[71ModelJ]

Looking to purchase(after x-mas) a butler stroker kit for my matching #'s 400. I want it to pull harder than my buddies 72 455 SSJ he owned. Any body build these here yet and what clearancing has to be done to the block? I want wicked torque pull all the way to 5500. Still want a decent idle. Want to use the orig. 96 heads. Are the orig. exhaust manifolds adequate. Any suggestions at cam profiles would be great. Thank's Mike

[1971WARBIRD]

there are dozens of stroker engines out there right now,most are listed as 461's if you want to do a search.my advise would be to contact a builder (jim at CVMS)would be close to you.tell the builder what performance you want and what car you are wanting to run it in.they will give you a complete package idea,would head work,cam,exhaust,conveter,and rear gears will work best together.

myself,alittle port work on those heads,a small roller cam and it would out pull any stock 72 455.

[71ModelJ]

[QUOTE=1971WARBIRD;4178818]there are dozens of stroker engines out there right now,most are listed as 461's if you want to do a search.my advise would be to contact a builder (jim at CVMS)would be close to you.tell the builder what performance you want and what car you are wanting to run it in.they will give you a complete package idea,would head work,cam,exhaust,conveter,and rear gears will work best together.

myself,alittle port work on those heads,a small roller cam and it would out pull any stock 72 45 5.[/QUO

Thank's for the tip but can't find CVMS. Mike

[1971WARBIRD]

he is on here under Mr. P-Body
http://www.centralvirginiamachine.com/
Jim
Central Virginia Machine Service
606B 2nd St. NW
Burkeville, VA 23922
(434) 767-9915 Mon- Fri 9-6 ET

hope this helps.there are lots around that can do it,he just seemed close.

[NYH1]

Any truth that a .030" over 400 with a 4.25" stroker crank "can make" a little better 460/462 size engine setup then a .030" over 455 because the 400's smaller main bearing diameter creates less bearing speed, wear, friction ect? Or doesn't it really make much of a difference?

[PontiacMatt72]

I'd set the matching #'s 400 aside and find another 400 block somewhere for this build.

I have a Butler kit... You can see my setup/engine dyno run in my signature.

And yes, Jim Lehart (Mr. P-Body) is a great pontiac builder. however, You're in New Hampshire? and he's in virginia... it's no problem to have one built and shipped to you ("Crate" engine), as long as you don't mind shipping costs. I think Paul Spotts is in Pennsylvania...? another good one, or so I hear.

I'd definately stick to a 2 bolt main 400 block, pre-1975 block preferrably (but as long as you aint breakin the ~600 hp barrier and stayin under 7000 rpm, any block should be an fine). Find a set of 6x heads... and have em ported alittle. based on your application/use, choose a cam, intake, carb (recomend Cliff built Q-jet). Stock log manifolds would definately be a restriction... another recomendation would be the RA "factory headers."

Just one feller's opinion here... there's a good basis to start on. others might chime in on more of the specifics.

This gonna be a cruiser, or race car?

[Kyflier]

I was looking at the block last night that I'm building as a stroker motor. 400 + .090 and a 4.21 Eagle crank. I see now why they say an early 400 block is better. Looking at the webbing in the lifter galley, it's almost solid, compared to alot of open area on the 455. There is alot more meat in my 400 than the 455 I was looking at. I hope to have my shortblock together in the naxt few weeks.

[beargfr]

Originally Posted by 71ModelJ

Looking to purchase(after x-mas) a butler stroker kit for my matching #'s 400. I want it to pull harder than my buddies 72 455 SSJ he owned. Any body build these here yet and what clearancing has to be done to the block? I want wicked torque pull all the way to 5500. Still want a decent idle. Want to use the orig. 96 heads. Are the orig. exhaust manifolds adequate. Any suggestions at cam profiles would be great. Thank's Mike

Here's the dyno sheet on my numbers-matching 400, which is now a 461. The only clearancing needed on mine was in the area on the drivers side oil pan rail, near the front corner. All it took was a few minutes with a die grinder. I used a stroker kit and valve train (and guidance) from Jim Lehart at CVMS. I'm running cast iron #722 heads, 9.46:1 compression, port-matched iron intake with 455 SD Qjet, Doug's Headers, 1.65 rockers, 236/242 @ .050, 110LSA, 106ICL, .377/.381 lobe-lift solid roller.

Bear

[71ModelJ]

Originally Posted by beargfr

Here's the dyno sheet on my numbers-matching 400, which is now a 461. The only clearancing needed on mine was in the area on the drivers side oil pan rail, near the front corner. All it took was a few minutes with a die grinder. I used a stroker kit and valve train (and guidance) from Jim Lehart at CVMS. I'm running cast iron #722 heads, 9.46:1 compression, port-matched iron intake with 455 SD Qjet, Doug's Headers, 1.65 rockers, 236/242 @ .050, 110LSA, 106ICL, .377/.381 lobe-lift solid roller.

Bear

Very impressive! Wicked torque band. What I'm looking at though is a.030 on the matching#'s block. Honed with deck plates for moly rings, using a Butler 461 cast crank kit. Going to use stock heads(which I'll port myself) stock intake port matched and a Hughes hyd. cam. Orig. Q- Jet I will do myself. Although the orig. log exhaust manifolds are restrictive, I'm going to try and flow them the best I can. In the end I want to open the hood and have a completely stock looking 1971 Grand Prix 400 but go much better than my buddies 72 SSJ 455 was. I'm thinking this combo maybe 420 horse 520 ft.lbs. Oh and MSD 6 AL also

[kmccrystal]

Long branch manifolds were stock on earlier Pontiac motors... I nabbed a set off a '68 GP I parted. Bet most people wouldn't know the difference between the LBM and logs, but your engine sure would.

[goquick]

If you want a good idle, (aka no one suspects what it'll do) I like the Lunati "Cheater" cam that is their replacement for the 744 cam. With HS rockers, and a 4.25" stroke, in a 389 block with 4.090" bore, I ran it in a 68 tempest with 3.42 gears, and a GM6 convertor, 400th and it was a solid 12.40 e.t. combo. I had bowl worked the #66 heads. 1 3/4" 4 tube headers, with 2 1/2" exhaust, with Dynomax Super Turbo's. Tailpipes were from at that time from Torque Tech, and i used the split ends for the looks.

[twinturrbo406]

Originally Posted by 71ModelJ

Looking to purchase(after x-mas) a butler stroker kit for my matching #'s 400. I want it to pull harder than my buddies 72 455 SSJ he owned. Any body build these here yet and what clearancing has to be done to the block? I want wicked torque pull all the way to 5500. Still want a decent idle. Want to use the orig. 96 heads. Are the orig. exhaust manifolds adequate. Any suggestions at cam profiles would be great. Thank's Mike

...... well, i was involved with a friends car, and he purchased the exact kit you mentioned, but got the whole 461c.i. shortblock from Butler, XR288HR Cam, RPM Intake, Kauffman D-Port Heads, that i ported and about a 2,500-2,800rpm convertor, (which the motor is killing) and he actually ran the car with the factory 2.41 rear gear and it went 11.9's @ 114mph !!! 60ft was crap too, 1.75 4-tube headers with 3inch duals and tailpipes, and this car is a full stock body T/A with A/C and all, it aint light for sure ......