[Tinindian6702]

Hi
i am having my 400 engine rebuilt for my 67 firebird convertible. I am just using the car for cruising and not racing. I am at the poinrt where I need to decide:
Stroker?
Aluminum heads?
It is tempting to save money but I am afraid i may be sorry down the road. Or are those options too much for a convertible just for cruising? Please let me have some pros and cons. Thanks.

[PunchT37]

It`s all up to you to decide what you want for cruising. A stock `67 400 Poncho is plenty enough for that. Your wallet will decide the rest.

[Brad Pringle]

prepped 400 appearing stock can easily get you well into the 13's plenty of power to get arrested for drag racing!

[rad400]

I would replace the rods and pistons 5140 rods TRW type pistons 068 style cam. Rebuild carb via Cliff or his book stock intake. I do mean aftermaket cam summit 2801 cam.

[Bruce Meyer]

If you are running the stock 670 heads I would take a close look at the ICON dished pistons from ACE PPR to lower compression.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Replacing the rods is a no-brainer. They don't cost much more than it does to magnaflux,polish, replace the rod bolts and re-size the stock rods. TRW pistons are a little too heavy IMO. You'd be better off with SRP or ICON. Replace the harmonic balancer. Make sure you use a Pontiac-competent machine shop. Have the block honed with torque plates. Make sure the main saddle alignment is dead-on. Keep your rod/main oil clearances to .002. Use an RAIV oil pump and you'll have plenty of oil pressure. Make sure EVERYTHING is clean when you assemble it and you'll have a docile street engine(depending on cam selection ) that will send the import jockies heading for the curb!!

[murph3204]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Replacing the rods is a no-brainer. They don't cost much more than it does to magnaflux,polish, replace the rod bolts and re-size the stock rods. TRW pistons are a little too heavy IMO. You'd be better off with SRP or ICON. Replace the harmonic balancer. Make sure you use a Pontiac-competent machine shop. Have the block honed with torque plates. Make sure the main saddle alignment is dead-on. Keep your rod/main oil clearances to .002. Use an RAIV oil pump and you'll have plenty of oil pressure. Make sure EVERYTHING is clean when you assemble it and you'll have a docile street engine(depending on cam selection ) that will send the import jockies heading for the curb!!

do you have a mfr and part number for the RAIV oil pump?

[hurryinhoosier62]

Try Ace,Butler, Paul Spotts or P-Dude. I've always used the Melling version of the RAIV oil pump. I want to say MEL-54, but don't quote me on that!!