big block small block

[smith_400ex_213]

whats the differnece between a small block and a big block

[represent618]

Cubic Inches. Sometimes cylinder degree/stroke.

[iceracer65]

well on the chevy the engine is completely different. the block heads intake everything.


where the tranny bolts up is the same tho...even for the 4.3 sixes...it uses the same clutch too. kinda cool!

[jdb8297]

WOW! I've find a post where someone is talking about something I know about! What exactly what big block or small block or you talking about FORD CHEVY CHRYSLER! THEIRS a huge differece in all of them but there are some parts that will interchange not many but the most common part is lifters just depends on which one. You got cam questions I got answers!

[250R-Dee]

There are a lot of differences! Deck height, journal size, engine capacity and so forth.

Pontiacs are classified as large journal and small journal instead of big block/small block. This deals with the crank journals.

Don't let displacment fool you because a 396 Chevy (big block) is TONS more powerful than a 400 Chevy (small block). The biggest differences are the amount of money needed to build the engines and power range. Small block Chevy's are cheap to build and usually rev higher and quicker than the big blocks. Big Blocks offer "STUMP PULLING" power so they are excellent choices for heavy cars over 3500 pounds.

[KFX21]

Don't let displacment fool you because a 396 Chevy (big block) is TONS more powerful than a 400 Chevy (small block). The biggest differences are the amount of money needed to build the engines and power range. Small block Chevy's are cheap to build and usually rev higher and quicker than the big blocks. Big Blocks offer "STUMP PULLING" power so they are excellent choices for heavy cars over 3500 pounds. [/B][/QUOTE]

Not to start an argument but i disagree, i can build you a 400 that will run circles around a 396. You are correct about the amount of money needed to build each but with so many circle track racers using 400's there are alot more performance parts available to build the 400. I can take a 400 and turn it into a 434 with 750HP with a carb only and no nitrous. I requires a 4in crank 13:1's, 6 in rods, splayed caps, air flow research heads with 2:10 and 1:75 valve, a huge roller cam ( about 650 lift ) ported, polished, decked, balanced and blueprinted. Now this motor, which i have in my limited late model, runs off of alcohol, but it still puts out the same power if i run it off of Sunoco race fuel, i have to change carbs though.

[250R-Dee]

Which will be more streetable? A 750whp small block or a 750whp big block? Probably neither if they are NA with long duration roller cams and running on Alky, Race fuel or Nitro Methane.

You know what I was try to point out.....hahahaha

What carbs are you running? Barry Grant?


My NA days are over. Boost is too much damn fun. If I ever come back to the land of Cherry pies and Fresh water fishing I will most definitely build me something big and box with a boosted motor.

'57 Chevy with twin turbo 454
'39 Merc with a Mazda 20B and a BIG snail (T88)
'54 Ford F100 truck with boosted 351C or 428
'60's Catalina with a boosted and injected 421
Studebaker with a Nissan RB30DETT (RB30 bloch with RB26DETT head)

Oops.. sorry about that. I always get carried away when I daydream about cars:chinese:

[KFX21]

As for a carb, i run a Carburator Specialties Holley 1150 Dominator.

Wow, that guys from Japan.:huh

[WEEZIL]

Keep this discussion going. As a gear head in the making. I could stand to learn some... As for turbos being fun. I could not agree more so. Just hearing engine.. then swsshhhhhhhhhhhhhh and being stuk to your seat so hard.. I still need to ride in something thats' blown or *supercharged*.

[mx400]

i hate to tell you but the 400 sb you are refering to could be slower. i am not arguing but more disagreeing. a 396 will walk around a 400 any day of the week. as long as the same amount of time and effort is put into each. if you build one different than the other it will loose. but then you also have to look into power/weight ratio of vehicle, tranny ratious, gear ratios, tire heights, unsprung weight, and the rest of that good stuff.

I personally would only use a big block for a full blown drag car or if I wanted to be different. in the 87 K5 I have I had a potent 502 Chevy BB in it and didn't mind it except the front end would sag quite a bit because the BB weighs so much more than my old SB. Well as it goes on the 502 comes out and a nice 355 goes back in w/ goodies. I will use a small block over a big block for one main reason, WEIGHT! the SB is so much freaking lighter its not even funny.

[Screamin440]

A 396 may run better than a 400 but you also have to consider the years that the motors were manufactured. A 396 was produced before smog came into play. The 400 was a smog motor so it's not fair to compare the motors. If you put a set of aftermarket heads that flow just as well as the heads off of a 396 and give them the same compression ratio and I guarantee that the 400 will whip that 396.

Also, if you try and rev up a 396 you'll spin the main bearings.

[KFX21]

As far as i know the 396 and 400 have the same stroke ( 3.75 ) and the stroke is what builds all your torque. As i said before stock for stock the 396 does run better and makes alot more power, the 400 was designed to be a grocery getter not a high HP motor, thats why you did'nt see them in Camaro's and others. You mostly seen them in 3/4 ton trucks and stationwagons. I will still stick to taking a 396 and 400 and use the exact same compression, exact same cam, heads that flow the same, and the same fuel and the 400 will be faster and build as much torque.

ok is my truck a big block? and how many cubic inches is it? Yes I am an idiot when it comes to vehicle motors. it's a chevy 8.1

[KFX21]

Yes sir it is, is it gasoline or diesel? It's probably a 454 if it's a gas engine.

[SixthFloorFreak]

the 454 is a 7.4...the 8.1 comes out to like 496 or something like that

it's gas and not a 454 but I thought it calculated out to 496 but I hear people talk about a GM 502 or somthing like that crate motor or something and was wondering if it was the same thing.

[mx400]

496 is an 8.1 and the 502 is an 8.2 i do belive. the 502 is one of the biggest street engines chevy produces. the biggest engine that chevy makes right now is a 696 ci marine engine. So far I have only seen one street car use it and that is my friends' bosses' 67 chevelle ss.

[baker250r]

Originally posted by TRX250RJapan
There are a lot of differences! Deck height, journal size, engine capacity and so forth.

Pontiacs are classified as large journal and small journal instead of big block/small block. This deals with the crank journals.

Don't let displacment fool you because a 396 Chevy (big block) is TONS more powerful than a 400 Chevy (small block). The biggest differences are the amount of money needed to build the engines and power range. Small block Chevy's are cheap to build and usually rev higher and quicker than the big blocks. Big Blocks offer "STUMP PULLING" power so they are excellent choices for heavy cars over 3500 pounds.


True, but a 327 built right will anhilate a 396. they rev faster.

[PeeWee21]

I will say that with the infusion of cubic dollars you can build a faster big block but for the average person a small block is a lot cheaper to biuld a get more power than a big block. Alot of people are decieved when they here a car has a big block, they automatically think 5 to 600 HP when in fact it could'nt be further from the truth. My brother in law built a 453 cu. in. small block all aluminum race motor and on the dyno it produced 823 HP and 789 lbs of torque, now this ain't your average small block, it's an all aluminum Dart block, SB-2 heads that are from a Hendricks motorsports motor ( and yes i can prove it ) SB-2 Hendricks intake, 6.250 Carillo rods, and a bunch of other stuff i don't feel like listing. The main thing is, have someone that knows how to get HP out of the small block ( Hendricks did build his motor and done all the testing and i can prove all of this with the build sheet) and their limits are far beyond what people give them.