I have a question of reliability of the 400 small block...I purchased a '76 chevy 'camper special' 4x4 w/ a 400/th-350/203 3/4 ton and 4:10's....I plan on lifting and locking the rear. I would be using the truck for mud drags and I was wondering if the 400 would hold up to the abuse or should I swap in a 350 and sell the 'hard to come by' 400??? Also anyone have any cooling tips for the newbie:question: :question: :question: Thanks in advance....:smokin:

a good radiator, good water pump. head gaskets get weak over time. mud bogs are over real fast anyway, not like you are desert racing the thing...

Thanks zakk, I was thinking the same but everyone has a diffrent story. I was actually thinking of ordering the set-up from summit. It's a electric motor that turns the waterpump at about 1700 rpm then put twin fans on the radiator both controlled by toggles.........or am I going too far w/ this:question: :question: Thanks again and have a :beer: on me....:smokin: :smokin:

Electric water pumps are not for street driving. If you tow it to the mud...go for it.

Just run it. If you have a problem, then think about a fix.
Don't fix it if it aint broke.

Originally posted by suspect
Thanks zakk, I was thinking the same but everyone has a diffrent story. I was actually thinking of ordering the set-up from summit. It's a electric motor that turns the waterpump at about 1700 rpm then put twin fans on the radiator both controlled by toggles.........or am I going too far w/ this:question: :question: Thanks again and have a :beer: on me....:smokin: :smokin:

i would not run the electric water pump, or the electric fans.

Get a KoolFlow aluminum water pump (won't rust) and the largest stainless steel fan you can fit to keep it cool.

I run a 400 in my DD (and trail rig) and it is not the nightmare people make it out to be. A good head gasket is the best thing (IMHO) for a 400 because of the steam holes and the large bores that leave little room for el-cheapo head geaskets to seal well.

a good HD radiator will also help.

Thanks again guys, I'll just run it in the mud and see what happens............:D :D :D

Originally posted by Triaged
Electric water pumps are not for street driving. If you tow it to the mud...go for it.


Why are electric water pumps not good for the street? a constant 1700 rpm seems like It would work fine to me. Two of my wheeling budys are running electric water pumps and electric fans and they both love them. But there both running the hi flow moroso pumps not the add on motor.

are they trail rigs or DD's?? i think they are for pure RACE conditions only, IMO

I have said it once and ill say it again, there is no replacement for more displacement!!! It’s simple guys, inches! I can’t stand people that pull their old 400 that is "overheating" and spend all this money on a stroker 383 or 350 and simply say how much better it is. If it was me, and I was about ready to lay down a grand on a 383 or something, I would pull the 400 have the crank offset ground, get stroker pistons and rods of your choice, i.e.- h beam and 10:1 hiperutektic, have you old heads hogged to 2.05s or 2.08s and bam you have a 400-500 hp 426 strocker that would wup the crap out of a 383 any day!!! And ill bank on that!!!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:smokin:

Originally posted by zakk
are they trail rigs or DD's?? i think they are for pure RACE conditions only, IMO



There both trail rigs now but both were dd at one point and had electric water pumps.

Most elec. water pumps are made for short term use only. The motor will make more power w/ the pump turned off...but less (than w/ a belt driven water pump) when the elec. pump is turned on (because the alt. will pull more power and the efficency at which it turns mechanical power to elec. power). Also it is jsut one more thing to go wrong... If you drive it more than you mud race it just take off the belt when you race it?