Notices
General Automotive Discussion

difference between big block and small block

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 18, 2004 | 06:04 PM
  #31  
Andysutt's Avatar
Andysutt
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Originally Posted by nogo73
Its like comparing apples to oranges . Chevy also have some werid motors that don't fall in any where(409-348) that are refered to as early big blocks but they were put out in the 50's. They have come out with new motors Lt1,Ls1,Ls6, 4.8,5.3,8.1 that are just that and should not be considered small or big blocks. same deal with ford I mean when a 4.6 weights more than a 460 is it a small block or a big block It simply does not apply.I mean where does the flat head come in. Ford engines are better than chevy any way so why compare the two. If you ever get to listen to the old motors you could tell if it was a chevy, Ford or dodge. Speaking of dodge they really dont have a small block or big block line ethier.
They used to... 318/360... small block
440 type motors... Big Block
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 06:26 PM
  #32  
oldhalftons's Avatar
oldhalftons
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Spokane WA
I had a 66 Merc Montclair with a 410 and it was indeed a FE engine
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 06:30 PM
  #33  
oldhalftons's Avatar
oldhalftons
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by nogo73
Speaking of dodge they really dont have a small block or big block line ethier.

273/318/318-poly/340/360 are MoPar small blocks
361/383/383RB/400/413/426W/426H/440 are MoPar small blocks
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 07:18 PM
  #34  
92f150I6's Avatar
92f150I6
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 1
From: PA
Originally Posted by oldhalftons
273/318/318-poly/340/360 are MoPar small blocks
361/383/383RB/400/413/426W/426H/440 are MoPar small blocks
I hope you menat that the 440 and such are mopar big blocks.

The smallblock mopars are very different that the big blocks. The distributors are in the rear of small blocks, front on big blocks. Also, they had different bellbousing bolt patterns.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 08:08 PM
  #35  
Andysutt's Avatar
Andysutt
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Originally Posted by 92f150I6
I hope you menat that the 440 and such are mopar big blocks.

The smallblock mopars are very different that the big blocks. The distributors are in the rear of small blocks, front on big blocks. Also, they had different bellbousing bolt patterns.
Yup bolt patterns were different
4 bolts at the top/bottom (I think top, not sure)
are all 3/8s on the big blocks and the outside 2 are 3/8s on the smallblocks, while the inside 2 are 1/4''
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 08:36 PM
  #36  
oldhalftons's Avatar
oldhalftons
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by 92f150I6
I hope you menat that the 440 and such are mopar big blocks.
yeah I did.

Where is that typo repellent?
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 09:25 PM
  #37  
Toyvo's Avatar
Toyvo
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
HUUUUUMMMMMM!!! Seems to me some one built a small block 400 and a big block 400 but I don't know who that was???? Anyone else remember that?
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 09:40 PM
  #38  
85e150's Avatar
85e150
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,507
Likes: 2,823
Club FTE Gold Member
Ford 400M, bigger than a small block, maybe a big block, have never hugged one.

Chev 400 SB.

Check out July 04 4Wheel and Off-Road magazine (now on newstands everywhere) Feature on: 450-Cube Small-Block Chevy.
Special Block from Dart. I think they make 351W special blocks as well.

Just around the same time of the 400 SB, the 396BB became a 402BB.

Here's a question, maybe we should do a new thread: Anyone out there have experience with a small block with big block cubes? Let's include 302 to 347.
And, if you will admit it, 350 to 383 chev. Stock motors need not reply. How do these things hold up? Is it worth it, as 4Wheel and OR is doing, to make a big motor out of small and tune it for low end? That would answer the real question behind this--do you have to have a big motor as in lots of iron to hold big power?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 18, 2004 | 10:41 PM
  #39  
F150daniel's Avatar
F150daniel
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 2
From: spartanburg, SC
ford 400, 351M, 351C are 335 series motors which are called small blocks. even though the 351M/400 are as big as a BBF, and many people think they are BB, they are not big blocks.
240 I6, 300 I6, 289, 302, 5.0, 351W, 351C, 351M, and 400 all share the same bore, bore spacing, and head bolt pattern. They all are considered small blocks.

FE 410 = 428 crank in 390 block.
 

Last edited by F150daniel; May 18, 2004 at 10:47 PM.
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 10:54 PM
  #40  
TigerDan's Avatar
TigerDan
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Club FTE Gold Member
ggarrahan-just checked my books again, as you said and sure enough the 410 was an FE, built in '66 and '67 only and used in Mercury. Now, I'll allow as to how there may very well have been a Y-block 410 in '58 used in the Edsel, but my '54-'63 Chilton's manual conveniently omits any mention of the Edsel at all. I'm just assuming that it was a Y-block...? And I have several different books that mention the '66-'67 410 as an FE.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2004 | 11:33 PM
  #41  
Mil1ion's Avatar
Mil1ion
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
The 400 (Not a 400M ) is considered a small block by Ford.
 
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 12:07 AM
  #42  
bobcatv8's Avatar
bobcatv8
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Ocala, FL
Hey, if you REALLY want to some V-8 size little known facts to chew on.......
Ford NEVER made a 351 cid V-8, they are all 352 cid
The 400 is really 402 cid
The 428 is really 427 cid.
And the 427 is really 425 cid!
Ford had their reasons for all this trickery!!
I wont even get into Big truck engines and metric conversions!
The designations "Big Block" and "Small Block" are slang terms and hold no real meaning unless there is more than one type of engine to describe! What about the old AMC V-8s? They went from 243 to 401 CID using the same basic block {I think}.
I guess if you have a Taurus with a 3.8 it is a Big Block and the 3.0 version is the Small Block!!
Works for me!
I had a 77 Ranchero with a 351M and a C-4. Since the 351M has the 429-460 bell housing pattern I guess you COULD put a C-4 behind a 429-460 Big Block with factory parts. If you could get a convertor and flywheel to match!?
Those Crazy Ford guys! No wonder Chevy boyz can't deal with Ford stuff!
 

Last edited by bobcatv8; May 19, 2004 at 12:18 AM.
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 02:57 AM
  #43  
Torque1st's Avatar
Torque1st
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
The Chevy guys were always confused about Ford stuff. GM put out a nice book to tell everyone what was what. Ford didn't get the word out as well. Chevy guys say Ford parts don't interchange, -little do they know...

When they made the FE 352 they rounded up, so to differentiate they rounded down for the 351, then ended up making three different varieties of the 351 designated C, W, or M.

The only factor I can see to determine BB v SB is bore spacing. -Just my 2 cents.
 
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 06:19 AM
  #44  
nogo73's Avatar
nogo73
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio
what about the mopar 241,276,331,354,392 where do they fit?
 
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 09:21 AM
  #45  
oldhalftons's Avatar
oldhalftons
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by nogo73
what about the mopar 241,276,331,354,392 where do they fit?
Other then heads they are alot closer to small blocks compared to later hemis.
They have rear distributors, wet intakes.
They actually use SB timingchains and gears.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:15 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE