I need help with a 406 build!

[Jonesy]

I just bought a 400 small block (509) and now it is time to do some shopping! I have been looking at stroker kits for this block and I can't find one that the compression ratio would be low enough for me to run pump gas with iron heads .58cc= 12.0-1, 64cc= 11.7-1, 72cc= 10.8-1, 76cc= 10.3-1 (from speedomotive.com)
I was going to use the vortec heads that I have, but I am not against buying new heads I was just trying to keep the cost down. I know with alum heads you can go with higher compression and be fine. I do know that I want a longer than stock rod either 5.7 or 6.0. I probably will not spray it but, that all depends. I will be running a solid roller cam. My goal is 450hp. Any help would be very appreciated. Head, cam,rotating assm suggestions would be great! By the way this is a street truck with maybe one or two trips to the track.

[Melonhead]

10.3 is doable with pump gas. The trick is a large enough cam to bleed off the cylinder pressure. There is two things to figure when building an engine, Static and dynamic compression. Static is what you were refering to and dynamic is the actual by using the cam info. Thy this it will help to explain.
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/comprAdvHD.htm

[harleyboy]

you bet it will work and it will sound badazz to when you gas it its gone.

[-Deception-]

You'll have to get a vid of how it sounds when your done.

[wild572s10]

I have found CNC-Motorsports on Ebay that sells rotating essembly's if you email them the will set you up they also build engines

[bigdsr56]

I have a 406 c.i. in my S-10. Has 72 cc iron heads with .030 over flat top pistons with valve reliefs.I ran this in a '79 Malibu until I killed the transmission. For street use, I ran 92 octane with no spark knock. Kept total timing at 30*-32* & it would fly. On the track,mix in some racing gas,bump timing up to 36*,and haul butt. Stock rod is 5.7"
If you go to 6" rod,the inside oil pan rail has to be notched out for rod clearance. There are plenty of companies that sell stroker kits. Just shop around for the best deal. If you want to go to aluminum heads, price some of the Trick Flow brand. They work great. Good luck!

[stroker1]

Stock rod is 5.7"
If you go to 6" rod,the inside oil pan rail has to be notched out for rod clearance. There are plenty of companies that sell stroker kits. Just shop around for the best deal. If you want to go to aluminum heads, price some of the Trick Flow brand. They work great. Good luck!
A 5.7" rod is a stock length rod, but not for a 400. The stock rod for a 400 (3.75" stroke) is 5.565 which is .135" shorter than all the other stock 5.7" rods. If you run a 5.7" rod in a 400 block you will still have to notch the block and possibly the pan rail. I have seen and done this many times. And with a 6" rod you will have to clearance it even more.

If I where you I would contact someone very ligit......like Competition Products or another reliable source and find the combo you are looking for. I'd be worried about Ebay sources and other sources with just internet service the way the economy is right now. Just my 2 cents.

I ordered the parts I wanted from competition products and had them balance it for me. They offer those rotating assembly package deals also. But just like you8 I didn't see exactly what I wanted so I ordered the individual parts and had them all balanced. BTW, you may have to go with a forged dish to get what you want. I assume you want forged pistons. If not... a nice coated speed pro hyperuectic would be ok if you dont intend to spray it hard.

Personally I think you could get by with a flat top piston and the right cam if the deck height and head cc's are in order. But like I said it may be easier for you to go with a dished piston.

[bigdsr56]

Sorry, my fault on the mis-info. Stroker is right on that. Just go by what kit you get so you know what block work needs to be done. Have fun!

[Melonhead]

Hey, I found this kit at Summit.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=ESP%2DB13460030&autoview=sku
The static compression of this kit with a 0 deck and 76cc heads work out to 10.1:1. This is with a 0.041 head gasket and used 4.200 on the gasket bore.

[stroker1]

I know you would like to use your vortec heads. So if you go with most kits which are flat tops that will put you around 11:1, so I found a dished piston that will put you right around 10:1 depending on your choice of head gasket and deck heigth. Here's a great piston for the street and will handle plenty of nitous too. You can pick the parts you want and get them balanced and you have the parts you've selected.

BTW, the pic is not representative of the part.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=139625

http://www.competitionproducts.com/products.asp?dept=580&pagenumber=5&sort_on=&sort_by=

If you want to go with flat tops here's a good street/strip assembly that want set you back too much, and it has better rods (4340) and forged pistons v/s the summit kit that does not.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SS406F

[Melonhead]

Stroker, why are you showing 383 pistons, when he is looking for 406 pistons. I think those will be a little loose in the holes. LOL

[-Deception-]

Stroker, why are you showing 383 pistons, when he is looking for 406 pistons. I think those will be a little loose in the holes. LOL

lol nah theyll work out perfect

[stroker1]

Geez, guys! Give me a hard time why don't ya?

Just a little copy/past error. Should be corrected now.

[Melonhead]

Geez, guys! Give me a hard time why don't ya?

Just a little copy/past error. Should be corrected now.

It's OK, we all are getting old and forgetful!! LOL

[Jonesy]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I just want to get this one right the first time, it was getting really expensive changing the combos up in the 350 and still not getting what I wanted. Thanks again!!