The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 400cid w/factory stick?

In the process of helping len h install a 400 eng. with stickshift in 38 bolt, his engine cast-ing no says engine is 70 - 73 from Mortec listing. My 400 is 75 model and it has no hole drilled and tapped for the torsion arm ball. There is a flat spot at the dipstick housing where a hole could be drilled and threaded and there is also a flat spot above the oil filter where I have no hole in my block, but len h says his block lhas a hole that seems the right size for the ball to screw in to. But, the question is, were there any 400s used in the standard transmission application? I went to the most logical spot that might use this set-up, the Camaro and from 67 to 81, the only near 400cid was the 402 and I think that is a big block. Someone stated that the 400s were used in the 70s in the truck. I had a 78 4x4 that came from the factory with a 400, but it was automatic. len h really wants to use a hydraulic clutch and I bought a 61 stepside for parts. It had a 307 engine (someone had welded mount towers for the engine mounts) and it had the bellhousing that was used during the 60 - 63 C10 that had the mounts on the bellhousing and the slave cylinder mounted on the passinger side. Anybody know of any factory stick applications for the 400 cid engine or any other hydraulic clutch housing applications that may work in a 38 bolt? Hydraulic seems like the best way to go to me.

Hope this will help, Len

Truck Tinker from Talking Rock

Look at 73 to 79 Chevy trucks suburbans and blazers (full size) 1/2 to 1-ton 2and 4 wheel drive. Most had automatics but there are manual units out there.

Thanks for the interest. I took a picture of the block to try and help in figuring this out. If I can't post the picture here I will email it to you.
Len

Since the 400 cid crankshafts are "externally" balanced, you will have to find a fly wheel with counterweights. I've never seen a 400 sb with the manual trans application. I know they were used in some trucks with auto trans. It was also used in the Caprice. It was an option in the '73-'75 Laguna S-3's. You may have to drill and tap the hole, and, find a manual trans flywheel counterbalance kit. If the flywheel or flexplate is not counterbalanced, you can damage the engine.

Jim Sgrig "Piewagn"

I have a flywheel ballance plate. Took three months but did arrive.

Thanks
Len

The round track racers I run with use a slave cylinder/throwout bearing that mounts on the transmission nose, similar to late-model Blue Oval transmissions. All that's necessary to complete the clutch hookup is a correct-size master cylinder, and a high-pressure flex line. Pricey, but better than a home-fabricated mechanical linkage! Try Racer's Wholesale, or one of the other roundtrack parts suppliers for a listing.
Jerry

I found this on Ebay. Here's the balance plate you need for your 400 sb manual trans application.
hope this helps. Copy & paste.

Jim Sgrig "Piewagn"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2471794618&category=33616

I have been looking into the use of the 400cid small block for some time now. Everyone I have asked has given the some answer for the most part. I got looking through one of a series of books that I have at home. The books are named "Chevrolet by the numbers" and each cover a 5 year period. These books are available through chevrolet parts counters, they each have their own chevrolet part #. I had the idea of looking at this from a different angle, transmission applications.
I looked at the 1970-75 book (chevrolet p/n24502564)

Continuation of previous post.

On page 243 under the 1970 transmission applications section it says the Monte Carlo used the 400/265HP engine with a Muncie M20 4 speed transmissions. I can't find any other uses of standard transmissions in cars. My guess is that what some people have said is true, the standards have been used behind the 400's in trucks.