I have been studing my options almost non stop since I pulled my 400 out of the car. I have had a lot of input from people here and on Classicalpontiac.com and I appreciate them all. I am sorry if I am seeming to repeat myself. My engine choices at this moment are building a 455
for a cost of 1500-2000 dollars for shortblock reusing my 6x heads at 87 ccs and 1 5/8" headers backed by 4 speed and 3.42 rear gears. my other choice would be to replace the bearings in my 400 and clean and freshen up with new pistons cost about 800-900 dollars or do bare min and just replace the bearings and flush oil galleries with diesil fuel with oil pump priming tool. for about 350 dollars. I probably will not take the cheap route. What ever my chioce I will be stuck with it for a while.
My current specs for the 455 as I ran it on my desktop dyno are 462 cid, 9.8 comp, head flows 220cfm intake and 150 exhaust cam .470 lift intake and exhaust basically a RA4 grind I think from wolverine duration 308/320 and 231/240 @.050.
dyno figures are as follows RPM;tq;hp:
1875;405;144: 2375;437;197: 2625;447;223: 3375;470;302: 3875;472;348: 4375;447;372: 4875;406;377: 5375;349;357:
5625;302;323
the 400 specs are as follows 412cid 9.2 compression same heads cam is comp cms extreme energy 268 with 224/230@.050 with .477 and .488 lift on 110 lobe centers
same format
2000;371;141
2250;388;166
2750;407;213
3250;420;260
3750;430;307
4500;409;350
5000;376;359
5500;332;348
5750;298;327
I might coul dgo with the cam Jim Hand uses but I would probably have to change valve springs and have the heads milled for the new springs and that adds expense.
Goals at mid 13's or Better... low 13's ?? high 12's. You get the idea always want more. I Just finished the restoration of this car and still have bills left over from that so I am really looking at it from a bang for the buck angle also. I want to make the right choice though and be happy for the next couple or three years till maybe I will have the thing paid off. I then would be ready to really turn up the heat. I need it to be able to be driven on trips and have power brakes and AC. I have not figured any upgrades in the cooling system to this either the 400 was staying cool and the radiater is not a 4 row maybe a 3
Thanks
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