What can I run?

[Jrgunn5150]

I have a 79 C10 Stepside. It has a more or less stock 400 in it. I bought it pretty much as is, so here's what I know,

400, 882 head's, Performer intake, Quickfuel 1957 carb, header's, TH350, 3.08 gear's.

More or less, a stock truck I'm guessing. It runs ok, no rocketship.

If I were to go to Vortec head's, a medium flat tapped cam, a RPM intake that would put my compression at around 11:1, or less, depending on the dish in the pistons, but regardless, I'm going to say that I can easily pull 375 flywheel HP from this motor.

Would that, plus 3.73's or 4.10's, and some D/R's be enough to get me down around 13 flat?

The truck is a weekend truck, I might drive it to work a couple times a week in nice weather. I just want respectable performance out if it, because right now, even though it sounds cool, anything on the road would leave it in the dust.

[cableguy0]

Vortec heads are definitely not the answer. They don't flow enough air for a performance 400ci engine. They would be fine for a stump puller but wont allow you to run much past 4500rpm before they start choking the engine. To go 13 flat your going to have to upgrade heads past the vortecs. You will need a cam in the mid 230-low240@.050 duration range and .550 lift or so. The gears will make a huge difference but unless the engine can turn the rpm to use the gears down the track it wont do much good. First off whats your budget because that will dicate the overall build.

[Jrgunn5150]

I'm starting to see that in other research.

I have no fixed budget or timetable. If I need to wait to get AFR's or whatever, then I'll wait. It's fun to drive, a nice hot rod, sounds cool, looks cool, it's just I've had fast car's before, and I know this truck is a poseur lol .

I also know, that right now, i have a blank canvas, but what I think is a decent foundation. I just don't want to buy part's twice or go down any dead ends. I just don't see alot of street/strip trucks, everyone wants to slam them or jump them lol.

[cableguy0]

First step upgrade to 3.73 and a posi in the rear. You will be shocked at how much the truck wakes up especially from stoplight to stoplight. Also sticking all those go fast parts on top of an unknown bottom end is a recipe for disaster. You will want to have the bottom end rebuilt and start with a decent hypereutectic or forged piston. You will also want everything balanced if you plan to turn much past 5000rpm. The 400sbc is externally balanced from the factory and wasn't intended to spin 6k+rpm.

[Jrgunn5150]

For this year, i think that I will settle on a set of 3.73's, a True Trac, and I'll work on getting it dialed in it's current form, as it does run well, and ride nice.

If I can consistently run decent times with it, I'll go from there. I know 400's aren't forgiving as far as being bored over, it's my understanding .030 is it, so if it comes to that, I'll punt the thing and build something more appropriate.

Thanks for the help!

[Captainfab]

Here's some reading for you.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...0%2F406+builds

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Here's some reading for you.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...0%2F406+builds

Thanks! There's some good info in there, but I'm really interested in ET's, in a truck.

Can a leaf sprung truck, with a mild/medium 400, run a decent number? i guess I'll find out one way or another lol.

[68c10owner]

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/148...-block-torque/