couple questions for you sbc guru's

hey guys, i havent played with the sbc since the 70's and have forgotten everything. did my mock ups 2-3 times, but now i am doing final ***embly. my real engine is a 400 4 bolt sbc and has no hole drilled and tapped for the top (12 o'clock) bellhousing bolt. my mock up block did. i am using a cast iron truck housing and muncie 4 speed.
do i need it?
what length bolt? (bellhousing to engine)
what grade?
lock washers?
it seems i have been using the HAMB more than my tool box to get this togather. THANKS, pkj

 

no , you don't need it..i can't recall seeing a block with one there. just use the 6 other bolt holes

the bolts are 3/8"-NC.....the length will depend on the thickness of your bellhousing. grade 5 will be fine. i like to use lockwashers there

after thinking about it , i believe that the very early blocks where drilled there..i think the cast iron powerglides used it? anyway , you will be fine

 

You do not ask ... but I hope you know that the 400 SBC requires a different balance flywheel than the other SBC's. I know that original stock 400 SBC flywheels ( not flexplates ) are difficult to find ... but they do exist.

Hope you have one ...

 

thanks for the info guys. yes i have the correct flywheel. the machine shop used it and the dampner when they balanced. one thing to note was i had a couple of bellhousings laying around. the first one i cleaned and painted would not clear the flywheel. second one did.

 

Cool ... they do have a large 168 tooth flywheel ...

 

so what ya sticking that 400 in?????????my favorite sbc motor..took years to get convinced to throw one in after years of hi revin 283's, 327's and 350's........got 1 in my 72 vega wagon right now..can ya say torque monster!!!!!!!!!!!!






either that or a old hemi goinna go into my topolino.....

 

that bolt hole on your mock up block was for a b.o.p. style trans.