Vortec headed 400 truck build up cam and using my heads?

I'm building soon a SB 400 to replace my Vortec headed TBI 350. It ran well and lots of folks do 383s in their trucks so why not a 400, I Have the block.

I'll need some cam help.

I all ready have Vortec heads with 2.0 /1.7 or so SS valves bowl work and mild port polish. New springs/ retainers/ locks/ seals. I bought them for a decent price and used them on a 350 in my truck. I all ready have GMPP 1.6 roller rockers that are self aligning and the GMPP TBI Vortec intake was on it. The Vortecs even had the steam holes drilled before. LT Headers and bigger 90lbs injectors and 50mm throttle body.

The 350 spun rods, cam, probably mains to. Makes me sick.

So I pulled my 400 block I bought last summer and it is in line at the machine shop it had all ready been checked for being sound prior to me at the same shop.

Will the Vortecs choke it. My other 400 has Dart Pro 1s 215 ports 64cc with a nice inverted dome, but it is a little higher strung even with w 3000 stall and 3.73s. Pulls hard to 6200+.

If I blow the 400 some day or want to pull it. I made the plan to use the 64cc chambers on a 383/396 SB. More and more common for 64cc heads every where.

I was going with a 9:1 piston with 5.7 rods.

I thought the Vortecs were good to 400-420 HP.

Wouldn't the port velocity help make torque down lower?

In my case it won't see more than 5500. But this truck is heavy.

It will have retro fit hydraulic roller lifters and a decent cam considering it is 4x4 with a 2500 stall 3.73s an a 29-30 inch street tires it will need torque.




CAM selection... remember retro fit hydraulic roller camshaft???

Torque and pulling to 5000-5500 a plus realistically 5K

What is the combo good for number wise???


Help. Please

 

The combination you have listed will be a great motor for you.I have helped with the buildup of a couple 400's with vortec heads and these motors made great power!The vortecs have 170cc ports on them and will be great for low speed tourqe.The comp cams line up is a great solution.Both the motors that were put together used the 268 Extreme energy grinds and made around 460 pounds of tourqe around 3200 rpm.I would call Comp cams and ask their advice but I would look into their on line site and pick something close to 260-270 total duration with lift around .500-.525. A couple of years ago I put together one on desk top dyno with a roller cam that had 256 Int and 260 EX with .440 lift Int & 470 Ex for a station wagon project of mine.It made 500 pounds of tourqe around 2500rpm.But that was on a computer.Never got built.Give them a call & they may recomend a custom grind.

 

Do the Vortecs favor a split pattern cam? The old motor a 350 had a real nice Cammotion custom ground cam. I will use them again they have great products.

I had Grind # X2103-2112-12

Duration @ .050 I 210.1 E 215.2

Valve lift I 0.48089 E 0.48254

LSA 112

Intake C/L 107.9

I ended up having to use some 1.6 rockers which I believe put my lift @ .510 which was a little to much for it. Ran great from 2500-5500-6

I'm thinking mayebe one similar for the 400.

Really want some killer torque mid range.

 

The exhaust port is weaker on the vortecs, so a split pattern would be best. Pocket porting and cleanup would help as well. Fairly short duration, beehive springs so no interference. Years ago, a 400/vortecs, 280 comp hydraulic put out 405, 480 at 5000 peak with 1 5/8 headers. My old 65 shortbed was a sleeper.

 

http://airflowresearch.com/articles/article039/A-P1.htm

love the 400, that's the motor I've been wanting to build for a long time. I think with the bigger valves and the port work you'll see some great gains over the stock heads in the article. The motor falls on it's face in the high RPMs. I think you could be up to high 400's with how your going to put it together. Run a good spit cam for the lacking exhaust. As far as duration, the one in the article is a flat tappett in at 230, so that would be around 218-220 for a HR. That's where I'd be, the motor is going to eat up the duration with it's size. Look at the torque at 2500 in the article, you'll be close to 500 with your heads, thats sick. Good luck