Im still a newbie so bear with me... what do they refer to when they say block? ... and please explain what they mean by small, big, short, and long blocks. Thank you :D

"Blocks" are just a fancy term for engines. It was mainly used in the older days when muscle cars ruled the streets. When they say "small block", it used to refer to engines that were in sizes up to 350 cid (but now the Z06 427 is the largest small block). "Big blocks" were engines that were larger than "small blocks". "Short blocks" I believe were engines that were quite compact and didn't need a very long front end to house it while "long blocks" are just the opposite. But in general, "blocks" are just another way of describing engines.

So big/small blocks only refer to muscle cars? .. and what does cid represent?

"block" refers to the engine block.

"Cid" refers to the total spacial volume of the cylinders in cubic inches.

oh i see now.. thanks guys

"Blocks" are just a fancy term for engines. It was mainly used in the older days when muscle cars ruled the streets. When they say "small block", it used to refer to engines that were in sizes up to 350 cid (but now the Z06 427 is the largest small block). "Big blocks" were engines that were larger than "small blocks". "Short blocks" I believe were engines that were quite compact and didn't need a very long front end to house it while "long blocks" are just the opposite. But in general, "blocks" are just another way of describing engines.That's actually pretty much all incorrect, I'm sorry to say. A block is literally the chunk of metal that the cylinders are cut into.

Still the block is more then just a name, while all Chevy small block engines are not the same they are all based off the same block.

In the same way the Ford small block is different then the Chevy small block but all Ford small blocks are the same.

Chevy has been using the same basic block which is mainly just the spacing sizes for a long, along time.

A Chevy smallblock typically ranges between 283 cubic inches to 427 cubic inches.

Thanks for the clarity ^^;. In the sense I hear "block", I always think it's the engine as a whole. Also, has the 427 always been considered a small block?

Thanks for the clarity ^^;. In the sense I hear "block", I always think it's the engine as a whole. Also, has the 427 always been considered a small block?

You can have 427 small blocks, and you can have 427 big blocks. Block size does not dictate displacement, although it does have a very large impact on what you can do.

A 427 small block would have thinner walls because the cylinders have been bored out close to the limit, and thus less durable to high stress applications such as forced induction. However a 427 big block would have much larger walls, as the cylinder size won't have reached the limit, and therefore would have no problem with stress.

A 427 can be a smallblock or a big block, it just depends on the bore (the diameter of the cylinder) and the stroke (the length of the cylinder) which are a result of the type of piston and arm you use.

So you could do it either way.

Oh, I see now. Even I learned something new and interesting from this topic (^_^).

The term big block or small block just refers to a family of engines, not a specific displacement.

Oh, and a long block is a regular engine block without any of the top end components but does include the pistons.

As always, if someone finds me in error about anything I'd want to be the first to know.

lol damn :-k ... so basically the block is the cylinder? ... and if the displacement doesnt increase, how is it still considered to be bigger? im confused now :confused:

I knew what a block was but I never knew when something was a small block or a big block. You learn something knew every day...

That something new should be the while loop in Java but I'm currently eating a cajun chicken wrap and not giving a shít. It's stinking out my classroom though, I'm making everyone else unhappy.

lol damn :-k ... so basically the block is the cylinder? ... and if the displacement doesnt increase, how is it still considered to be bigger? im confused now :confused:
This is an engine block.
http://www.dartheads.com/imagelib/Alum%20Chev%20Small%20Block.jpg

An engine block is the actual metal that the pistons are shaped into. The engine block you see happens to be a Chevy small block, which is basically a family of blocks that share the same dimensions.

When we talk about size, two things are getting you confused.

A Chevy small block has smaller dimensions then a Chevy big block in terms of the actual size of the block. That's the physical size.

Then there is displacement. An engine can have different displacements, which is basically the area inside the cylinders where the combustion takes place. A big block typically has a larger displacement then a small block because it has larger dimensions to begin with but since this is adjustable there is no fixed rule. However a big block is capable of much larger displacements as a function of it's larger size, and for your purposes consider a big block always to be larger then a small block.

This is a big block, I don't know if you can actually tell but if you can see you find the two things I mentioned compared to the previous picture of a smallblock. First, the actual physical size is bigger. Then you can see that the cylinder size is also larger, that's the displacement.
http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/blocks/6packshort.jpg

Oh, and Chookes if you need help with Java I'm pretty good with that or C++ so make a thread.

Hey bossesjoe, couldn't you find a chevy big block picture? Why put a small block chevy (just block with no internals is a short block by the way) on here, and then use a dodge for the big block (this one is a long block because the rotating and reciprocating parts are assembled)

CID in these engines refers to Cubic Inch Displacement. This is how much air is moven in one cycle of a given engine. This is not a differentiating factor in deciding big block or small block, bit Big blocks are often larger in displacement. Big blocks are simply larger/heavier bottom ends. They are usually a wider V construction, and are stronger do to a larger amount of construction material (cast iron in most cases). Because of the larger construction the big block can often be opened up to a larger CID, like the chevy 572 crate engine.

