We have owned the following "small block V-8's" from the former "Big 3".

1957 Chevy car 283 - still have
1964 Chevy truck 283, mildly built up and transplanted into a 1971 Chevy C10
1966 Dodge B100 273
1987 Dodge B250 318 - still have
1974 Ford E-100 302
1994 Ford F-150 302 - still have

Except for the truck 283, they were all bone stock. That 283 and the 273 Dodge were rebuilt by me. None of the others were ever been opened up.

They are all strong, durable and relatively inefficient motive power. Most stories I read here about this engine was a POS or that one was terrific have nothing to do with the basic engine structure. Carb setups, compression ratios, emissions tuning and even the gearing (which has nothing to do with the engine itelf) make the difference in ones driving and ownership "satisfaction".

Both Dodges (smog-tuned 2-bbl Carters) and the 1974 Ford (Duraspark I + vacuum hose nightmare) suffered from crude emissions tuning issues. The 1994 Ford feels gutless at altitude. None of this can be blamed on the basic engine design.

Jim