Are 351 clevelands big blocks or small blocks? i have been trying to figure it out but some people say its a big block and some say its a small block. Which is it?

 

Bigblocks and smallblocks are bow-tie terms so it’s hard to carry them over to the blue-oval engine families.

 

How is it a bow tie term if the fords have big blocks and small blocks too. Chevy's aren't the only ones with big blocks and small blocks. i don't get what you are saying.

 

Clevelands have the smallblock tranny pattern, and are normally refered to as smallblocks. The real question is, is a 351M/400 a big or small? They have the big tranny pattern, but a based on the cleveland block (only bigger) How about 351Medium/400

Nathan

 

Yes, Chevy’s aren’t the only ones but they were the first ones to be called smallblocks with the introduction of the diminutive 265 back in ’55 and it has stuck ever since. When the 396 came out in ’65, it naturally became known as the bigblock. There wasn’t any block in the middle to confuse things back then. I think Nathan has the right idea.

 

example: 400 small block chevy
396 Big block chevy

351 small block ford (windsor)
351 Big block ford (modified)

Chevy's have the same dilemma

 

thanks. i know alot of people who think that 351c's are big blocks, but i have never really known for sure i always thought it was a big block.

 

>thanks. i know alot of people
>who think that 351c's are
>big blocks, but i have
>never really known for sure
>i always thought it was
>a big block.


Small block, big heads...

 

Cleveland's are fairly heavy too
the M/400's are in 460 territory for weight so i'd consider them a big block
i dont know..i just call them a CLEVELAND

 

What I have read in the past is that the 351M/400 were never classified as small or big blocks. They were just V-8 engines. Just what I've read.

1993 F-150, 300 6-cylinder, 100,000 miles
1977 F-250, 351M, 278,000 miles

 

IF they are not classified as big blocks, how do you know what transmissions bolt up, a big block pattern or a small block pattern?


proud66owner
Justin


I would rather push a ford that drive a chevy.

 

Justin- the 351 cleveland is a small block, it shares the same bore spacing as the 260, 289, 302 and 351W. It also has the same bell pattern. Some folks call it a big block only because they are ignorant. Yes this means that the 400 is also a small block, again, same bore spacing, 4.38 I think. Most 351M-400's have the same bell pattern as the 460 big block, but not all of them. Some of the 75-77 LTD's have a 351M or 400 with the same bell as the 289-302. All this really means is that you have to make sure you have the right stuff if you are swapping engines or something. DF

 

You cant consider a 351m/400 a smallblock because of its sheer weight and bellhousing
the 351 cleveland only has smallblock pattern/
But..
They are neither big nor small block.they are considered a 335 series or "cleveland block"

 

All I know is that when I went to the auto parts store and ordered the parts for a rebuild we had to look in the ford "big block" section of the catalog to find them. The parts suppliers tend to lump the 351c,351m,400 all in the same category, as they interchange some parts. I guess if it isn't a windsor block, it must be a big block.

'79 F150 Stepside 4x4
351C-2V, 4 speed, 32/11.50 BFG MT's
'73 Mustang Grande
351C-2V, c-6

 

the interchanging shouldnt matter...whoever wrote the parts book was ignorant..
theres Windsor parts that fit M's too.
like the crankshaft for instance.
there is 90degree small block and 385 series big block fords.
there is also FE block, y block, flatheads, and 335 series also known as the cleveland.