CHEAP 400hp Pontiac 400 Build Recipe

When building a Pontiac 400 or really; any Pontiac engine on the cheap you need to look at few things; namely the camshaft and exhaust. If you're running anything lower than 8.5:1 you'll want to increase compression to 9-9.5:1 by changing pistons or changing the heads.

The gains are assuming you're using a standard Pontiac 400 out of a big car like a Bonneville or Grand Prix. If you're already starting with a Ram Air III setup you're ahead of the game.

The recipe is as follows:

- Stock Pontiac 400
- Stock Pontiac #16 Heads
- Melling "041" camshaft 231/240 .470/.470 112/115LSA
- Stock Intake
- Stock Carb
- 1 3/4" Headers w/ straight pipes

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[gordondahle]

I put a ‘69 428 into a 1974 Bonneville with a 323 axle ratio. I added Ram Air IV rocker arms that boosted my lift from .410 to around.450. I felt bad because it appeared to be burning oil every time I accelerated. One day I took off without my music playing and I realized that I was smoking the tires just under normal acceleration! I previously had this engine in a ‘65 Catalina with a 241 rear axle. Those tall gears didn’t spin the tires as easily. Of course when I had that engine in the Catalina it was equipped with two-four barrels. Two-four barrels is a “magical” setup on a big Pontiac engine. In spite of the tall gears I could smoke the tires forever!🤗 The point is: If you find a big Pontiac engine BUY IT! They are becoming rare. A big Pontiac engine allows you to built lots of power without spending too much money. I drove my Catalina for TEN years! It didn’t get the best mileage, but nothing ever broke. I spent money on gas, tires, and oil. (Smoked a lot of tires) Nothing ever broke. I can’t say that for the computerized junkers that I drive now. I still have that engine. I need to find an old Pontiac to put it in. Anyway, I love Pontiac engines and you will too if you can find one!

[swatterbirdwatts]

#13 heads on a 455. Solid lifter roller cam. 👌

[middletownman]

I love the 400, have been racing mine for 30 years but I think your numbers are a bit optimistic for a stock port. Those pistons will lower your compression too. Measure the relief volume, the quench and cc the heads....you may find you don't have the compression you think you have.

[twistedtuned]

new video on pontiac 400, there are people out there i have 78 400 with 6x heads that overheated last summer

[tommyjohnson]

My favorite is 068 cam for street use.

[tylertm]

I'm trying this build on my 1976 firebird formula imma keep you updated any advice or updates to the build would be appreciated 👏

[wduvernay]

LSX, the headers aren't a bad idea. You could gain some torque and power by cutting off the collector and going to a 2.5" merge mild steel collector or using Headers by Ed catalog advice.

[EfurdGarage]

Basiclly a stock 400 h.o 360/445 with bolt ons. Throw some 1.65 roller rockers get a bit clolser to .518 lift another cheap bolt on.

[jwhmerica]

I just bought a 67 GTO 400 4 speed. What do I need to be looking for to figure out what this 400 is?

[mrami.]

What can you recommend for a pontiac 400 with 670 heads

[ShuffleInMotion]

Rebuilding the 400 in my 78 Trans Am. Any recommendations on getting power?

[cyclnnus]

will these mods work on the 75 formula 400

[jakefitzpatrick]

You can turn a 400 at 5800 with the oiling troubles they have????

[nachomax]

Is there an actual dyno session for this engine? I see the infamous 8 valve relief pistons.

[KeysToTheUniverse]

This build work on a 1967 firebird 400 motor?

[TheTPAL]

I have a 79 trans am 400 w72 4 speed car with 373 rear gears. I want a performance rebuild useing the stock intake carburetor and heads. What cam and piston size do you recommend?

[chrisharrison]

I have a stock 1968 400. 030 over #16 heads 3.36:1 rear end, Automatic I might take to the track I dont know yet, , but like to bomb around town at the moment there is going to be a 268H cam going in it, would this be OK or is there something better, I have a 280H in my chevy 462 thats in my firebird at the moment and I was thinking the same for the 400 but someone mentioned that that may be to much for the 400 good for a 455 but not for a 400 any advise would be great

[brassglass]

how bad is it if we have the 7J2 heads on our 72 400? we are getting a comp XE268 cam and we have a edelbrock intake and 800 4 barrel carb, just picked up hooker headers but our weak link are those 7
J2 heads.. they do not even have the area to drill and tap end holes so we ordered the L brackets that at least give you studs to mount them to. Looking around for heads but thinking eventually we will end up buying the RPM performer aluminum heads but for now we just do not have the extra cash.

[xSeraphimxAngelx]

I'm running a 400 with eldebrock Performer Intake, 6x heads, headers, full magnaflow exhaust and a Holley EFI. How much ballpark hp do you think I have? Not original block so can't really give you that info since even I don't know

[leonardoopes]

Is it possible in a Pontiac Formula 400 1974 with 4x head? I have a edelbrock aluminium performance intake, , large exausting and EFI.