Small bolck vs Big block
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: St John's, NL
Small bolck vs Big block
First off, what's the basic difference. How can you tell which is which? are the engine sizes specific to a particular block. i have a 390, but no idea whether it's small or big.
Thanks
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
It's considered a big block.
The small block was 289 ci to the current 351 ci.
The big block came around for the most part(the FE) started at 352 ci(ya, there was a 332 but we're not going back that far) and went up to 428 ci. The basic outside dimensions were quite noticable between the big and small block.
Of course after 1969 the new series engine(the 385 family) came out with 429 ci and 460 ci. It was even heavier than the FE family. Talk about BIG BLOCK. This replaced the FE family motor, even though the FE was used in trucks up thru the mid 70's.
I'm sure you can find a link, or a book that gives you the overall look at the motors so you can identify them by site. The hard part is not actually knowing the cubic inch size because each family had different sizes for each block. A 352 looks like a 428, just different internals.
A 289 looks like a 302, but different internals.
The small block was 289 ci to the current 351 ci.
The big block came around for the most part(the FE) started at 352 ci(ya, there was a 332 but we're not going back that far) and went up to 428 ci. The basic outside dimensions were quite noticable between the big and small block.
Of course after 1969 the new series engine(the 385 family) came out with 429 ci and 460 ci. It was even heavier than the FE family. Talk about BIG BLOCK. This replaced the FE family motor, even though the FE was used in trucks up thru the mid 70's.
I'm sure you can find a link, or a book that gives you the overall look at the motors so you can identify them by site. The hard part is not actually knowing the cubic inch size because each family had different sizes for each block. A 352 looks like a 428, just different internals.
A 289 looks like a 302, but different internals.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 938
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Yes I just looked at a chevy 350 and I noticed that it was tiny compared to my 352 and then remebered that Ford used the same block for the entire FE series and thats why it was larger then the 350( and I hope stronger to).
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
From: Eureka, Ca.
Ford has "family's" of engines. None are small or big blocks. Just differnt designs. The 335 series is the 361M, 400M. The 352 series is the 332FE, 352FE, 360FE, 361FT, 390FE, 391FT, 406FE, 410FE, 427FE and the 428FE. The 385 series is the 429 and 460.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TheDawnof68
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
23
Sep 29, 2014 07:07 PM
69 F100 4x4
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
4
Dec 25, 2001 07:28 PM
