Question about a car...

Schlodes · 11-15-2001, 04:47 PM

Hey guys,

I just left a deposit on a 1976 Chev Caprice. The car has 95000 original miles, red, white vinyl top, red inside. I know its old but the body is in better shape than my Buick is [for real].Inside is comparabel to my Buick. [nice] NO holes underneath, still oily from being oil spyrayed yearly. The guy that has it now, got the car form his dad when his dad passed away. His dad bought the car new.. so it's a 1 owner car. He hasnt used it daily in years, but keeps it out during the summer and drove it now and then, and has stored it winters since his dad died [its in storage now infact]. Under the hood is also as nice as my Buick is as far as clean and new looking. Motor is still bright orange. A/C is still on the car, and if it don't work will probably on ly need a charge up LOL.. I have seen the car there for a few years, and have liked it for a while.. and after looking for something to drive and not finding anything but junk and 225000 miles on it with newer stuff in the $1500-$2000 range, I decided screw it.. and went there to see him again.

Sorry for rambling on.. my question...

Car has a 400 small block. It runs whisper quiet [heard it run awhile back when I looked at the car the first time].. no ticks, knocks, chattery noises [my 3.8 sounds worse]. Are these engines fairly reliable like 350s are?? I know nothing about 400 small blocks as far as putting lots of miles and stuff. Car has never seen WOT and never will with me. I plan to put a trailer hitch on it though.. Anyone here ever have a car or truck with a 400 SBC in it and it was reliable??

He said something about his dad having the heads redone to run unleaded... Also my buddy owned a garage here and serviced the car for over 10 years with oil changes and stuff.. He said it was an excellent car.. just would be hard on fuel in town.. I'm just leary of the 400 in it.

An input appreciated..
Thanks!

------------------
DTA... don't trust anybody...
- - - - - -
Steve Ruston
1987 Turbo Limited

WFO · 11-15-2001, 05:13 PM

from what i have gathered over time,the only thing you don't want is to overheat it.the 400s have siamesed bores,so they have a tendency to run hotter than your normal sbc,which causes cracking problems with the heads.i'd say put a real gauge on it,and check out the cooling system.i know they can be reliable,and can also build lots of power.

a friend of mine has a 66 nova ss with an afr head/solid roller 406.he runs 11.70s,and it's a 400 block.not your intention,i know,but an example.

later,sean

fast86 · 11-15-2001, 09:06 PM

My old 2Dr.74 Impala had a 400 & 400 trans in it & ran perfect the whole 5yrs i had it . when i sold it it had 165,000 miles on it & still pured like a kittin. Thinking back I cant remember doing anything to it but replacing the oil pan cause the oil plug threads were worn out & thats when I found out it was a 4 bolt main! I also keep it well maintained. That was the great driving & comfortable car rode like a caddy! Right on the gas though in town"But not to bad on HW.
--------------Memory lane-------------------
Man I loved that car. Thats been a long time ago.

PRSRIZD_V6 · 11-15-2001, 09:12 PM

I've got quite a bit of 400+ SBC experience. I had one in a suburban tow vehicle for a long time, it was great, with the big truck radiator there were no heat issues. We also run many variations of them in our oval track cars, the heat issue can be helped some by adding an aux cooling line across the top of the intake from the from water jackets to the rear. Some guys have used reverse rotation water pumps with some success as well.

For a street car I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure there's a reason why it was in a caprice and not a Camaro....cooling is probably it.

My $.02 says not to worry about it unless your gonna make a monster out of it.

The Radius Kid · 11-16-2001, 08:10 AM

Buy it.

------------------
Give em' hell!

