406 build

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11-30-2006, 10:00 PM
vortec king

406 build

right now i'm building a 406 for my 68' camaro,the 327 is a bit tired. the 406 must be streetable and must run on pump gas . so i'm going to have around 10.0:1 compression and hoping for around 440hp and 480tq. I have set of 906' vortec heads. i need to know how much machine work i need on the heads. i thinking of running voodoo cam with 227/233 dur. with 489in/504ex lift. do have have open up the valve spring pockets? and do i need to mill the guides down a bit? and also would it be wise choice to cut the heads out for 2.02/1.60's,is there major flow increase on these heads with bigger valves. much help appreciated!
12-01-2006, 04:21 AM
383 chev

10.0-1 is a bit much for pump gas with iron heads i would take the heads to a machine shop and tell them what u want for a cam and they will get the springs to go with that cam and let them do the machine work. IMO you will lose some bottom end with the larger valves.
12-01-2006, 06:14 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortec king

right now i'm building a 406 for my 68' camaro,the 327 is a bit tired. the 406 must be streetable and must run on pump gas . so i'm going to have around 10.0:1 compression and hoping for around 440hp and 480tq. I have set of 906' vortec heads. i need to know how much machine work i need on the heads. i thinking of running voodoo cam with 227/233 dur. with 489in/504ex lift. do have have open up the valve spring pockets? and do i need to mill the guides down a bit? and also would it be wise choice to cut the heads out for 2.02/1.60's,is there major flow increase on these heads with bigger valves. much help appreciated!

I.M.O,you don't have cam to make 440 hp closer to 425 hp.
I don't think I would put a lot of money in a set of the Vortec heads either.
If you really want to make more hp out of your 406 heads you need to look at a good set of heads that have a port volume of 180 cc.
12-01-2006, 06:34 AM
bigdude

Quote:

Originally Posted by 383 chev

10.0-1 is a bit much for pump gas with iron heads i would take the heads to a machine shop and tell them what u want for a cam and they will get the springs to go with that cam and let them do the machine work. IMO you will lose some bottom end with the larger valves.

My Michigan neighbor is right on with the 202's--If your not on it most of the time smaller valves will give you more grunt on the street!:cool:
12-01-2006, 08:22 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude

My Michigan neighbor is right on with the 202's--If your not on it most of the time smaller valves will give you more grunt on the street!:cool:

With a 4.155 bore X 3.75 stroke he will have plenty of grunt.
With over 400 cubes he needs a larger port volume and a larger valve size for this engine to make 440 hp.
12-01-2006, 08:37 AM
bigdude

Ive built three 406's with smaller valves and they out performed the ones I built with 202's. At wide open the 202's are great! Maybe it was mojo? They also werer the 441 castings.
12-01-2006, 09:53 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude

Ive built three 406's with smaller valves and they out performed the ones I built with 202's. At wide open the 202's are great! Maybe it was mojo? They also werer the 441 castings.

But he want's 440 hp.
There is no way he will get 440 hp with a set of 441 heads or the Vortces with small valves in them.
12-01-2006, 10:30 AM
bigdude

You are correct,alot of other things should change too!
12-01-2006, 11:05 AM
383 chev

I is no math genius but i have a buddy that ran a 406 in a 85 trans am with the vortec heads lil bit bigger cam than vortec king wants and more compression also and he ran 11.20's all day long. vortecs are (imo) a good flowing head for OEM.
12-01-2006, 03:37 PM
maineevent

ho w much hp did your car make

when you used the 441 heads how much powere did your car make and what did you have done to the heads
12-01-2006, 03:50 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortec king

right now i'm building a 406 for my 68' camaro,the 327 is a bit tired. the 406 must be streetable and must run on pump gas . so i'm going to have around 10.0:1 compression and hoping for around 440hp and 480tq. I have set of 906' vortec heads. i need to know how much machine work i need on the heads. i thinking of running voodoo cam with 227/233 dur. with 489in/504ex lift. do have have open up the valve spring pockets? and do i need to mill the guides down a bit? and also would it be wise choice to cut the heads out for 2.02/1.60's,is there major flow increase on these heads with bigger valves. much help appreciated!

To try and gain a better rod ratio get rid of the stock 5.565 rods and intall a set of 5.7 or 6.0 rods.
12-01-2006, 03:57 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by 383 chev

I is no math genius but i have a buddy that ran a 406 in a 85 trans am with the vortec heads lil bit bigger cam than vortec king wants and more compression also and he ran 11.20's all day long. vortecs are (imo) a good flowing head for OEM.

One of the biggest problems with the Vortec heads is the exhaust to intake ratio.
To try and help the exhaust side run a cam the favors the exhaust side.
I would look for cams that have 8-10 degree's more duration on the exhaust side at .050 also run more lift on the exhaust side.
12-01-2006, 04:00 PM
bigdude

Quote:

Originally Posted by maineevent

when you used the 441 heads how much powere did your car make and what did you have done to the heads

I put stainless valve in and port matched intake and heads. The big thing is to not overcam it. I used a comp extreme energy 268 cam and kit with springs and could bust my 33 loose at 30mph with a 342 ratio. Had a buddy with a 5 window with a 406 with alum heads and could dust him easy.The key is a good combo of cam -intake-carb- heads and exhaust, with a good ratio.I followed a buildup in hotrod? and they used the same setup and got 420h.p.I believe.
12-01-2006, 04:09 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude

I put stainless valve in and port matched intake and heads. The big thing is to not overcam it. I used a comp extreme energy 268 cam and kit with springs and could bust my 33 loose at 30mph with a 342 ratio. Had a buddy with a 5 window with a 406 with alum heads and could dust him easy.The key is a good combo of cam -intake-carb- heads and exhaust, with a good ratio.I followed a buildup in hotrod? and they used the same setup and got 420h.p.I believe.

