400 build

I am building a 400 to go in my 73 Formula Firebird as a daily driver. Here is my buildup:
400 bored .030" over; decked .010"
stock crank turned .020" on rods; .030 on mains
Silvolite cast pistons

1971 #96 heads; smooth out the runners to improve flow

Comp Cams 51-221-4 hydraulic flat tappet
212°, 218° @.050
.447", .455" w/ 1.5 rockers; .453", .461" w/ 1.52 rockers
110° LSA
Comp Cams 1.52 Magnum roller tip rockers

Edelbrock Performer dual plane intake

Stock 750cfm Quadrajet

Either a Pontiac HEI with a hotter coil or an aftermarket distributor

TH400 transmission; 3.23:1 posi

Any recommendations? Advice?  
'73 Formula 400
'74 Trans Am 455

Sounds like a winner to me. Mild, fun, easy to live with, and tough. That kinda sounds like a lot of crank grinding and I steer away from cam talk, but overall the whole setup sounds like just the thing for a daily Formula. Of course it will still drink gas like its 1973 so I'm hoping theres not much highway in your routine. Quadrajets were made for sippin'. Enjoy!  

For a daily driver you may want to consider a 200-4R.  
Mark
Engine builder, located in Central Florida

+1 on the overdrive trans.  Also, a cheaper way to save some gas on the highway is to put taller tires on the rear to bring down the cruising RPMs.  
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1969 GTO resto in progress. '76 350+.060, #13 heads, 9.2:1 CR, Lunati cam, Edelbrock Performer, 750 Holley, HEI, Ram Air manifolds, 2 1/2" exhaust. TH400 trans w/shift kit and 2400 stall.  235/60/15 front, 275/60/15 rear on Rally II 15X7s.  GM 12 bolt posi with 3.73's.

Love my 200-4R. With 3.55 rear gear the cruise RPM is really low. If under 40 on Saturday's ,100 degree day, stop and gp cruise I had to keep it in 2nd gear just to keep the Rs up to help cool it. On the highway running 75 with a 225-60/15 ,25 1/2" tall, it only turns 2400 and will get 16-18 MPG in the 3600 lb. shoe box 65 GTO.  

Yea the crank was already .010 .010 when I got it. The machine work's all done now. Nice idea with the tires! Thanks  
'73 Formula 400
'74 Trans Am 455

Do you guys think I should go with a different carb?  
'73 Formula 400
'74 Trans Am 455

The Q-Jet was my "weapon of choice" for twenty years, until the supply of usable cores began to really dry up. I stuck somebody's unwanted EPS 750 on mine and tuned it, and my-oh-my I have enjoyed a virtually maintainence-free decade on that. So when the Q-Jet troubles get knee-deep, I think its time to make the switch to an aftermarket carb of your choice. The current array of available carbs could be confusing though, study hard before you buy. In all truth, your streety 400 might get by with a 650 but personally I think a 750 is perfect for most 400s. Just don't use an adapter, DO use the proper intake manifold.  

69GTOby:
+1 on the overdrive trans.  Also, a cheaper way to save some gas on the highway is to put taller tires on the rear to bring down the cruising RPMs.

Yes but the taller tires don't give you the best of both worlds like the 200-4R would.  
Mark
Engine builder, located in Central Florida

F-73,,, if your budget allows, pop for a new cast crank dude! and some better forged pistons (meaning lighter/stronger) silvolite? i havent heard that name in years,, those and trws ARE great for a stock budgeted rebuild but heavy imo, you could get off the rack .040 over ross pistons, a 4.00 stroke new cast crank and yeild 434 cid.. or a new cast crank in 3.75 stroke (stock) and get around 408 cubes your choice my friend, personally, go bigger.. stop light warriors love to pick a fight with the dual snorkle f-birds and a torquey mild stroker with little more rumpity rump cam and the 200-4r would keep you cruisin and bruisin! good luck!  
Widetrack,Superduty,Ram-Air.The chief will never die!

I actually found a good deal on an engine kit with trw speed-pro forged pistons. I'm considering that. And I am a huge 428 fan and I like the idea of the 428 crank, but I'm on a tight budget and all the machine work has been done already.  
'73 Formula 400
'74 Trans Am 455

Arent 225 60 s small for any midsize f body ?  245 60 or 215 70 for gto is good.  Some even go 225 70 , but on 15 theyre a bit big.  
Carlos
70 Lemans(GTO Clone),406,Solid Cam 218 single pattern, 105 LSA
Serious Hobbyist

I have 275/60/15 on the rear of my car on 15x7 rally's.  That is about the biggest tire I could squeeze in my wheel well on my 7" wheel.  

225 is pretty narrow.  235 or 245 is better, wider and affordable.  60 is a good aspect ratio.  70 would be better (taller) for cruising to bring down the cruising RPM.  Obviously an overdrive trans would be more ideal, but also costly and a considerable amount of work.

I would just throw the engine together with what you have.  You can always go back and change it.  I don't know about you, but I am ready to go driving.  The good weather is on it's way!  
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1969 GTO resto in progress. '76 350+.060, #13 heads, 9.2:1 CR, Lunati cam, Edelbrock Performer, 750 Holley, HEI, Ram Air manifolds, 2 1/2" exhaust. TH400 trans w/shift kit and 2400 stall.  235/60/15 front, 275/60/15 rear on Rally II 15X7s.  GM 12 bolt posi with 3.73's.