406 Budget Build Dyno Results (Vortec Heads)

Vortec Headed, Flat tappet budget build 406 SBC hits the dyno! Here are the dyno numbers!
Dynoed with a Holley 750, 1 3/4 headers, 37 deg ignition timing with STD correction
Comment below with any questions
Instagram @ cutter_performance
Vortec Air gap intake
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HEI distributor
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Summit Cam
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Rhoads Lifters (Idle test) Video
• More Power? More Vacuu...
Dual Plane Spacer Video
• The Best Carb Spacer f...
Beehive Springs on Vortec Video
• Beehive Springs on Vor...

[@douglasvance2938]

Dude, I absolutely love your builds. You have really inspired an old dude. You speak plain and simple for us all to understand. Thank you

[@cuttersperformance]

I'm a plain and simple guy haha 😄

[@jimmy_olds]

Good stuff Pat! I built a 406 a few years ago, very similar to your build, but with Summit’s 1103 cam (a little smaller) what a great street engine.

[@cuttersperformance]

Hell yeah Jimmy!

[@thomasbartolome2595]

You can never beat more cubic inches. I'm so glad to see somebody do a video on stuff that you can do at home to Vortec heads. You really do run pretty good in a small block Chevy. And then the 400 small block. I've heard so many Old-Timers tell you that you can never run a hot rod 400 small block because they will always overheat. And it's just not true.

[@Hogiewan1]

I’ve had a 383 vortec build in the machine shop jail for 2 years, but it’s nice to see around what it should make if it ever gets done. Thanks for the interesting videos!

[@cuttersperformance]

@Hogiewan1 2 years! Jeez man. I will be doing a video on the dyno results of a 383 I dynoed the same day as this 406. Hopefully you block is back soon 🤞

[@jeffreyeaton9934]

@@cuttersperformanceIts been over 3 years now on my 383 lol

[@andysteele4056]

That is insane. I hear all the money is in the diesel work so the blue collar hot rodders looking for a good deal get pushed to the back, but 2 and 3 years is madness. You could have bored it .030 by hand with a scotch bright pad by now, lol.

[@tedpollock3256]

Nice power for what it is! Love the vids! keep them coming!

[@jamesquinnie7573]

💯💯💯

[@johnjon6349]

406, vortec heads, forged pistons, very mild bowl blend, comp 260 if I remember right, rpm intake, 750 Holley. Took out lobe on break in. Replaced cam and lifters, removed and cleaned oil pan, flushed oil and replaced filter and put a 50 or 75 lb magnet on the side of the oil filter. fired it up - I know I know …. But it’s a beast. - flushed oil and replaced filter 2 or 3 times. Just needed the motor to move an ElCamino I was losing storage for. Damn shame, it was an excellent engine going together.

[@Hellinois23]

Thanks for finally getting the vortec 406 tested! I'm trying to build one based on the old super chevy magazine 'Impersonater II' test of a 406 that put out 525ish lb ft. torque on 87 octane and 9.5:1 compression. They used a .480 cam with 280 adv duration but basically same components you used. I'm beginning to think these were 'california' dyno numbers.. always inflated 😅

[@cuttersperformance]

Well you never know lol maybe they tested it at like 120 deg of coolant temp with hot oil. Makes a difference

[@joshuagarvey9362]

That’s about right.factory was 190 and 220.Plenty of torque down low.Love them 400’s.great video.Little compression bump and off you go like a rocket.

[@engineguyeric682]

I have a 406 with Vortec heads I’ve been driving in my 69 C10 for several years. Heads have quite a bit of port work, 2.02/1.6 valves. Flat top pistons, a Super Victor single plane intake, and a mild 222 @ .050” cam with 114 separation angle. I chassis dynoed it and the peak hp & torque numbers are equal to each other with a super flat torque curve (torque plateau actually) from 4000 to 5000 RPM. I think the single plane intake helps a bunch on a 406 with Vortec heads

[@engineguyeric682]

Peak torque on mine is at 4500 RPM and the torque is flat from 4000 to 5000 RPM - less than 5 ft. lbs. variation in that thousand RPM span

