400 crank, machine the nose, turn the rod journals down to 2.100" use 5.7" 350 chevy rods and stock 351w pistons. Brings the package to 9.479" and the deck height of the early w blocks is 9.48...later ones are 9.50".


that's the OLD SCHOOL way to make a 408. Rod/stroke ratio sucks and the 5.7 rods are weak. By today's standards, it ain't worth it. You can buy a powerhouse kit for $699 now and be done with it.