What is your definition of a small block ?
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Block is the lower portion of a motor. So then the width between each cylinder don't make a bit of differance. In the mod motor world a 4.6 BLOCK would be a small block and the 5.4 BLOCK would be a big block (since it is physically bigger then a 4.6) The mods motors get a little fuzzy when comparing them to pushrod motors............
Some of you guys are making this more difficult then it is. I've said it once and I'll say it again..........A small block has a SMALLER BLOCK then a BIG BLOCK. PERIOD!! no matter what CID it is or what cyliders it has on it.
A small block Chevy (350cid) with Arden (hemi) heads on it is still a small block even thogh it is as wide (at the cylinder head) as a big block chevy.
Some of you guys are making this more difficult then it is. I've said it once and I'll say it again..........A small block has a SMALLER BLOCK then a BIG BLOCK. PERIOD!! no matter what CID it is or what cyliders it has on it.
A small block Chevy (350cid) with Arden (hemi) heads on it is still a small block even thogh it is as wide (at the cylinder head) as a big block chevy.
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I'll try this again
Chevy:
SBC 265 inch to 400 inch all the same engine family
BBC 366 inch to 510 all the same engine family
348-409 (and she's real fine) sort of chevys first edition big block, little or no interchangeability
LS series aproximately 346 to 427 all they have in common with the sbc is the bore centerline. A great motor, which when stripped down the block is light enough to walk around with. generally considerred a small block
Mopar:
272 to 400 inch small block
383 inch to 500 big block (both hemi and wedge)
Ford:
Windsor family small block 221 inch to 351
Cleveland family small block 302 to 400 inch
Big block 352- 429 wedge, semi hemi and SOHC
4.6 5.4 SOHC, DOHC which is generally considerred the new generation small block ford
y-block 412 and ? fords first big block, little or no interchangeability.
These are the most common size engines, there are others. But as you can see a small block or big block refers only to the family of engines.
The easiest way to tech this stuff is either to run a claim series which is sort of self policing, or do like NASA, they run on a HORSEPOWER to weight ratio, at the end of the day the car gets weighed and dyno'd, if it's not within 10% the car is illegal. then there's the more common P&G which is most popular in drag racing.
Another NASCAR note, the rule book now states the minumum cubic inc h as 350, Waltrip ran something like a 319 inch engine and because it was more efficient with the restrictor plate it made the same HP as the others, but got way better mileage. That was before all the cars became identical along with all the engines and drivers, and IMO has gone completely down the crapper. The only difference between cars is a few internal engine parts and the headlight decals.
Chevy:
SBC 265 inch to 400 inch all the same engine family
BBC 366 inch to 510 all the same engine family
348-409 (and she's real fine) sort of chevys first edition big block, little or no interchangeability
LS series aproximately 346 to 427 all they have in common with the sbc is the bore centerline. A great motor, which when stripped down the block is light enough to walk around with. generally considerred a small block
Mopar:
272 to 400 inch small block
383 inch to 500 big block (both hemi and wedge)
Ford:
Windsor family small block 221 inch to 351
Cleveland family small block 302 to 400 inch
Big block 352- 429 wedge, semi hemi and SOHC
4.6 5.4 SOHC, DOHC which is generally considerred the new generation small block ford
y-block 412 and ? fords first big block, little or no interchangeability.
These are the most common size engines, there are others. But as you can see a small block or big block refers only to the family of engines.
The easiest way to tech this stuff is either to run a claim series which is sort of self policing, or do like NASA, they run on a HORSEPOWER to weight ratio, at the end of the day the car gets weighed and dyno'd, if it's not within 10% the car is illegal. then there's the more common P&G which is most popular in drag racing.
Another NASCAR note, the rule book now states the minumum cubic inc h as 350, Waltrip ran something like a 319 inch engine and because it was more efficient with the restrictor plate it made the same HP as the others, but got way better mileage. That was before all the cars became identical along with all the engines and drivers, and IMO has gone completely down the crapper. The only difference between cars is a few internal engine parts and the headlight decals.
Last edited by blacksheep-1; Jan 31, 2008 at 04:37 PM.
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You can thank me later...
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I started a new thread in here and moved the posts talking about the race discussion to it so this can go back to the sb / bb discussion.
Here you go:
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/f...-thread-2.html
Thanks
Here you go:
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/f...-thread-2.html
Thanks
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 389
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A bit off topic but while searching for a better definition of SB/BB I found this interesting innovation (cheat is such a harsh word).
"From NASCAR, in the late 70s and thru the early 80s, from about the time they transitioned from big block to small block engines, there was an engine shop in Michigan that was building, for some top-flight teams, something that became known as the "big block small block." Another piece of whizbang engineering, the guy had engineered a small-block Chevy engine so that the front two cylinders were of legal bore for the maximum 358ci (6.0L), but the back six cylinders were bored out to where the engine totalled in the neighborhood of 430ci (7.0L). When inspectors would pump-check the engines after a race, they would always pull the spark plug on the No. 1 cylinder (or the crew would already have it pulled for them). This went on for a long time with the perps not getting caught. I believe when Petty got his 198th or 199th win at Rockingham in the early 80s, and there was the controversy about his engine being oversize was when someone in the post race tech line got wind of it and checked the volume on a rear cylinder."
"From NASCAR, in the late 70s and thru the early 80s, from about the time they transitioned from big block to small block engines, there was an engine shop in Michigan that was building, for some top-flight teams, something that became known as the "big block small block." Another piece of whizbang engineering, the guy had engineered a small-block Chevy engine so that the front two cylinders were of legal bore for the maximum 358ci (6.0L), but the back six cylinders were bored out to where the engine totalled in the neighborhood of 430ci (7.0L). When inspectors would pump-check the engines after a race, they would always pull the spark plug on the No. 1 cylinder (or the crew would already have it pulled for them). This went on for a long time with the perps not getting caught. I believe when Petty got his 198th or 199th win at Rockingham in the early 80s, and there was the controversy about his engine being oversize was when someone in the post race tech line got wind of it and checked the volume on a rear cylinder."
363=6.0L. and they still check cylinders like that.
the real question is, is there actually a difference big to small block wise or is it a "wideblock" world. 351w and 351c r the same motor cubic inch wise, but the cleveland is a wider block.
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if i may, 358 is not a 6.0, a 358 ci engine is 5.8 liter. 360= 5.9l
363=6.0L. and they still check cylinders like that.
the real question is, is there actually a difference big to small block wise or is it a "wideblock" world. 351w and 351c r the same motor cubic inch wise, but the cleveland is a wider block.
363=6.0L. and they still check cylinders like that.
the real question is, is there actually a difference big to small block wise or is it a "wideblock" world. 351w and 351c r the same motor cubic inch wise, but the cleveland is a wider block.
The Cleveland is a wider block than the Windsor but Ford still called it a small block. In a earlier post I mentioned the 352 that is supposedly a big block. How do the actual block sizes compare between the windsor/cleveland/352FE?
