Small Block Vs Big Block. - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

cdrazic93 · 05-10-2015, 03:12 PM

Whats the difference? I know chevy has a ton of small blocks, 350, 400, 383.

Then the 396 that came in the chevelle SS was considered a big block? wat.

Ford has a 351, thats a small block and a 352 is a big block? Im confused.

Porcupint · 05-10-2015, 03:28 PM

Big blocks are heavier, contain more metal, can withstand higher compression and heat, and are also generally more durable. The blocks have the cylinders further apart.

Rampage · 05-10-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Whats the difference? I know chevy has a ton of small blocks, 350, 400, 383.

Then the 396 that came in the chevelle SS was considered a big block? wat.

Ford has a 351, thats a small block and a 352 is a big block? Im confused.

You forgot the Chevy 348 cu in BIG BLOCK!

themadscientist · 05-10-2015, 04:34 PM

Should cover it.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPZuEWli4gQ"]Big Block and Small Block what's the differance - YouTube[/ame]

pushrod · 05-10-2015, 07:06 PM

The answer to this question is actually pretty vague. I watched the first part of the video but didn't like the answer it gave.

There is no standard for "small block" and "big block". Intuitively, however, you would expect a big block to be 'big' and a small block to be 'small'.

GM makes an engine called the "small block". It's a 90 degree crossplane V8 with overhead valves and pushrods. They also make one called the "big block" which is very similar, but bigger. This is a lot like a couple having two boys and naming them "old son" and "young son". Indeed, the young one is younger than the old one.

Both GM engines had displacement increases over the years, so the small block went from an initial 265CI to 400CI, and even 454CI in aftermarket. The big block went from 396CI, down to 366CI, then up to 496CI, and to the moon in the aftermarket.

The video talks about differences between the valve angles, positioning of the intake and exhaust ports, etc. This has nothing to do with "small" versus "big", and is actually just a comparison between the two GM V8s in question.

When the small block came out, it was considered a compact engine, especially for its displacement and power. Calling it a small block made total sense wrt marketing. Then when the big block came out in the 60s, big was considered good, and it is bigger than the small block, so they called it the big block.

Some people refer to certain Ford V8s as "big block Ford" engines. In this case, it's really just a slang way of saying "big ass V8 made by Ford". Ford has used the same inches for different engine families, so you may hear of a 351 "big block" or "small block". A 351 Windsor would probably be the "small block", while a 351 Cleveland would be a "big block" (might need to fact check that though).

As far as I can tell, no one besides GM has officially embraced "small block" and "big block".

Teseo · 05-10-2015, 07:25 PM

For me Dodge make the big block more nasty, i mean hemi cylinder with high comp
Nice video also, very informative
Big is always better, ask any women

computeruser · 05-10-2015, 07:49 PM

Wikipedia actually has some decent write-ups about the history of the various block designs from Ford, GM, and maybe AMC. A bit of link-following there should provide a solid education.

Remember that there are essentially three main things at work here when people refer to a big block/small block of X displacement: the actual engine block itself (which can be big, small, industrial, medium/heavy truck-size, marine, etc.) and then there are the bore and stroke measurements which in combination creates the displacement. So you can have different blocks which, through different bore and stroke measurements, all yield the same displacement. Differences in application call for big/small block choices, favor RPM over torque, seeking a block with a lot of metal in it versus a lighter (or aluminum) one, or seek out a rod/crank/piston setup with lighter reciprocating mass, etc.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_FE_engine"]Ford FE engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

This link has a bit of history about one of the "medium-block" Ford engines, but also has a chart at the bottom relating to Ford v-8 engine bore spacing, which might be helpful in getting a sense of the dimensional constraints of the different blocks.

themadscientist · 05-11-2015, 07:08 AM

Big block versus small block Nissan.

Tcoat · 05-11-2015, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadscientist

Big block versus small block Nissan.

Pretty much sums it up in two pictures.

Dave-ROR · 05-11-2015, 08:38 AM

Really it's the physical size of the block. Gm big blocks did use a different pushrods/valve angle I'm fairly sure but that's not specifically meaningful.

The big block in my burb makes nice torques.

