms. The pushrods were cut-to-fit, but ended up being close to stock spec anyhow? The intake is the Mopar M1 single plane with a 1" spacer and 1,000 cfm Holley vacuum secondary carb (pro-series.) 2" hooker headers and 3" TTI exhaust system. 10" Dynamic "race" converter and nearly stock 727 sith shift kit. 8-3/4" rear with 3.91:1 gears. I did run 3.23:1 gears and it only slowed the car down about 0.2 second, but I did not like driving with that much converter slippage. I want to get some 3.55:1 gears which I think would work good for my "street/strip" car.

[Doug Wilson]

Thank you for the reply. I've been thinking about a really huge 400 stroker for a race car, for some time.

[lenweiler]

I built a 400 stroker 5 years ago using a '73 400 block and the KB hyper. pistons meant for the shorter 383 rod. I too used the 1/2" oil pickup and Hughes HE3038al hydraulic cam.

Two things I would do differently, Doug.
1. Use a solid Hughes cam.
2. Use the (now available) KB stroker piston meant for use with the longer 440 rod, and probably picking up less side load on the piston skirts.

I would also use the six pack setup again. Gotta love that sound!

[dirty dan]

thanks to all for your posts.
Mostly what I was looking for was rod and piston combo and what deck hieght was achieved (without milling).
I guess I just didn`t ask for what I wanted.
I am trying to establish a base line for an engine biuld.
I wish to find the best combo for my needs.
I`d like to find a piston that is both light and forged.
That would also give me 0-+30 deck hieght.
Of course no one knowingly manufactures such an animal.
Due to the additional piston milling required Before installation.
I have used this deck hieght before on 440`s but heavy decking
was required.
Iam hopeing to avoid extreme decking.
The intended application is not for street use strickly Hi stress.
I would like to leave as much deck intact as possable.
To keep it ridged and the heads stable.
Engine will see EXTREM nitrous use and some light Nitro methaine
use.
I understand this engine will have a limited life span.
That is just a fact of life ,when drag raceing.
But I wish to help it live longer,while Iam killing it.
Any suggestions you may have would be helpfull.
However Keep in mind this is a limited budjet project.
That is where the chalange is.

[Doug Wilson]

dd - I'd like to know what your requirement for the positive deck height is about. What cylinder heads are you going to use, and what will be their specs when you have them done?? I'm really curious.

[dirty dan]

Originally posted by Doug Wilson
dd - I'd like to know what your requirement for the positive deck height is about. What cylinder heads are you going to use, and what will be their specs when you have them done?? I'm really curious.

Hey Doug
The reason for the +deck height is simply compretion.
The more the merrier.
The more squeez I can get to start with the more I will have
after the valve reliefs are cut.
The heads as you may have guessed will not be closed chambered.
The call to arms for this job will be answered with the 452`s.
I don`t recall the exact amount milled off the heads .
But that would not be relavent,as they were not fresh castings.
However after sonic testing and much metal dust ,the chamber size was cc`d at 74.
with 2.140 intake and 1.81 exhaust.

[bambam]

HEY DD!
Thanks to you the Challenger is back on the road. WOuldnt you know the weather has not cooperated for the past 3 weekends for me to cruse! I did get one weekend in though.

Thanks for your help.

Chris
70 Challenger
Asheboro

[dave571]

I tried mailing you last week, Dan.

You got a new mail box

[jelsr]

Mine is '75 block, JE 131175 Pistons, 1.313" cd, 524 gr. and std 440 rods. Had the block decked .010 (had dings), and is .003" down. In a circle burner and turns 6200 - 6500 regularly, has seen 7000. Rods are bushed and use .990 pins.

[AndyF]

I have a couple of articles on low deck stroker motors on my website at www.arengineering.com in the article section.

My advice would be to ditch the 452 castings, get zero deck pistons and some good aftermarket heads.

[lenweiler]

I built a mild 451 stroker for my Super Bee. The car weighs 3800 with driver and is entirely streetable for even long trips. To date it has run a best 12.85 @109 MPH. Below is the combination. Perhaps it will give you a starting point for yours.

Block. Decked and hoaned with 2 torque plates. (.030"over). 1/2" oil pick up.

Rods. Stock 400 rods polished and shotpeened. (.00175 clearance)

Crank. Stock forged.

Pistons. KB Hyperuetectic. Final ratio is 9.7:1.

Heads. '452 castings, stock valves, pocket port (at home). Topped off with Isky adjustable rockers.

Cam. Hughes Engines, hydraulic, .515 Int./.535 Ex. Lift. This thing is mild at idle but pulls hard through the traps.

Induction. Six Pack (stock)

Exhaust. Factory cast iron MANIFOLDS. No Mods.

Car. Weighs 3800# with driver, 3.55 gear and 28.5" eagle st's.

This car would obviously run mid to low 12's with a few minor alterations. But I prefer to keep it as as driver. I don't think you'd have to get too involved to get into the 11's.

[2FAST4U]

lenweiler, I hae a 78 custom 100 truck that I want to be a street/strip deal I was think of the 496 kit from muscle motors. I know they have a 451 kit as well. you say yours is very good for the street but runs high 12's. my truck is going to be about 3800# to 4100# I hope to get that out of mine. what type of rear do you use? I plan on using a 8 3/4 sure grip or a dana 60. but if you could send me some spec. on your motor. I dont know alot about engines but hope to build this with my brother to cut cost as much as possible. thanks for any help. rdfast3@aol.com