difference between big block and small block
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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4 bolt mains = nothing to do with it.
Deck height 10" and over = big block.
Almost meaningless these days.
I did get to show my son the differences this last weekend at a Chevy dealer having a "car show", with lots of open hoods and BBs and SBs next to each other.
Good thing it was a Chevy show--I don't know how I could have explained the endless parade of engine series from Ford....
Deck height 10" and over = big block.
Almost meaningless these days.
I did get to show my son the differences this last weekend at a Chevy dealer having a "car show", with lots of open hoods and BBs and SBs next to each other.
Good thing it was a Chevy show--I don't know how I could have explained the endless parade of engine series from Ford....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
I would go more for bore spacing than deck height.
As long as you limit it to Chevy, then its easy to explain, but GM had separate engine families from Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile(with some Cadillac commonality) and Pontiac. Ford and Chrysler divisions shared a lot.
Jim
As long as you limit it to Chevy, then its easy to explain, but GM had separate engine families from Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile(with some Cadillac commonality) and Pontiac. Ford and Chrysler divisions shared a lot.
Jim
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Shelton, CT
The big/small block analogy does not fit Ford engines at all, they are GM terms, used to describe GM engines.
The Ford OHV V8 Engines are as follows:
Y-Block 239-272-292-312
Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (MEL)383-430-462
Ford-Edsel (FE) 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428
90-Degree V (Windsor) 221-255- 260-289-302 and 351 Windsor
385-Series (Big Block) 429-460
335-Series (Cleveland) 302-351(C and M)- 400
For the sixes:
144-170-200-250 Small, or Falcon Six
240-300 Big six.
215-223-262
To make this even more fun, the 90 Degree Windsor bolt pattern is found on the 240-300 big six, the 250 CI small six, the 351C, and some 400's.
The 429/460 385 bolt pattern is also found on the 351M and 400 335 engines(which, interestingly have the same deck height as the 385 series), and, the 385 series blocks also sport the MEL bolt pattern.
I will give you this bit of advice, don't try and figure it out unless you REALLY have to.
The Ford OHV V8 Engines are as follows:
Y-Block 239-272-292-312
Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (MEL)383-430-462
Ford-Edsel (FE) 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428
90-Degree V (Windsor) 221-255- 260-289-302 and 351 Windsor
385-Series (Big Block) 429-460
335-Series (Cleveland) 302-351(C and M)- 400
For the sixes:
144-170-200-250 Small, or Falcon Six
240-300 Big six.
215-223-262
To make this even more fun, the 90 Degree Windsor bolt pattern is found on the 240-300 big six, the 250 CI small six, the 351C, and some 400's.
The 429/460 385 bolt pattern is also found on the 351M and 400 335 engines(which, interestingly have the same deck height as the 385 series), and, the 385 series blocks also sport the MEL bolt pattern.
I will give you this bit of advice, don't try and figure it out unless you REALLY have to.
The 400 is really a 402
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