Here's the plan for a small boost in power, tell me what I'm missing

Stock bottom end and pistons. Rebuilt heads with cleanup valvejob, valves, springs...etc - possibly cut a little to boost compression + E-brock 4bbl intake manifold.

I have no desire to go through the shortblock of this engine, so higher compression pistons aren't gonna happen this go-round.

Basically, I need to know if the rebuilt open chamber heads on my stock 400, plus the 4bbl intake and stock cam will all work together.

If absolutely necessary I could do a quick cam swap.

any input would be appreciated.

 

Make sure you replace the timing set with a good aftermarket set that will allow you to eliminate the 4 deg factory timing retard. The 4bbl intake will work fine with the factory cam but be aware that I've seen a lot of reports about vacuum leaks at the carb to manifold interface because of the narrow sealing surface of the E'brock non-EGR manifold.

 

if the EGR is a problem go with the E'brock 3771 intake.

 

Use the EGR manifold. It has larger seating surface for the carb and you can block off the EGR if you don't need it now.

 

What you're missing is the cam.

Yes, the stock heads/cam and 4V intake/carb will work together. And yes, you will get a small (very small) boost in power.

However, just swapping out the cam would give you a bigger boost in power (even if you kept the 2V carb and stock manifold), and it would make the 4V carb/manifold swap truly worthwhile.

With stock pistons/heads and stock compression, I'd go with something like the Comp 255DEH or the Edelbrock #2172 cam.

 

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

Re: The intake manifolds - kinda sucks that Summit has the non-EGR one for sale at $189 while the ERG one is $239... oh well.

'nother Q for you: I can't seem to find which head gaskets to use! The only one on Summit's website I can find is the FPP-1013 which says it's for 4 barrel heads.

Is this the correct headgasket for my stock 2 barrel engine? If not which one is it?

Thanks!

 

Check out the Weiand #8010. PAW has it for $194.95(WEI-8010).
I think that most would agree that a little porting work on the heads is worthwhile, especially on the exhaust side.

According to my PAW catalog the FPP 1013 does not fit 2V cylinder heads. I don't understand why it wouldn't. I am using that with 4V open chambered heads.

 

I'd just go to NAPA and get a fel pro set turkey pan set. Don't use any other gaskets with it. Just the pan and the end seals. You might even toss the end seals and use silicon after cutting down the heads depending on the clearance left.

 

what is this PAW catalog that everyone speaks of?

 

Try this website

www.pawengineparts.com

You can order parts on their website, but you need a catalog which costs $5.95. Their shipping is free, but like Summit there is a handling fee. It is $9.95. Their prices are better than Summit and they handle only engine parts, mostly just performance. They have a lot of standard parts, like gaskets. You can buy a whole motor or all the parts. If you are planning a large rebuild, it is worth the cost of the catalog.

 

There is a Holley Street Dominator Intake on Ebay # 2438512004 for a 400. It is a single plane intake with EGR, but it has a block off plate on the EGR port. That is the only single plane intake that I have ever seen for a 400.

 

whats the difference between a single and a dual plane intake?

 

On a single plane manifold all of the runners are the same length and both sides of the 4V carb(2 primary and 2 secondary) feed all runners. The length of the runners determine the RPM range to which it is tuned. The RPM at which it is tuned is a high RPM. The single plane manifold is good for racing and performance.

On a dual plane manifold one side of the 4V carb (1 primary and 1 secondary) feeds one set of runners and the other side (1 primary and 1 secondary) feeds another set of the runners. The runner length is different for each set, so the manifold will be tuned to two rpm ranges. Both sets of runners go to all cylinders so there is no division between the cylinders. Of the two RPM ranges, one will be a low RPM and the other higher. This increases the power band. It is good for street machines and heavy vehicles.

All the Edelbrock manifolds for the 400 are dual plane, as is the Weiand.

BTW, PAW sell the Edelbrock #2171 for $186.95.

 

thanks danlee

 

Most dual-plane manifolds I've seen (including the stock manifold) feed only half of the cylinders from each plane. Usually, each side feeds the end cylinders on the same side (1 & 4 or 5 & 8) and the inside cylinders on the opposite side (6 & 7 or 2 & 3).

The EGR ports are clearly visible in that ebay pic, toward the rear of the manifold. They are not blocked off.

Edelbrock also used to make a single-plane manifold called the Streetmaster. It also used a remote EGR valve. Here's a pic of it: