Is there any way to tell if I have a 360 big block or small block? The guy I bought my 76 f250 highboy with a 360 said it was a 360 small block. Was there such a thing? It seems the posts always refer to an FE 360 as a big block. I'd like to buy the book " How to rebuild your ford big block" but want to make sure my 360 is truely a big block.

Thanks

 

It's all a play on words.

The 360 is part of the FE series that includes the 352, 390, 427 and 428 among other motors. most people refer to them as a big block. They are heavy and have a wide intake manifold. but they are not the same as the Big Block Fords (429, 460 etc) nor is the FE a small block (289 ,302, 351 etc).

hope that helps.

 

How about... It was a big block until the introduction of the 429/460 (or 385 series engines)

--Mike

 

It's a small big block.

 

I just say FE block and be done with it. Big block / small block is a chebby thing.

 

rusty70f100 hit the nail on the head........It's an FE, and that's all that matters. Small block, Big block are definetly a chivy term.

 

No its not even a Chevy thing..Chev made a 400 small block and also made a 400 big block....small block larger bore shorter stroke, big block smaller bore longer stroke....

And with Fords the 260,289,302, and the 351 even tho that is part of the 335 series, in which is just a smaller version of the 429, 460, the 385 series.
But like was said...at the time before the 429 and the 460, that was the deviding line...but then ford snuck in the 370 smaller than the 390 and only ten cubes more the 360 and is in the 385 series also considered a big block?

Thats one thing about Ford between there engineers and there Freakin foundries...I dont think they could find there *** at that time with both hands?

But, ya gotta lov em!!

 

Well for the two 400's, one's a SBC and the other's a BBC. Small block, big block. What's so hard about that?

 

The Point Being Kurt! was that ford was not the only one who made engine's that you had to pull the heads or the pan on to find out what the hell they were!

Because from the outside they looked the same!! Now dont get cocky on me!!! LMAO!!!!

Russ

 

And another was the 400 and the 402....both badge's said 400? and 1 was really a .030 over 396....but the wore the same badge starting in 71 I think?

 

I find I have to call the FE an FE otherwise people don't know what I'm talking about. I remember hearing somewhere that the terms big and small block were derived from an engine having a deep skirt or not. Therefore, "BIG BLOCK" for deep skirt critters and small block for no deep skirt. Obviously the flaw is big chevy's don't have a deep skirt. If a random person asks what engine is in my truck I'll say it's a big block. I like rubbing it in to my chebby friends that I just have a little itty bitty 390 in my truck though. It runs stronger and will tow more with a manual than their big block chevy powered rigs will tow with automatics.