There seems to be a varied definition of small blocks these days. Heck even sites like Wikipedia gives different definitions.

My understanding is that anything under 360ci is a small block.

Thoughts ?



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IMO a smallblock is just that...........smaller block. 302 based 427 (Dart block) is still a small block. 289.302.351W......all small blocks no matter what CID they are punched out to.

Same goes for big blocks.

 

Well chevy had both a big block and small block 400


So did Dodge. So I guess it is in the measure of the block it self not the cubes....??? No clue other then that

 

ford 289 302 351 chevy 305 350 400 and that is weird that chevy made a 400 big and small block ... my buddy had a little beefy 400 s/b in a k-5 blazer and that thing was pretty rank. but yeah small block is just a smaller block .

 

Interesting question Scott. I googled it several ways and found lots of conflicting information. A couple of sites (including the Wikipedia FE engine entry) indicate the Y-block, Windsor and Cleveland as "small Block", the FE series as "medium block" and the MEL, 385-series as "big block".

So would it be safe to say that it has nothing to do with CI and everything to do with actual block size? I'm confused now. Need more beer....

 

how ever many CID you can stuff in a "5.0 physical size block" it's still a "small block"

 

overall size is not a definate either. after all a 4.6 v-valve is bigger than a 460

 

i think 475" in a 351 block is still a small block in my eyes

 

I was always under the impression, can't remember from where, but it's not actually the blaock but head config I.E 351 cleveland big block, 351 windsor small block

 

Not being brand specific here, looking for some kind of overall rule.