11-15-2001, 04:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Schlodes SCONE WIZARD... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Lidsville.. west side yo. Posts: 701	Question about a car... Hey guys, I just left a deposit on a 1976 Chev Caprice. The car has 95000 original miles, red, white vinyl top, red inside. I know its old but the body is in better shape than my Buick is [for real].Inside is comparabel to my Buick. [nice] NO holes underneath, still oily from being oil spyrayed yearly. The guy that has it now, got the car form his dad when his dad passed away. His dad bought the car new.. so it's a 1 owner car. He hasnt used it daily in years, but keeps it out during the summer and drove it now and then, and has stored it winters since his dad died [its in storage now infact]. Under the hood is also as nice as my Buick is as far as clean and new looking. Motor is still bright orange. A/C is still on the car, and if it don't work will probably on ly need a charge up LOL.. I have seen the car there for a few years, and have liked it for a while.. and after looking for something to drive and not finding anything but junk and 225000 miles on it with newer stuff in the $1500-$2000 range, I decided screw it.. and went there to see him again. Sorry for rambling on.. my question... Car has a 400 small block. It runs whisper quiet [heard it run awhile back when I looked at the car the first time].. no ticks, knocks, chattery noises [my 3.8 sounds worse]. Are these engines fairly reliable like 350s are?? I know nothing about 400 small blocks as far as putting lots of miles and stuff. Car has never seen WOT and never will with me. I plan to put a trailer hitch on it though.. Anyone here ever have a car or truck with a 400 SBC in it and it was reliable?? He said something about his dad having the heads redone to run unleaded... Also my buddy owned a garage here and serviced the car for over 10 years with oil changes and stuff.. He said it was an excellent car.. just would be hard on fuel in town.. I'm just leary of the 400 in it. An input appreciated.. Thanks! ------------------ DTA... don't trust anybody... - - - - - - Steve Ruston 1987 Turbo Limited __________________ 87 Cougar Turbo - high 13s 84 SVO Stock shortblock, home ported head [by me], A-237 cam, T3/T4, 55 lb injs, stock LA3, T5, 3.73s - 11.90 @ 113.50 MPH w/ 1.60 60'. <-- More to come.. 2000 Honda EX 400 - Mint shape, VERY fast, modded...

11-15-2001, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
WFO Habitual Line Stepper Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Eugene,Or Posts: 401	from what i have gathered over time,the only thing you don't want is to overheat it.the 400s have siamesed bores,so they have a tendency to run hotter than your normal sbc,which causes cracking problems with the heads.i'd say put a real gauge on it,and check out the cooling system.i know they can be reliable,and can also build lots of power. a friend of mine has a 66 nova ss with an afr head/solid roller 406.he runs 11.70s,and it's a 400 block.not your intention,i know,but an example. later,sean __________________ 84 GN 12.01@114.5 99 F250 PSD/6 spd 65 Plymouth Sport Fury Twin Turbo coming soon...

11-15-2001, 09:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
fast86 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Memphis,Tn. Posts: 1,293	My old 2Dr.74 Impala had a 400 & 400 trans in it & ran perfect the whole 5yrs i had it . when i sold it it had 165,000 miles on it & still pured like a kittin. Thinking back I cant remember doing anything to it but replacing the oil pan cause the oil plug threads were worn out & thats when I found out it was a 4 bolt main! I also keep it well maintained. That was the great driving & comfortable car rode like a caddy! Right on the gas though in town"But not to bad on HW. --------------Memory lane------------------- Man I loved that car. Thats been a long time ago. __________________ To hell with 12's Im going for the 11's! Keith Davis--- 2003 Harley Davidson 03 1500 Cheby PU 72 Cheby 4x4 86GN, Astroroof, DigDash' TTA crank, Ported polished heads & intake' Jay's 62mm T/body & upper' 979springs" Weber 206 206 hyd cam" Manly SS valves, Steel center mains' PTE 51 Turbo,Bigmouth cold air system' THDP' Postons headers,

11-15-2001, 09:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
PRSRIZD_V6 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Flint, MI USA Posts: 1,191	I've got quite a bit of 400+ SBC experience. I had one in a suburban tow vehicle for a long time, it was great, with the big truck radiator there were no heat issues. We also run many variations of them in our oval track cars, the heat issue can be helped some by adding an aux cooling line across the top of the intake from the from water jackets to the rear. Some guys have used reverse rotation water pumps with some success as well. For a street car I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure there's a reason why it was in a caprice and not a Camaro....cooling is probably it. My $.02 says not to worry about it unless your gonna make a monster out of it. __________________ Gavin

11-16-2001, 08:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
The Radius Kid Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Stoney Creek,Ontario,Canada Posts: 8,862	Buy it. ------------------ Give em' hell! __________________ Fear is a complex thing: It can keep you safe,or it can be used to control and subjugate you. You have to know when to use it for your own good and when to shun those that would use it against you.

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