[Bandit400]

Hello, I am building a '76 400 to go into my 70 Bird, and am losing sleep about a few things.
Here is what I have:
7 6 400 .020 over
Stock reconditioned rods
Stock Crank
Moly Rings
Edelbrock 750 CFM

Here is what I am planning on:
Hyd Roller Cam 230 @ .050, .540" lift (listed on Butler's site)
KRE 72cc's
Performer RPM intake
Stock Oil Pan
Melling Oil Pump (not sure which one yet, I'll let you guys decide)
Flowtech Headers
1.5 or 1.6 Scorpion Rockers (you choose ratio)


What I am losing sleep on is my rod choice. I bought the short block together, and it came this way with the stock rods. My cam choice's power goes to 6000 RPM, but i can limit it at 5800 if necessary to maintain the lower end integrity.

What I need is suggestions or constructive criticism regarding my setup. I would like to keep the stock rods for cost reasons, but if there is no way I can run them, I may have no choice. I thank you in advance for your time.

[gtoformula]

Perhaps you could indicate the type of use that this car/engine will receive. Looks like a serious build and you might think of posting it in the race section. .540" lift ... that's kinda huge for the street. In addition, you might want to list the type of trans, converter (if auto) and rear axle ratio. 6,000 RPM is too much for stock rods per Mr. Hand. 5,800 would be the max for longevity. If you plan on driving the car on the street I'd probably go with a different cam. If you plan on using it on the strip much and want to take advantage of that 6,000 RPM then you might consider aftermarket rods.
Cliff Ruggles recommends the Crower 60916 with HS 1.65 ratio rockers in a high compression 400 in several of his posts.
My two cents contributed.

[Bandit400]

Thank you for responding. It will be mostly a street car (not a daily driver), with weekend trips to the track. Trans will be a TH-400 with a converter custom built to the cam/engine/car. Rear axle ratio will most likely be a 3.73. What I can do is get a set of CAT or SCAT or Eagle rods, but that's another $750 minimum. I realize that the cam is tall lift, especially for a street car, but a friend of mine has one in his 69 Judge, and it sounds like a factory cam (ok maybe a little rougher), and still has the vacuum to run power brakes. Thanks in advance for any more input.

[GTOLIB]

one idea I could give is the same one I am thinking of..
good rods= good insurance,if a rod lets go it will cost alot more ,alum heads could be gone ! then more money ,I"m in the same boat .when I built my motor 11 yrs ago crower rods were $1250,alot of prep work + bal ,then keeping at 6,000rpms waas good ins, i had a set of stock rods let go once in a 400 I had,I bought them from a catalog ,valves ,crank ,wire mesh windage try,crank scraper,oil pan,pistons ,gone ,that was on the street ,not fun
just IMO, I like the your compo though

[455earlybird]

I just installed a hyd roller .570 lift cam in my 455 and some ported KRE heads . Man did it wake up my 455. Can't wait to try it @ the track. I have vacuum for brakes and it idles nice around 900 rpm. A nice small lobe to it. Is your assembly balanced? Lightweight pistons? Be sure to get a rev limiter! Buy rods if you can swing it. I think you will like the combo though.

[Bandit400]

No, I do not believe it is balanced, and I have the Speed-Pro pistons, which I know are probably not the greatest, but it's what came with the short block. I am still up in the air regarding the rods. My brother has a 550 HP 455 using stock rods, and a friend of ours has a 69 Judge with the .540 lift roller cam, also with stock rods, so I just don't know what to do now. Those CAT H-beams are very tempting, but I would have to remove the rotating assy to get it balanced (another $250). I'm not sure what I should do.

[455earlybird]

Whatever I do I would use good rod bolts and have it balanced. I am running reconditioned stock rods, but it is balanced and I have SRP pistons with floating pins. I installed a 5800 RPM limiter. With the 455 combo I have it makes a lot of power without having to go higher. I was bumping a 5500 chip @ the strip (3:73 gear behind a turbo 400) so I changed it to a 5800 and only gained MPH. Ran a 12.3 @ 108 with the 5500 and a 12.3 @ 111 with the 5800 on my cast heads and smaller cam combo last year. On the street torque is what its all about. Man it will go sideways as long as you care to with my new combo,but I don't have any et's yet. Your 400 will be great just don't over rev it. Like I said I would install a rev limiter for sure.

[455earlybird]

By the way if you protect it with a rev limiter you can always upgrade next winter. I seem to pull my motor each winter since I cant drive it in the winter here in K.C. anyway. However this winter has been real mild.

[Sicbird]

Looks like it ought to be a runner!

I’ve heard nothing but negative comments on CAT stuff.

SCAT, on the other hand seems to have very good recommendations. That’s what I went with as I am on somewhat of a budget myself. CNC-Motorsports.com has good deals on them but I think there are a few guys on here who sell them as well. I just ordered mine though, so I haven’t actually seen them yet.

[Bandit400]

Well, I talked to a guy at work today, and he has an ability to get Eagle products cheap (at cost), so I am looking at $467 for a set of new Eagle rods, should I jump on it?

[tom s]

if real Eagles YES!GREAT insurance.Tom