Here is a link to some technical data that can be used to compare engines. Personally, I like to look in the areas of Deck Height, Rod length, Rod Width, Stroke, Bore Size.

What this data will tell you is the there are differences between GM engines of equal size. Most people do not know that a Buick or Olds 350 and a Chevorlet 350 are different engines. Different deck heights, bore and stroke.

Also in looking at this data, Ford and Chrysler are fairly compairble in these areas, (for the most part). Check out the deck height, rod length and the stroke of the modular 5.4. Chevorlet seems to have shorter deck heights and shorter rods compaired to others. Theres a lot more data that can be pulled out of this.

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/m-table-c.htm

 

Well,here's my opinion on the 6 most common and yes I've had at least one of each.

ford 302-good little engine,whoever says they cost 2x as much as a chevy are full of bs.Worse thing about the older 302s;broke pistons skirts and noisy lifters.Get forged pistons and go to a roller cam(OE on '85-up 5.0 mustangs)and cure the 2 major flaws.Good longivity(over 100k easy) and decent mpg.Can make up to 600hp w/stock bottom end.Need more torque?Get a 351w.
chevy 350-There are possibly more aftermarket parts for this thing than anything on the planet.Seen some stockers go over 100k,never seen a 350 do good on gas.As bad as I hate them for a relatively weak bottom end and a valvetrain that wears out moreso than the ford or dodge,Any knumbskull should be able to get 300hp out of one.There sure are alot of (rich)knumbskulls around here.305s are no powerhouse and alot of guys hate them,but they seem to last longer and get way better mpg than the 350.Not too bad of a slug if geared properly.
mopar 318-The biggest killer of these is low,low compression.Fix that and they do well.I have seen many 318s w/over 150k & still going strong.Mpg not too bad.360 ok but say bye to any mpg and a well tuned 318 isn't much weaker than the 360(stock/stock).HappyHappy,JoyJoy.

 

302 weighs alot less than the 350, or other SBCs for that matter, the only reason the SBF doesnt pound the crap out of SBCs is because the Head port sizes Are aneimic. The SBF is a Far more reliable engine than a SBC, I just pulled a 302 out of my 1981 f150 with 303,000 miles on it and it still ran. My dad has a 95 f150 with a 5.0 with 225,000 on it, has had the tranny replaced twice, still drives it everyday to work. I have never even seen a SBC go past 150,000 without substantial work done on it. Sure there is tons of parts for a SBC, but that is because they are always in need of them.

 

Check out World Products for the monsters they make from the small block GM and Ford.

 

There is a company in Arkansas that specializes in putting 351C heads on 351W blocks, a Cleavor, I guess. Now THATS a small block!

 

Also the 6.6 GM 400 was a great motor, it makes for en excellent drag motor. Still just as universal as it takes most of the 5.7 350 parts.

 

Which GM 400? there were more than one. The Pontiac 400 isn't the same, nor the olds 403, and they were also GM 6.6L and would put the Chevy 400 to shame.

 

Chevy 400. they may stock, but not modded with a budget in mind.

 

The chev small block 400, after a rocky start, due to concerns about siamesed water jackets has finally , in the last 10 years or so, come into it's own, as a sought after basis, for a performance engine.
Many people, including myself, stayed away and warned others to keep away from the sbc 400, but modern processes and technology seemed to have resolved earlier concerns of 25 years ago, or so.

The fact is that currently, the 400 SBC has, and is, used in more performance applications than it's similar displacement GM brethern.

Part of this is due to easier, and cheaper performance parts availability and just the fact, that there are far more chevy hot rodding , fans, around, than those who hot rod the other GM Division engines.

400 small block V8s have expanded from 406s to 427 to 454. Quite something when you consider that the original sbc, started off (1955) as a 265, and for the first few years of it's life, the Chev engineers had problems expanding it much beyond 300 cubes.

Modern technology and innovative methods are the secret.

However I don't think 400 blocks have been made by the factory, since the late 70's, early 80's, and now are getting pretty scarce. So unless the after market starts making a 400 block at reasonable cost, (they may do so already, I don't know), then the 400 may take a down turn in popularity.

Although, generally, in a free market economy, if the market is there, than someone will find a way to service it.

 

Maybe I am misinterpreting your post, but there never was a factory Chevy 406, maybe you were thinking about the 396. The 396, 427, and 454 were all big blocks, not small blocks.

 

farmtwuck,

What I'm saying is that the 400 small block, years ago was enlarged to 406 and that was close to the max that they pushed. In the last few years rodders have pushed to enlarging the 400 small block to 427 and then 454. The #s as you indicate are the same as production big blocks, and I have a feeling that these #s were chosen , as there has always been a competition between chevy big block and small block guys, as to which is a better engine.

I may not of been too clear, late at night and started to think fuzzy, that late. Sorry about the confusion, caused by the way I wrote it.

 

It's my belief that the 350 is the most popular motor ever produced because it is a solid , buildable, inexpensive motor that was produced and used in many different applications for, what, 30 years? Not because it is a better product.

I love my old Fords but, come on, they continually proved that they could screw up everything including a wet dream just by making change for the sake of making change- but then refuse to fix documented shortcomings for years on end.

The Windsor could have been a more significant motor and they surely missed the boat on the stroked cleveland (400) that they sacrificed to the smog gods. They kept the 302 in too many applications when the W would have been better and would have led to it's increased popularity. The W could easily be the best all around small block. I like the W better than the 350.

The best motor ever made imho is the new cheby 5.3. (power, logevity,mileage, power, power,mileage...yea, I own one) unbelievable motor. triton, unfortionately, is not even in the ballpark (wish it were). My love for the 50-77 ford is the only reason I'm blue.

 

There's nothing to be sorry about! I hadn't realized they were getting those big cubes out of the 400. That sounds like a lot of potential h.p. out of a fairly lightweight package. I don't think Mouse and Rat guys will ever agree on anything except for their love for Chevy engines.

Thanks for the info!