Originally posted by JayBo@Sep 15 2004, 07:11 AM
After looking (and cleaning) the engine bay some, I found a sticker on the valve cover that states the engine is "351M/400 Family" and that the size is 400CID, so I'm assuming that it is a 400 now..the dude I bought it from musta not known what the hell it had. It has the factory 2bbl on it, so I"m sure it would benefit from a carb upgrade, and maybe some headers.

Also, what kinda wheels you got for it? I don't want anything fancy, I bought mainly for playing and not tearing my Chevy to pieces.
Cool a 400M is much better! Part of why you're soooooo slow is your gearing, but ya prolly know that already.

Anyway, you have the 2bbl heads...that's GOOD. Their ports are much smaller and street friendly...the valves are still absurdly large as are the ports. A good street intake like Edelbrock's Performer would be fine for it, it's a big heavy truck so you need low to mid range TQ/HP.

I don't think I'd get an off the shelf cam, I'd call Comp or Crane and see what they'd recommend for you. Probably something with so-so lift, short duration (about 208-214), and not much overlap.

Headers with 1.625-1.75" primary tubes are plenty large, smaller tubes lower the TQ peak; conversely larger tubes raise the peak.

A 650cfm 4bbl is plenty large for that 400" as long as you stay south of 6000rpm.