Author Topic: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay  (Read 18256 times)

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Offline Sniper X

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #25 on: July 13, 2012, 09:36:50 AM »
Will the 400 head bolt up to a 350?
1973 CB350 Four, 1969 CL350 Scrambler (2) 1985 BMW R80RT.

Offline camelman

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #26 on: July 13, 2012, 10:59:10 AM »
Sniper,

The oil holes on the left and right sides of the head won't line up without some metal work, and you'll need to swap out some of the engine studs to shorter ones.  The cylinder diameters are different too, so the combustion dome will overlap the cylinder walls and you might need a custome cylinder head gasket.  Compression ratio will also be slightly decreased.  For these reasons, if you are going to swap a 400 head onto a 350 engine, then swap the cylinders too.  I think that will require opening up the holes in the upper case on the 350f to accept the larger 400 cylinder liners though... again... a headache.  A complete engine swap would be easier.

Try porting out the 350f head instead.  It'll provide a lot more power than the stock head and won't create all the fitment issues of force fitting a 400 head and cylinders to your 350 block.  The big difference between the two heads is better flow on the 400f and larger intake valves.  You can easily fix the airflow issue by porting the 350f head.  The displacement of the 350f doesn't really justify the larger intake valves for street use though.  You'd need to run higher revs to really benefit from increasing the intake valve size, and you probably don't drive around like that anyway.  If you are looking at power, then stick to the porting for a quick power increase in the streetable RPM range.

One of the early posts in this thread referenced another thread where a bunch of us commented on how to make more power out of these engines.  We all seemed to be in agreement on how to do it, so you'd do well to read that post.

Camelman
1972 350f rider: sold
1972 350f/466f cafe: for sale
1977 CB400f cafe:sold
1975 CB400f rider: sold
1970 CB750 K0 complete bike: sold
2005 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 rider

We've got to cut it off... and then come down on rockets.  (quoted from: seven minutes of terror)

Offline crazypj

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #27 on: July 13, 2012, 11:01:25 AM »
Haven't used a kit but I built a 490 conversion that didn't have any problems except clutch slip with stock springs

Hey PJ, What parts did you use to build up the 490cc engine?

Fitted 500f liners to block and modified 56mm pistons, don't remember details, it was late 80's
I fake being smart pretty good
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Offline Sniper X

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #28 on: July 13, 2012, 11:54:31 AM »
Sniper,

The oil holes on the left and right sides of the head won't line up without some metal work, and you'll need to swap out some of the engine studs to shorter ones.  The cylinder diameters are different too, so the combustion dome will overlap the cylinder walls and you might need a custome cylinder head gasket.  Compression ratio will also be slightly decreased.  For these reasons, if you are going to swap a 400 head onto a 350 engine, then swap the cylinders too.  I think that will require opening up the holes in the upper case on the 350f to accept the larger 400 cylinder liners though... again... a headache.  A complete engine swap would be easier.

Try porting out the 350f head instead.  It'll provide a lot more power than the stock head and won't create all the fitment issues of force fitting a 400 head and cylinders to your 350 block.  The big difference between the two heads is better flow on the 400f and larger intake valves.  You can easily fix the airflow issue by porting the 350f head.  The displacement of the 350f doesn't really justify the larger intake valves for street use though.  You'd need to run higher revs to really benefit from increasing the intake valve size, and you probably don't drive around like that anyway.  If you are looking at power, then stick to the porting for a quick power increase in the streetable RPM range.

One of the early posts in this thread referenced another thread where a bunch of us commented on how to make more power out of these engines.  We all seemed to be in agreement on how to do it, so you'd do well to read that post.

Camelman
Thanks for clearing that up! I wasn't really considering it but wondered if they bolted right up.
1973 CB350 Four, 1969 CL350 Scrambler (2) 1985 BMW R80RT.

Offline camelman

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #29 on: July 13, 2012, 12:08:53 PM »
Someone else might be able to chime in on directly dropping a 400 block onto the 350 case without enlarging the cylinder openings. I have one of each engine apart right now, but doubt I'll have time to check fitment for a few weeks.

I'm interested to hear about that 490!!
1972 350f rider: sold
1972 350f/466f cafe: for sale
1977 CB400f cafe:sold
1975 CB400f rider: sold
1970 CB750 K0 complete bike: sold
2005 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 rider

We've got to cut it off... and then come down on rockets.  (quoted from: seven minutes of terror)

Offline crazypj

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #30 on: July 13, 2012, 03:55:06 PM »
I remember it was the only '400' I've ever ridden that would wheelie in second gear straight off the throttle (I hate abusing clutch)
Take it 6 grand chop and then just give it full throttle (loads front suspension and comes right up when you re-accelerate)
I fake being smart pretty good
'you can take my word for it or argue until you find out I'm right'

Offline Sparked

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #31 on: July 13, 2012, 08:56:39 PM »
Reason I was thinking of using this kit on a 350f engine is I have 1.5 that are in need of a rebuild that are my spares.  And it would defiantly wake up the little engine. All I need to find is a 400f top end with a stuck piston cheap.....
1972 CB350F
1982 CM450A
1961 Ford Falcon (time for four wheels)

Offline classic bike tuner

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #32 on: July 14, 2012, 02:38:51 AM »
you can take the liners from a 400 and fit them in a 350 cilinder and then bore these for the 460 pistons
then you keep your 350 looks  but its more work

if you need 400 liners i have a lot of them  :P

Offline Sparked

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #33 on: July 16, 2012, 07:43:58 AM »
How much would a set of 400f  liners cost me?  having a stock looking 350f engine that isn't would be a fun build.
1972 CB350F
1982 CM450A
1961 Ford Falcon (time for four wheels)

Offline Calumjs

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #34 on: October 19, 2016, 02:36:43 AM »
Firing up an old thread but I just got my 466 eBay kit ad I'm wondering what size I get my machine shop to bore my cylinders to?  I'm guessing 54.5?

Offline -CB-Jamie-

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #35 on: October 19, 2016, 05:39:21 AM »
I think the machine shop measured my pistons and bored to suit. 54.5 sounds about right though.
I had to go down from #75 to #70 mains as well.
72 CB350/4
76 CB400/4 CB400f "Project Resurrection"
77 CB550/4 1977 CB550 Yet Another Cafe
77 cb200
09 cbf600

Offline Calumjs

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #36 on: October 19, 2016, 02:14:51 PM »
Thanks for the reply, I was surprised that there was no paperwork with the piston kit with all those details on it. Does the machine shop just need to measure the piston or do I need to install the rings onto the pistons for them to measure too?

Offline Bodi

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Re: CB400F - 466cc big bore kit on eBay
« Reply #37 on: October 19, 2016, 03:42:06 PM »
Just the pistons. You gap the rings in the finished bore.