The 400 SBC You NEED To See

[@randybrown6709]

I had a good friend growing up that had a bright red 86 IROC-Z with a TPI/NOS 383 and then later changed it out in favor of a 406 with the Accel/Lingenfelter Box intake. He had some nice aluminum heads as well - don't remember which castings. Not sure what it finally made hp-wise but it was a super clean car. I had a Yellow '85 TPI 5.0 IROC-Z and then a Yellow '87 TPI 5.7, both with tan interior and gold trim. The '87 had leather seats and Bose stereo. Neither car had T-tops. Loved them both. Good luck with your project!

[@mcdonaldm73]

You really don't have to order a specific head for the 400sbc. Any sbc head will work, use your gasket as the template and drill the steam holes yourself. No big deal.

[@406MenaceRacecar]

After you break the GM block and get the SHP or similar aftermarket, that issue is gone, the water jackets are way better than they were in the original blocks

[@gmcnelly2468]

just order the heads pre drilled. you don't need the upper holes, only the lower holes trap steam.

[@gordocarbo]

@@406MenaceRacecar 2 bolt will hold up to a TPI build for many yrs. Not enough rpm to hurt itself

[@406MenaceRacecar]

@@gordocarbo sounds like a turd 😆

[@brracing7861]

Nice to see your still at it too making Videos

[@dinos0429]

Doing a build with my dad for his 92 firebird, starts with a high nickel 400 SBC, forged internally balanced crank, FIRST TPI intake, forged rods and pistons, and Trickflow Twisted Wedge heads. Thinking of pairing it with an LT-1 or LT-4 Cam and retrofit roller lifters. It's a managerie of cool oddball parts, and I cant wait to see them start to come together.

[@mariocooldude9092]

I love that shit bro 👍

[@RyanKmechanism]

If i had the big bore, I'd make sure I start out with a giant intake valve, 2.08 or more. I'm thinking a little less cam duration would increase the useable average hp for a tpi runner. What would you change if you were designing for max torque rather than hp?

[@LSxHunter]

I’d keep the runner size a little bit thinner and shoot for max velocity- the cam could also be downsized too. I’d be happy to put together a build - slap them into the analyzer and see what ends up quicker!

[@gmcnelly2468]

cam timing can be optimized on the tpi overlap is the key to torquei - 224/224 112lsa see FIRST TPI for details

[@paulmryglod4802]

105 lsa and around 10* overlap with (if you have the money) a roller cam with 1.65 rockers makes for a fat fat torque curve. 9:1 87 octane.

[@joshuagarvey9362]

Great runner video.I ran a dual plane air gap on my 406 when I had 3.42 rear gears and shifting at 5800.It pulled real nice but I wanted more snap of the line.I pulled the motor and made some big changes.Heads,cam,crank,rods,ex ex ex…..The motor now wanted more RPM.I changed the rears end gears to 4’11’s and this motor now pulls are to 7k.I purchased a Victor jr and hogged it out for a week,,Ugh and bolted it on.Definitely pulls harder at top end but with these gears I am there in a blink.I do Like the TPI but I have no experience with them.The torque is unbelievable but the RPM is limited I see.Would be nice if the have a system that can take me to 7k or close.I love torque in small packages.I now send those kids in their new mustangs,Camaros,dodges home thinking what just happened.😂

[@kdsboosted4954]

I have a couple tpi turbo builds 1 is a twin turbo 305 in a 54 cadillac and the other is in an 85 suburban with twin compounds (4 turbos)

[@LSxHunter]

I’ve got a 99 suburban OBS I’d like up build a turbo 400 TPI for. Seems like the perfect toy hauler

[@kdsboosted4954]

@@LSxHunter yeah it's my tow rig for my street car. Which is twin charged twin turbo blown bbc 🤔 we'll see how they do

[@brracing7861]

The Runners are too long to make Horsepower at 5500-6500 rpms with Tuned Port 350 based system. I like the 350 Chevy Tpi, torque plus economy. Like a 400 Pontiac V8 have to feed it air with proper intake runner length and Pontiac got the intake runner length right day 1. 400 SBC I like too. Make your Power goals easy with a modern Edelbrock Rpm Dual plane or many single planes. Port injection Eddie intakes made too. Have to get into more Advanced Engine simulations program's bought $500, Tpi 400 sbc will.make about 600 Ft/lbs but Hp will be like 385-425 typical. Its been done in the C4 Corvette world prior 400 SBC and all stock and Aftermarket Tuned Ports including 1st TPI Huge Runners like 2.5". Carburetor and single plane intake best bang for the buck 400 sbc Could do Q-jet also but most use a HolleyDoublePumper .950 cfm on a Hot 400 sbc engine

[@LSxHunter]

I’ve always had success making a cam/head swap - porting the lower and making higher RPM power. You can DEFINITELY make more power swapping to a dual plane or a single plane. I’d except 50hp higher with a single plane for sure.

[@LSxHunter]

Spent some more time today reading through motortrend - you see they did a 383 that peaked out around 6000? Good to see I’m not totally insane 😂

[@brracing7861]

@@LSxHunter Focus on Torque then. Whatever Hp it makes so be it.

[@brracing7861]

@@LSxHunter Always different outlooks on engine builds. Massive torque low and midrange will definitely last longer driving time.

[@brracing7861]

@@LSxHunter Try different cam profiles less duration and experiment with different LCA Or LSA with engine simulations. Good flowing heads usually get by well with smaller duration Cams a Win situation.

[@panicLocote]

How would you make the stock tpi injectors/set-up work with E-85??? Bro I will pay fir this info!!!

[@LSxHunter]

All that needs to be done is to replace the rubber pieces in the fuel system with e85 resistant pieces - usually increase injector size - and just add more fuel. It takes some tuning but it isn’t too bad.

