Stroker vs. De-stroker motor

[Ch3vy]

I recently bought a 400 s.b.c. with 2bolt mains. I have been thinking of building it into a 434 stroker, but recently I've been reading about de-stroking. What are the pros and cons of a destroked engine? This will likely go into my 72 Vega for a street/strip car. Would consider making it a 377 motor

3951509 Block, std. bore

[34_40]

The old adage applies, there ain't no substitute for cubic inches! IMHO... Less ain't more 8-)

[Dave Severson]

Yup, same here!!! More cubes is more torque, torque wins bracket races.... IMO, the 377's were always a pooch engine, to big for high rpm horsepower, and too small for building big torque numbers... You didn't mention what kind of car you're putting it in, but anything more then 2500 pounds going bracket racing needs all the torque it can get and the 434 will out-torque the 377.

[jerry clayton]

Convert the block to splayed 4 bolt center caps---build whatever you want---but, a destroked (302/327) crank in a 400 block does make an extreme high revving engine---------

For bracket racing, size of motor , hp/tq doesn't matter--running the number you chose wins races----

[Dave Severson]

For bracket racing, size of motor , hp/tq doesn't matter--running the number you chose wins races----

---and running that number consistently is best done with a big inch, high torque engine......

[Ch3vy]

Thanks for the input guys. As far as stroking it, will the block need to be modified to fit a bigger crank in it, if I do make it a 434?

[1gary]

You sonic check 400's for wall thickness and mag it before you spend serious money on them.To find 400's these days is getting harder and then to find a good core is even harder.The oval track racers ate a bunch of them up.Then when you find a good core,you bore and finish hone with the machine shop having the pistons in hand using torque plates.

In terms of the Vega,what is your plan for the frame,suspension,and drive train??.

[gassersrule_196]

never seen a 377 that wasnt a great runner. have seen many 406's tat were terds. i am currently collecting parts to finish up my SBC powered mustang and have a 400 i may go 400 i may go 377 who knows.

[jerry clayton]

there are many reasons that the shorter stroke/bigger moter is better-------better rod angles, better breathing as its hard to fill the bigger engines with the heads that are reasonably available---

The Vega chassis is lite enough and wheel base good for good consistant launches with only a moderate change or two-----most important (considering that ladder bar/four link bars) will probably be spring and shock choices---the car will leave good without all the body roll, wheel spinning problems of a big block and still run 9, 10s at 140-150mph with either small dual quads or one big 4 barrel--------

[1gary]

We had a friend in the early days of super gas before cert's that build a Vega with black pipe roll bars.Mark's car was called "Time and Money". At the time is was one of the winiest Super Gas cars around and actually won the Halloween Classic in Florida.When it launched it suffered with a BBC badly from one wheel wheel stand from the torque twisting badly.Towards the end he was having trouble closing the doors.He sold it to the tranny shop owner in the area.I saw it there and it was so bad it had a hard time with all fours being square on the ground.The only usefulness was to shell it out for a new tube frame.
But I back haft a Monza town coupe with a Don Hardy kit and a 8 point bar and that to this day with upgrades survived many wheel stand cycles with no effect on the body.

Jerry I know your car was likely a full tube frame car.

[jerry clayton]

I'm not talking about my Monza------A friend had a 287 cube with iron angle plug heads, ladder bars,Doug Nash 5 speed , 12 bolt rear--ran low 10s and was very consistant---------