[@DMR67442]

Great video and stuff as always and can't wait to see the results of the roads lifters. One thing though if you tested the engine like Chevrolet did from 1972 on you would not have made 426 hp. I'm sure you know that 1972 ratings were switched over to net. So they had to have everything on them and air cleaner power steering pump alternator exhaust system. And then if you look at 1975 ratings it's choking through a catalytic converter that was so restrictive it wasn't funny. That's my new rant for everybody when they do horsepower now and they claim or talk about how anemic they were. Everybody forgets about the change in horsepower in 1972 case some point if you looked at a 1971 400 and the 1972. They are exactly the same engine except for the different Rating. So like I said, can't wait to see the results of the roads lifters and all the other builds coming up.

[@cuttersperformance]

You are certainly right, would be interesting to dyno this engine interesting with all the crap on it lol I bet it would still be more than 300 hp

[@vinceburris2538]

Nice results. Thanks for the update and content.

[@TheDrewCharles]

Nice presentation on this one thank you keep them coming

[@xozindustries7451]

I have been starting to collect parts for this same motor except with a 3” or 3.1” stroke. Flat top pistons solid roller cam

[@-bruno8757]

Thanks for the audio dubbing, you are amazing

[@cuttersperformance]

🙌

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

I think using Rhoads lifters makes a bigger difference on a larger cam, 240+@.050. They were originally made for a larger cam, i.e. more low end torque with the same top end.

[@cuttersperformance]

I wanted to use the Rhoads lifters on this build because I knew the cam would produce questionable power brake vaccum (around 11in vac at idle with a standard hyd lifter) I wanted to see if they could increase the vaccum to a reasonable level (Which they do) but also not reduce top end power like some people claim they will becuase they can't recover the lift. I also wanted to see if we would see an increase in power at the beginning of the dyno pull compared to a standard lifter

[@rotaxtwin]

Nice numbers, lotsa credit to the Vortecs there. Now to find a survivor Vega or Monza!

[@robertbass974]

That will make a great street motor!

[@paulmryglod4802]

Dude awesome series. Thank you! I decided to go with the dart chinese copies rather than vortecs. I should have it dynod in a few months. Shooting for 500/500 with a civil cruising manner.

[@of_lion22]

I'm impressed. Over 460 ft lbs in the midrange and more power than the aluminum headed HFT 350 at only 5200 rpm! All with a HFT that has pretty slow lobes. Makes me wonder how the 406 would do with a head swap (and a Solid Flat Tappet...heh). ...or the 350 with that Summit cam.

[@AC.Prince]

Great! I've been waiting for this. I'm building the same engine and was hoping for 500 horsepower and 425 torque.

[@cuttersperformance]

You'll need more cam to make 500, and a larger cylinder head would help aswell

[@superduty4556]

Dart Iron Eagle 200cc heads work well on my 406.

[@joeyjojojr.shabadoo915]

Those variable Lifters are obviously sensitive to oil pressure, so *softening up with lower oil pressure* and dropping lift/duration in the low RPM and *stiffening up with increased oil pressure* at higher RPM adding lift/duration. This is pretty clear if it's vacuum that they are offering at idle, as it softens/tames the camshaft and as a surprising addition, might just help those that are on the limit with needing to upgrade to a looser converter due to a larger camshaft.

[@cuttersperformance]

That's how I thought they worked, but according to Rhoads is has more to do with RPM and oil viscosity. As rpm increases, the lifter doesn't have enough time to bleed down. But I'm sure oil pressure does play a role

[@approachingtarget.4503]

The variable lifters are dependant on oil pressure. Share the oil pressure readings. If max oil pressure is achieved at a certain rpm. The lifters will match the performance power graph of the summit lifters. If oil pressure continues to climb through the rpm. They will act like a solid and extend the rpm power range. But if oil pressure reaches max at say 4500rpm. They will begin to act like any other hydrolic lifter at red line. The same will be true all across the rpm range. If a high pressure/volume pump is used on a build using tight tolerances. The low rpm will act like it has a bigger cams. Your 11 lbs of vacuum already proved it is acting like a bigger cams at idle.

[@cuttersperformance]

According to Rhoads they are more dependent on oil viscosity. But I will try to remember to post the oil pressure readings for the dyno to compare

[@luckyPiston]

its about bleed down time not oil pressure and bleed down would be influenced by viscosity..

[@mediumjumbo7484]

👍 nice torque.

[@doomman700]

Rhoads lifters, in my experience killed about 10 degrees of actual valve timing. So yes they helped vacuum, but it also killed hp over conventional in my tests. I remember back in the day that was a Banks paid ad.

[@cuttersperformance]

Did you find they killed power throughout or a higher RPM?

[@paulmac9634]

Thanks Pat, great video. I’ve been thinking of doing a 400 build. I wonder what it would do with a roller cam and AFR heads.

[@cuttersperformance]

Would definitely make more power throughout. This is a good baseline for anyone wanting to do a mild 400 on the cheap, but it would be easy to make more if you have the coin for bigger heads and a roller cam. You'll see what I'm talking about when you see the 383 dyno results that we dynoed the same day as this 406

[@reason2gether]

Since you are using a flat tappet camshaft and the Delco lifters here, will you be using a new camshaft (same part #) to run the Rhoads lifter test or will you risk breaking-in the Rhoads lifters on the exact same camshaft that is in the engine now?

[@cuttersperformance]

@@reason2gether I successfully swapped the two sets of the lifters on the same cam.....twice lol

[@reason2gether]

@@cuttersperformance Iassume for consistency. You are brave! Good job!

[@ajsgarage3471]

Awsome budget build for us! This is exactly my achievement to 400 hp 450 ft lbs tq.....question i plan to go roller with summit 1222 cam and engine tech retro roller lifters dish pistons with 4 valve relief 12.50 cc and the DNA aluminum heads or vortec whichever o can get first. Based on summit compression calculations ill be around 10.7 to 1 so you think this will be pump gas friendly? Would 11.1 still be pump gas friendly?

[@captainrawn]

That's an awesome street engine with torque delivery like that. Traction is the next hurdle lol. Or long smiley face burnouts haha. Bonus if it will run close to those numbers on 87 octane fuel. Waiting with baited breath for those rhoads lifters results. I am going to decide on a cam after seeing them. Will it be a flat with rhoads or a hydraulic roller for the 388? Hmmmmmm 11 inches of vacuum at 800 rpm isn't terrible. What's the elevation where you're at Pat?

[@cuttersperformance]

The Rhoads lifter test was done on this 406 flat tappet hydraulic. I will be doing a dyno results video on the 383, it's did well on the dyno. The elevation at the dyno is around 250 ft and we test at std correction

[@davepilling3134]

Hey Pat,another very informative video. I'm building a couple of 350's with same intake,carb,cam,rockers and pistons but for a marine application. I'm using aluminum heads and just curious which head gaskets you chose to go with.

[@cuttersperformance]

On this 406 I used a set of used cometic mls gaskets haha. If they budget allows I prefer MLS gaskets but a standard felpro gasket will be fine for most applications. I also use the thinner GM composite gaskets in some engines

[@TheYellaboy72206]

Thank god i been waiting on this, i literally just put my 406 in my 89 silverado and that mf is torquey altho im just trying to break it in b4 u actually break it in 😂

[@dondotterer24]

I believe you have to experiment with the valve adjustment on the Rhoads lifters.

[@luckyPiston]

you mean lifter preload as the lifter operates at zero lash when fully pumped up

[@cuttersperformance]

These are the original Rhoads lifters and I followed the instructions and preloaded them 3/4 turn

[@r000OO00tt]

can you test 350 sbc stock rods with stock bolts and see how long it lasts at 7000 rpm then measure the stretch check bearings. it would be fun to watch

[@cuttersperformance]

A good set of stock rods, with ARP bolts will last a long time, probably forever in a 7000 RPM engine

[@VORTECPRO]

Not a big fan of that combination. I'm sure its fine for the street and car shows, but for me it's judged by what it will run in my car at the track. The power peak is too low and power carry is probably not good as the test was shut off early. The Vortec head doesn't have enough cross section to handle the CU IN. I actually llke your videos, it would be great if you had a dedicated car to test your builds in at the drag strip, this is why I'm a big fan of Nyle Greens channel! Another thing that would really set your channel apart from the rest would be to show observed uncorrected dyno HP and the full conditions the tests were done in. My kids doing a Vortec headed 350 right now looking forward to seeing the power curve

[@cuttersperformance]

@VORTECPRO yeah I agree too small of head for the engine, that's why I normally don't put vortecs on 400s but the viewers wanted to see it. In all truth, I think it's a decent budget build for mostly recycled parts but certainly not optimal. Maybe eventually I will have a car I can try some of these engines in but right now I'm more focused on my own drag and drive trans am and our shops super stock camaro getting to the track (we have a short season here....stupid winter)

[@terrymc70]

How would a set of sportsmans ll heads do on an engine like that?

[@cuttersperformance]

If everything else was the same or similar you'd probably pick up power with the sportsman because of the larger 200cc runner

[@andysteele4056]

I went to college with a guy that put stock vortec heads on the 400 in his 4x4 square body. It had a mild rv type cam. I thought it would be pretty fun, but it was kind of a turd. He probably did something wrong though.

[@scottk5209]

Great build you have there! Would the L30 58cc Vortec 305 heads have too much compression for pump gas for use stock dished piston 400 shortblock?

[@luckyPiston]

No , and its a great way to basicly turn a smog motor into a real nice stump puller

[@cuttersperformance]

No, they would be ok. I cut these heads down to 60cc from 64 to try to get the compression up

[@RichieCat4223]

Are you using new cast Vortec heads? I ask this because I'm thinking it's harder to find OEM used heads.

[@cuttersperformance]

Original castings, but yes, they are getting hard to find

[@aliciaANDanthonySandoval]

If possible, try a tpi intake manifold on that 406. Be a torque monster.

[@hoost3056]

Get Jones Cam Designs to make a custom flat tappet cam for it, go solid lifters.

[@cuttersperformance]

Would be an interesting comparison

[@critterproformance1824]

So are we able to use 87 octane if we copy the build

[@cuttersperformance]

87 vs 94 octane video coming up

[@jacobnorth8642]

I have used 87 in my vortec but prefer 89 if i am gonna rev it up good, just a cheap buffer against detonation. I don't think my timing is advanced to the mex either.

[@JasonMcVey-t1l]

A little off topic I know but gows the vortec 383 with nkb heads build going? Im looking at building the same

[@cuttersperformance]

It was dynoed the same day as this one. Dyno Results coming soon, it did well

[@curtisdanielsforservice4131]

Did you drill your Vortec heads for the first generation bypass to the water pump

[@cuttersperformance]

No, I did not

[@christopherpoucher483]

What timing and advance curve?

[@cuttersperformance]

@christopherpoucher483 can't really run much of a curve on a dyno as its all in by start of the pull but these results were at 37 deg of total timing

[@arthurdombroskie3083]

Does that 400 also have the stock short rods?

[@cuttersperformance]

@@arthurdombroskie3083 yes

[@jamesyoung2241]

A set of flat top pistons would help quite a bit also. The stock 400 piston is crap.

[@cuttersperformance]

Or maybe a D dished piston. A flat top in this combination would be around 11:1 compression

[@icsamerica]

The Vortec efficient chamber shouldn't need that much timing... 32 degrees should be good. With a 400 and small heads you can retard the cam 2 degrees and widen the LSA to get some more top end and back off on some the torque. You're leaving 75 HP on the table.

[@cuttersperformance]

Truth be told it only needs 35 deg for max output, but we tried 37, and it made no difference and purposely left it there because of the 87 octane test. I'm not sure if there would be that much power on the table with a similar lift flat tappet hyd. But i bet a cylinder head change would make a bigger difference

[@luckyPiston]

The number was 406 when i hit like ..