I doubt that a 268 Comp Cam in a 383 would make 420 hp with 441 heads.
Don't always believe the magizine's either.
They are in the business to sell them and the people that advertise in them are also in the magizines engine build-ups.
12-01-2006, 04:35 PM
bigdude

I,m older and more experienced and a former record holder and engine builder since 66- case rested-been there-not going to argue.
12-01-2006, 04:53 PM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude

I,m older and more experienced and a former record holder and engine builder since 66- case rested-been there-not going to argue.

But your Bio say's "trust me I'm a gynecologist".
I know we get a lot of "engine builders" on here.:whacked: :whacked: :LOL:
12-01-2006, 06:27 PM
thesals

doesn't building an engine mean you're an engine builder??

who cares if it actually runs when you're done.... thats for the mechanics to figure out :LOL:
12-01-2006, 08:51 PM
bigdude

Were all experts hey? just trying to help
12-02-2006, 12:21 AM
vortec king

t i just seen a chevyhiperformance article on a vortec 406 build that had stock vortec heads with 1.94's/1.50,230/230dur. cam, the engine cranked out 425hp at 5000rpm and 525lbs tq at 3500rpms, which is very impressive and is what i'm kinda looking for, only i don't mind lower the torque and bit and increasing horses, i'm probably going to cut the heads for 2.02/1.60 and open up the intake and exhaust ports just a bit. i don't know if running more cam is such a good idea since heads are bit small, but what do you guys recommend? i know i can't run past 5500-6000rpm without running out of head.
12-02-2006, 12:43 AM
thesals

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude

Were all experts hey? just trying to help

before edit I,m finding that out,weve all seem to have done it. I see thesals has a drag van. I was feeling cocky one night in 69 whenl this van pulled next to my chevelle and whipped up on me like he owned me. I talked to him for a while and he showed me a mid mount Hemi inside it. That was very humbleing!

yeah thats the whole point of the van :D looks like a 69 econoline with a flamejob but its got a built 351w, 4 on the floor and 4.10s in the rear, 4 wheel discs and powersteering...... its an undercover rocket
12-02-2006, 06:23 AM
bigdude

Yea! The first thing I asked this guy was "How in the hell did you get that in there?" Had a buddy with a 68 or 69 ranchero plain jane, with a 428 CJ in it.That was a cool sleeper also! Did you have to build a new frame for it?
12-02-2006, 06:27 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortec king

t i just seen a chevyhiperformance article on a vortec 406 build that had stock vortec heads with 1.94's/1.50,230/230dur. cam, the engine cranked out 425hp at 5000rpm and 525lbs tq at 3500rpms, which is very impressive and is what i'm kinda looking for, only i don't mind lower the torque and bit and increasing horses, i'm probably going to cut the heads for 2.02/1.60 and open up the intake and exhaust ports just a bit. i don't know if running more cam is such a good idea since heads are bit small, but what do you guys recommend? i know i can't run past 5500-6000rpm without running out of head.

What you posted here is correct.
If you decide and install the larger valves I also would do a very good "bowl blend" and a gasket match like you said.
Intake wise I would run an intake like the Edelbrock RPM Performer with a gasket match to meet the heads,either a 600 or 670 vac. carb.
The 400's don't like as much ignition timing as a 350.
Start around 34-36 total timing and see how it reacts.
Don't forget to run a good fuel pump and you may want to up the dia. of your fuel line.
Run a 3.73 gear and a 2,800- 3,000 stall and you could waste a few of those new Mustangs, not that I condone street racing of any kind.L.O.L.
12-02-2006, 09:31 AM
thesals

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik erikson

What you posted here is correct.
If you decide and install the larger valves I also would do a very good "bowl blend" and a gasket match like you said.
Intake wise I would run an intake like the Edelbrock RPM Performer with a gasket match to meet the heads,either a 600 or 670 vac. carb.
The 400's don't like as much ignition timing as a 350.
Start around 34-36 total timing and see how it reacts.
Don't forget to run a good fuel pump and you may want to up the dia. of your fuel line.
Run a 3.73 gear and a 2,800- 3,000 stall and you could waste a few of those new Mustangs, not that I condone street racing of any kind.L.O.L.

street racing??? i dont know about everyone else... but it my town if they catch you doing that and they find any single part thats not street approved..... your car gets sent to the crusher
12-02-2006, 09:34 AM
erik erikson

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesals

street racing??? i dont know about everyone else... but it my town if they catch you doing that and they find any single part thats not street approved..... your car gets sent to the crusher

Ahhh,the beauty of living in CA.:whacked:
12-02-2006, 12:31 PM
shawnlee28

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik erikson

Ahhh,the beauty of living in CA.:whacked:

Now the hot tip is impound and confinscate your car /sell it ,and it lives to be impounded and sold another day.Each sale goes right into the state coffers ,again and again and again:LOL: