BB v SB???
BB v SB???
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Eureka, Ca.
Big blocks have larger blocks to accomadate large strokes and bores. Heads are larger too. The exhaust ports on a BB are equally spaced. Small blocks have the center exhhaust ports side by side because the heads are smaller due to the smaller block.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Eureka, Ca.
When it comes to Fords they aren't really BB or SB. They belong to different families of engines. Some people call a FE a BB but they started out as 332cid engines and go up to 428. This family is called the 352 series. the 385 series is the 429 and 460 people refer to these asBB also. The 335 series also known as 351m 400m are just another family of engines. I thingk that people call them BB because they where built for heavy duty use in trucks. The smallest ford v8's are the 262 through 351. the lightest and shortest stroke of all. I don't know if this helps any. But I am tired and am signing off now.
Someone more alert and knowledgeable will probly make more sense.
Someone more alert and knowledgeable will probly make more sense.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
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From: Texas
I think at one point, in the late 60s and 70s the GM boys had basically 2 V8 blocks. That's when all this started, small block and big block lingo.
Unfortunately, at the time Ford had about 3 different V8 blocks. So, for Ford, it dosn't make as much sense.
Unfortunately, at the time Ford had about 3 different V8 blocks. So, for Ford, it dosn't make as much sense.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: iowa
its was started by chevy people. (THere is no qualification for a block to be considered small or big).
The 221,255,260,289,302,351w,351c,351m,400 are all small blocks.
332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428,429,460 are big blocks.
Some people consider the 335 series to be big blocks.
Chevy has a 400 small block but a 366 and 396 big block so go figure!
And the mouse is a sbc and the rat is a bbc. Maybe chevy has mice or rat running the engine!
The 221,255,260,289,302,351w,351c,351m,400 are all small blocks.
332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428,429,460 are big blocks.
Some people consider the 335 series to be big blocks.
Chevy has a 400 small block but a 366 and 396 big block so go figure!
And the mouse is a sbc and the rat is a bbc. Maybe chevy has mice or rat running the engine!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Missouri
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Honkytonkville
Thanks for the info everyone. I am actually one of those who consider the 335's a BB, and was trying get some info to win an argument....lol. This will at least bring us to a draw- as I'm not keeling over and doesn't seem he is going to either.
Thanks again!
Scott
Thanks again!
Scott
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From: Topsfield, MA
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Northern California
I always was under the impression that one of the big differences in referring to a engine as BB or SB is in the style of head being used in a particular family of engines, as in the GM 400, this engine uses the block and smaller heads as seen on the common 350, the 396 on the other hand, although smaller in total displacement uses a differnt block and much larger heads designed for higher flows to accomadate engine sizes up in the 500ci range.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Tavistock, Ontario
Acorrding to Hotrod magazine the difference between BB's and SB's is the deck height. They classified the 335 series as small blocks. I dont remember the issue or the deck height numbers but the 335's were really close to the line, but under.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: North Carolina
Since the BB and SB really are meaningless terms I have my own criteria. For me I consdider Anyhing below 400 to be SB and of course anything above that BB. My favorite engines are FE's which are SB's and BB's.