[@jarvislarson6864]

@@LSxHunter I agree and would add injectors 25% more lb hr for e85

[@LSxHunter]

Flotek 200cc heads - ebay.us/Jq9iOS 1.7 Ratio Rockers - ebay.us/RIRIVW Comp Cams 290HR-12: ebay.us/Fpvoju AS&M Runners - azspeed.com/product/1989-1992...

[@domib3873]

What ecu are you running with the tpi set up?? The original one or aftermarket one... gt a 87 trans am with a 400 in the engine stand

[@cuzz63]

If I was building a 400 from a Chevy Block I would stroke it to 427 cubes.

[@yurimodin7333]

the bottom is already tight as hell.....My buds uncle used to race dirt track back when I was in HS. He built 383 strokers and eventually built a 400. He converted it to 6 inch rods with internal balancing. He had to notch the block for counterweight clearance and IIRC he had to use a small base diameter cam so the top side of the rods would not smack the cam lobes. That engine was an absolute effing monster tho. Had a race where this other guy was holding 1st and he just could not get him on the inside of the curves. He finally got pissed off hopped up to the outside and just walked on him and almost started lapping the guys in last place......I think he backed off just to avoid a teardown inspection.

[@pacolicious]

Question, if you change the engine are you using the prom system or other ecu stuff? I want to go that route too because everyone have LS and will a 700r4 survive the power?

[@LSxHunter]

It depends on how crazy the build is. Typically I’d use a prom however once I start like - 450hp+ and some wilder cams I’ll move to an aftermarket ECU. The 700R4 NEEDS to be beefed up or swapped out for a 4L80

[@gordocarbo]

Proper built 700 r will live...use a quality converter and run a trans cooler. Heat is what kills those Leave it in D unless youre on the hwy. That 3-4 drop tends to wear prematurely if used on the st all the time

[@jarvislarson6864]

If building a 400 from bare block....have machine shop bake block and have it bored at running temp for best results

[@b.c4066]

Even with a ported accel base it is not good without welding, injector placement change. Get the first tpi base.

[@gordocarbo]

They can support plenty of power just have to port it proper Ported and flowed more of those than I care to remember

[@gordocarbo]

Hoping to pick up another 88-9 C4 and finish a build 15 yrs ago that got shelved Ca legal....2 bolt 400 block, port some 180s Small Isky HR, port another (ugh) Tpi intake and call it good Ought to pass smog and run a respectable time without having to regear or run a loose converter Retirement daily driver...for once build something reasonable with great manners. Just more oomph

[@jarvislarson6864]

Large Cubic inches with tpi is going to need as&m or tpis big tubes and edelbrock hi flow base minimum and honestly 383+ I'd go superram runners & plenum or stealthram because a ported big tube long runner tpi is going to be all in and done @ 5200 maybe 5500 with extrude hone porting on a 350 and anything bigger than a lt4 hotcam too much camshaft. The tpi was designed for 305 cu in and not the 350 sorry to say the corvette wasn't the recipient tpi was designed for....trans am racing & the iroc series was its intended purpose and I don't mean to bash tpi i very much like the system despite its limitations or should I say purpose

[@LSxHunter]

I’ve had some pretty nutty builds over the years using TPI, a lot of them I wish I had the mind to record or take documentation. Pre-social media era was a time of trying things and relying on reputation. As long as you’ve got a setup that can flow out to 260cfm you’re in good shape. It requires the AS&M runners and a ported/aftermarket base. I’ve seen 383s peak at 5,400 and 400s peak at 5,300 with the flow work - mind you I’m not trying to spin till 6500 since the vast majority of what I enjoy building is street cars. The other major hurdle is finding a set of heads that makes decent flow numbers down below .500 lift without increasing the intake port to an obscene size which kills velocity.

[@gordocarbo]

Stroked or 400ci, super ram the Crower 221/230 on 112 works very well. Seen many rip out their xfi 280s put the crower in and rave about the improvement. TPI I like to keep well under the hotcam size.low teens...yes small but it works..esp if you have to smog em.

[@mariocooldude9092]

​@@gordocarbosome dudes go huge cams and make nice power tho...I've got a 350 with a comp cam 230/244 .510/.540 lift and it pulls up to 6500RPM easily 😂 The duration seems to help the tpi design shine. My old TPIS catalog has a chart with their larger cams making good power to 6300RPM I think with stock intake parts

[@Mike-uc5tg]

Me and my uncle who retired from Flint engine plant put together a 1970 400 sb using 3 maybe 4 different sb Chevy's it was a bad mf

[@406MenaceRacecar]

If anyone wants a 509 casting 400, I have one but it's block filled. Taylor Michigan

[@Ron-j3t]

For the "day" it was on par with the 200 hp'ish 454's in trucks etc. Good video but your days confused, whatever the factory was using them for. The machinist builds engines, the factory makes money for shareholders. Go white car

[@LSxHunter]

Yeah, it’s one of those times the pencil pushers made the wrong decision in my mind. The TBI system is awful, I mean truly bad. TPI while not great would have at least opened up some possibilities for GM.

[@b.c4066]

Not the high nickel content block crap again 🤣 complete myth, period, end of discussion!

[@LSxHunter]

Reach out to Richard Holdner. Been lots of talk about metallurgy with different blocks.

[@MichaelSmith-qf5jt]

You stated an opinion.. Can you add some substance to it?

[@gordocarbo]

Hah...the 010 thing again. Doesnt mean anything but so many will swear by that wives tale. Machinsit said the Mexican 350 4 bolt block I got from GM was hands down better in every way

[@mariocooldude9092]

​@@gordocarbothe modern vortec 1996-2003 blocks are the best 👍

[@derrelcarter9401]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