I think it worked for Chevy, for years they only had 2 V-8 engine families. But it can get confusing, 396 is from the BB family, 400 is a SB.
Aren't a lot of Buick blocks the same size on the outside? Or was it Pontiac, maybe both?

 

So? What does it matter what "series" an engine is in as opposed to whether it's big or small? The 5.4L had some stuff in common with the 6.8L, but that doesn't force one or the other to be small or big.

I'm sticking with my methodology unless someone has a "proper" way. I couldn't care less about "series" of engines, I'm perfectly happy with them on an engine by engine basis.

 

Block is the operative word here, not displacement.

 

But, does the displacement not normally affect the size? I know with many exceptions (Chev 305/350, Ford 302/351) larger displacements feature larger blocks, with some engines of course sharing.

 

Larger displacemets DO NOT affect the size of the block if they are from the same family.

(your example is a tad confusing because the 351 does use a taller block than a 302, the 305/350 Chevy do NOT)

Using your logic, a 370 would be a small block and a 429, 460 would be a big block.....even though they use the SAME size block. (they all are from the 385 series)

In GM speak, you'd call a 396 a small block yet it shares the same deck height/bore spacing as a 402, 427, 454, 496, 502.


Ford's FE was already mentioned.


Even though Ford doesn't "officially" use big and small here's my way of doing it.

ALL of the Ford "small" motors use the same bore spacing:

221

255

260

289

302

351W

351C

351M

400

The fact that all heads interchange (minor mods needed on C's, M's, 400) dictates that they are Ford's "small" motors...

The FE and 385 series motors use a "bigger" bore spacing.

So logic would say one is a bigger or smaller than the other.


351's can be bored and stroked to 427+ CID...............it doesn't change it from a small block.


Modular motors are just that.....Mod motors.. but if you forced me to label them, I would say they are small blocks because of their tiny bore spacing.
And that would include the 415 cube v10.

 

Well, I had two Mustangs, both sb, er, I mean non-k 289s. You could get a 2v 289 and the 428 and maybe, although you never see them, a hydraulic lifter 427 in '68.

I guess it's just a bunch of GM people running this outfit:

http://www.fordracingparts.com/crateengine/main.asp

Bore spacing might be a good indicator, but I stand by deck height as the true measure of bb vs. sb. In some GM and I think Chrysler, the bore spacing remains the same with different deck heights determining bb/sb.

Despite all this, it makes some sense to skip it with Ford, as you just have to determine series anyway if you want to know anything about the engine.

 

Chevrolet had 3 V-8 engine families, the 262-265-283-302-305-307-327-350-400 "small" blocks; the 366-396-402-427-454 "big" blocks; and the 348-409 W-blocks, from which the "big" blocks were derived, with sales begining in January 1965.

 

Don't know much about 348-409 except:

-72 degree motor instead of a proper 90

-Biggest bore shortest stroke motor for 409 I think

-What you hear in the Beach Boys "409" is really his 409 going by the house at 2 in the morning.

I don't think the 396 and up motors have much in common other than 8 cylinders and the bowtie.

 

chevy has the 400 small block

 

Sure about that????

I've read that the deck was offset because the combustion chamber was created in the cylinder and not the head......but I'm fairly certain the block is a 90* block.

 

Uh-oh, exposed as a know-nothing. I'm pretty sure you are correct, as I have wasted an untold but significant amount of time trying to find a reference to a 409/348 as a 72 degree motor. What I did find was what you said, that the block is cut at 16 degrees off to make the wedge combustion chamber. (top of the block is not 90 degrees to crank centerline)

Also, yes, the first 427 was a W motor, but later 396 etc are different blocks.

And, one reference claims the engine in "409" is a 348.

So, my memory from reading car mags and listening to the radio about the Beach Boys is just plain questionable.

Thanks for the humiliating fact check. I shall go hide behind a big block Ford 6.