05-10-2015, 03:12 PM	#1
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Small Block Vs Big Block. Whats the difference? I know chevy has a ton of small blocks, 350, 400, 383. Then the 396 that came in the chevelle SS was considered a big block? wat. Ford has a 351, thats a small block and a 352 is a big block? Im confused. __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

05-11-2015, 08:38 AM	#10
Dave-ROR Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Drives: Stuff Location: Florida Posts: 10,317 Thanks: 955 Thanked 5,965 Times in 2,689 Posts Mentioned: 262 Post(s) Tagged: 8 Thread(s)	Really it's the physical size of the block. Gm big blocks did use a different pushrods/valve angle I'm fairly sure but that's not specifically meaningful. The big block in my burb makes nice torques. __________________ -Dave Track cars: 2013 Scion FRS, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback DD: 2005 Acura TSX Tow: 2022 F-450 Toys: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Parts: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited, 2005 Acura TSX Projects: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited track car build FS: 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 LT CCSB 8.1/Allison with 99k miles

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05-10-2015, 03:28 PM	#2
Porcupint Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Drives: 13 GBS BRZ Location: TX Posts: 446 Thanks: 447 Thanked 233 Times in 144 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Big blocks are heavier, contain more metal, can withstand higher compression and heat, and are also generally more durable. The blocks have the cylinders further apart.

05-10-2015, 04:34 PM	#4
themadscientist Hotlink Terrorist Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: 2015 WRB BRZ Spec S Location: "Dirty South" Japan Posts: 2,077 Thanks: 1,525 Thanked 2,624 Times in 1,196 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Should cover it. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPZuEWli4gQ"]Big Block and Small Block what's the differance - YouTube[/ame]

05-10-2015, 07:06 PM	#5
pushrod Benched 86lb Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: Ultramarine FR-S Location: Ottawa Posts: 805 Thanks: 899 Thanked 927 Times in 392 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The answer to this question is actually pretty vague. I watched the first part of the video but didn't like the answer it gave. There is no standard for "small block" and "big block". Intuitively, however, you would expect a big block to be 'big' and a small block to be 'small'. GM makes an engine called the "small block". It's a 90 degree crossplane V8 with overhead valves and pushrods. They also make one called the "big block" which is very similar, but bigger. This is a lot like a couple having two boys and naming them "old son" and "young son". Indeed, the young one is younger than the old one. Both GM engines had displacement increases over the years, so the small block went from an initial 265CI to 400CI, and even 454CI in aftermarket. The big block went from 396CI, down to 366CI, then up to 496CI, and to the moon in the aftermarket. The video talks about differences between the valve angles, positioning of the intake and exhaust ports, etc. This has nothing to do with "small" versus "big", and is actually just a comparison between the two GM V8s in question. When the small block came out, it was considered a compact engine, especially for its displacement and power. Calling it a small block made total sense wrt marketing. Then when the big block came out in the 60s, big was considered good, and it is bigger than the small block, so they called it the big block. Some people refer to certain Ford V8s as "big block Ford" engines. In this case, it's really just a slang way of saying "big ass V8 made by Ford". Ford has used the same inches for different engine families, so you may hear of a 351 "big block" or "small block". A 351 Windsor would probably be the "small block", while a 351 Cleveland would be a "big block" (might need to fact check that though). As far as I can tell, no one besides GM has officially embraced "small block" and "big block".

05-10-2015, 07:25 PM	#6
Teseo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: frs Location: Gunsai Posts: 4,879 Thanks: 7,179 Thanked 2,922 Times in 1,769 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	For me Dodge make the big block more nasty, i mean hemi cylinder with high comp Nice video also, very informative Big is always better, ask any women

05-10-2015, 07:49 PM	#7
computeruser Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: 2015 BRZ Location: East Lansing MI Posts: 75 Thanks: 16 Thanked 53 Times in 28 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wikipedia actually has some decent write-ups about the history of the various block designs from Ford, GM, and maybe AMC. A bit of link-following there should provide a solid education. Remember that there are essentially three main things at work here when people refer to a big block/small block of X displacement: the actual engine block itself (which can be big, small, industrial, medium/heavy truck-size, marine, etc.) and then there are the bore and stroke measurements which in combination creates the displacement. So you can have different blocks which, through different bore and stroke measurements, all yield the same displacement. Differences in application call for big/small block choices, favor RPM over torque, seeking a block with a lot of metal in it versus a lighter (or aluminum) one, or seek out a rod/crank/piston setup with lighter reciprocating mass, etc. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_FE_engine"]Ford FE engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] This link has a bit of history about one of the "medium-block" Ford engines, but also has a chart at the bottom relating to Ford v-8 engine bore spacing, which might be helpful in getting a sense of the dimensional constraints of the different blocks.

05-11-2015, 07:08 AM	#8
themadscientist Hotlink Terrorist Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: 2015 WRB BRZ Spec S Location: "Dirty South" Japan Posts: 2,077 Thanks: 1,525 Thanked 2,624 Times in 1,196 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Big block versus small block Nissan.

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