Hey bossesjoe, couldn't you find a chevy big block picture? Why put a small block chevy (just block with no internals is a short block by the way) on here, and then use a dodge for the big block (this one is a long block because the rotating and reciprocating parts are assembled)I just used a block picture because Merc was mistaking the term block to mean entire engine so I figured showing him a picture of what an actual "block" looked like would help.

Wow, you're spot on with the call about the Dodge Block, what gives it away? I used that picture because it's from the same basic angle and gives a comparison for size so Merc could see visually that a big block is actually physically bigger then a small block.

It's hard to explain these things when you're not actually standing around an engine.

Edit: I bet the orange gives it away, doesn't it

Wow, you're spot on with the call about the Dodge Block, what gives it away?

A blind man, on a moonless nite could have seen the difference. the distributor is placed vertically in the back on a chevy big block (the distributor is actually interchangable with the small block on generation IV big blocks), and is in the front at an angle on the dodge. Also the dual water ports on both sides where a water pump would bolt up just screams dodge(chevy has one on either side). Then there is the difference in where the fuel pump mounts (higher on the dodge). I will not even get into the different oil passageways or lifter saddles because I have already lost most of the readers on here


BTW the origional engine color in my 70 chevelle SS 396 big block was orange

A blind man, on a moonless nite could have seen the difference. the distributor is placed vertically in the back on a chevy big block (the distributor is actually interchangable with the small block on generation IV big blocks), and is in the front at an angle on the dodge. Also the dual water ports on both sides where a water pump would bolt up just screams dodge(chevy has one on either side). Then there is the difference in where the fuel pump mounts (higher on the dodge). I will not even get into the different oil passageways or lifter saddles because I have already lost most of the readers on hereWow, I really should have seen the distributor but the other stuff I had no idea about. Thanks.

I'd love to hear about the oil passageways and lifter saddles if you have the time too.


BTW the original engine color in my 70 chevelle SS 396 big block was orangeYea, I just felt that it might the first thing you said so I thought it throw it out there.

Heretic that is a Short block, not a long block. A short block has the rotating assembly installed and a long block has the rotating assembly installed and heads.

Heretic that is a Short block, not a long block. A short block has the rotating assembly installed and a long block has the rotating assembly installed and heads.

This has always been my understanding. When you order a longblock from Panhandle Performance, just for example, they will ask what heads you (AFR's, Edelbrocks etc.) want.

my bad and sorry for any confusion. That is what you would call a brain fart

Thanks for all the info guys

When they say "small block", it used to refer to engines that were in sizes up to 350 cid (but now the Z06 427 is the largest small block). "Big blocks" were engines that were larger than "small blocks".Small blocks back in the 'old days' were up to 400 ci not 350. (side note: if you hear someone talk about a Chevy 400 big block it's actually a 402) Small blocks can now be ordered much larger than 427. 434 is a common crate motor and 472 is possible. Big blocks aren't always bigger than small blocks. The 396 is a big block (smaller than a 400). One thing to remember (I'm not sure if anyone's said this yet) is that a block is a block... Meaning that a 427 small block takes up the same amount of room as a 265 small block. A 396 big block takes up the same general amount of room as a 572 big block. Depending on the application and whether or not the 572 has dual distributors.

This has always been my understanding. When you order a longblock from Panhandle Performance, just for example, they will ask what heads you (AFR's, Edelbrocks etc.) want.

Yep, oh you know of Panhandle Performance aswell ? Cool.

my bad and sorry for any confusion. That is what you would call a brain fart

Can't hate you for it ;) You're one of the guys I learn quite of bit from heh.

Can't hate you for it ;) You're one of the guys I learn quite of bit from heh.It might have slipped Heretic's mind but I actually didn't know that so thanks guys.

Sweet man, glad I can be of help sometimes!

dodge can really confuse you though because they have small blocks, big blocks, and real big blocks. small blocks for dodges are 318, 340, 360. big blocks are 383 and 400 and the real big ones are 440 426 and 413. the shrt block is the block and rotating assembly and the long block is short block plus heads on it.

dodge can really confuse you though because they have small blocks, big blocks, and real big blocks. small blocks for dodges are 318, 340, 360. big blocks are 383 and 400 and the real big ones are 440 426 and 413. the shrt block is the block and rotating assembly and the long block is short block plus heads on it.

You are missing a couple the 272 (often mistakenly called a 273) a 304 AAR racing engine designed to compete with the 302 Z28 camaro, and the boss 302 mustang, and the 392 hemi. There was also two distinctly different 426 engines as well. There was the 426 hemi, and the 426 max wedge

yeah and if you want to get serious there are 2 different slant 6 motors to. then you have a 361 and a lot more but i was sticking to the basic well known motors that mopar produced. but you could only get the 426 max wedge from 63 to 65.

I have seen and built lot of stroked engines with a 360 crank in a 340 block, resulting in a 372 small block