If Chevy's are Big Block...
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Midwest
fords aren't classified as big blocks/small blocks,their engines are classified by families/groups,although it is common to hear the 351w/302/289 called "small blocks" and the 400/460/360/390 called "big blocks". big block/small block is gm terminology.
Postmaster
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Then there's the FE, what is it? Big block? Goes up to 428 cid. But also down to 332. Hmmmmmmm.
Then there's the 351 sizes
351W
351C
351M
352 (FE) (ok, so it's not a 351, but it's close
)
Ever one of those is a different block/engine family.
Then there's the 351 sizes
351W
351C
351M
352 (FE) (ok, so it's not a 351, but it's close
)Ever one of those is a different block/engine family.
Super Moderator
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This comes up all the time.
Deck height over 10" = big block, or so said Hot Rod.
When the Chev BB was coined, you had a similar situation with Ford Engines.
You had 289s for SB and 390/427 etc for BB.
I had an engine book in the '60s and they used the terms for all lines, including sixes, such as the Ford SB sixes, 170/200 vs. BB like the 240/300.
But the series identification is more accurate and important, since your BB parts have to be for the right BB.
Deck height over 10" = big block, or so said Hot Rod.
When the Chev BB was coined, you had a similar situation with Ford Engines.
You had 289s for SB and 390/427 etc for BB.
I had an engine book in the '60s and they used the terms for all lines, including sixes, such as the Ford SB sixes, 170/200 vs. BB like the 240/300.
But the series identification is more accurate and important, since your BB parts have to be for the right BB.
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Posting Legend
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Ford has engine families. Big block and Small block are old Chevy terms that unfortunately get bandied about and misapplied to Ford engines.
Note- the 351W, 351C, 351M and 352 all have the same 4" bore and 3.5" stroke making them all the same displacement. They just have different designations. Some sources do list the 352 as having a 4.002" bore tho but most show 4.000".
A list of Ford engine families and specifications can be found here:
http://www.fordclassics.com/enginespecs.html
BTW- many of those old engine books were written by Chevy guys...
I went thru engine specs for many brands of engines, deck height was not a good indicator for the old big/small block terms. A more accurate indicator was bore spacing, about 4-9/16" was near the dividing line if I remember right and seemed to work. -If you must use Chebby terminology.
Note- the 351W, 351C, 351M and 352 all have the same 4" bore and 3.5" stroke making them all the same displacement. They just have different designations. Some sources do list the 352 as having a 4.002" bore tho but most show 4.000".
A list of Ford engine families and specifications can be found here:
http://www.fordclassics.com/enginespecs.html
BTW- many of those old engine books were written by Chevy guys...
I went thru engine specs for many brands of engines, deck height was not a good indicator for the old big/small block terms. A more accurate indicator was bore spacing, about 4-9/16" was near the dividing line if I remember right and seemed to work. -If you must use Chebby terminology.
Last edited by Torque1st; Jun 9, 2007 at 12:19 AM.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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When I hear "Ford big block" I instantly don't take the guy serious.
You need to be more specific to sound like you know what you are talking about. What not to say:
"My buddies cousins neighbor has a Ford big block that'll blow the doors off anything"
To me BB is chevy talk.
You need to be more specific to sound like you know what you are talking about. What not to say:
"My buddies cousins neighbor has a Ford big block that'll blow the doors off anything"
To me BB is chevy talk.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by Torque1st
Ford has engine families. Big block and Small block are old Chevy terms that unfortunately get bandied about and misapplied to Ford engines.
Note- the 351W, 351C, 351M and 352 all have the same 4" bore and 3.5" stroke making them all the same displacement. They just have different designations. Some sources do list the 352 as having a 4.002" bore tho but most show 4.000".
A list of Ford engine families and specifications can be found here:
http://www.fordclassics.com/enginespecs.html
BTW- many of those old engine books were written by Chevy guys...
I went thru engine specs for many brands of engines, deck height was not a good indicator for the old big/small block terms. A more accurate indicator was bore spacing, about 4-9/16" was near the dividing line if I remember right and seemed to work. -If you must use Chebby terminology.
Note- the 351W, 351C, 351M and 352 all have the same 4" bore and 3.5" stroke making them all the same displacement. They just have different designations. Some sources do list the 352 as having a 4.002" bore tho but most show 4.000".
A list of Ford engine families and specifications can be found here:
http://www.fordclassics.com/enginespecs.html
BTW- many of those old engine books were written by Chevy guys...
I went thru engine specs for many brands of engines, deck height was not a good indicator for the old big/small block terms. A more accurate indicator was bore spacing, about 4-9/16" was near the dividing line if I remember right and seemed to work. -If you must use Chebby terminology.
Agreed, bore spacing is the factor....and even though big and small are Chevy terms, it's been accepted for Ford as well as evidenced by million's (and many others')book(s).
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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Originally Posted by 95-F250
When I hear "Ford big block" I instantly don't take the guy serious.
You need to be more specific to sound like you know what you are talking about. What not to say:
"My buddies cousins neighbor has a Ford big block that'll blow the doors off anything"
To me BB is chevy talk.
You need to be more specific to sound like you know what you are talking about. What not to say:
"My buddies cousins neighbor has a Ford big block that'll blow the doors off anything"
To me BB is chevy talk.
Agreed.
The next most popular, statement of total ignorance is:
"I've got to get me a STALL CONVERTER installed soon."
Ummmm. Hey, Nimrod, ALL torque converters have stall.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Mustang people talk different than GM people.
When we see a 68 Mustang GT and the hood is down ..we ask if it has a 302 or 390.
If it is 67 Mustang GT we ask if it is a K (271 HP 289) engine or a 390.
Don't confuse us Mustang guys with GM guys.
I had to learn a whole new language when I left GM cars...... for Ford.
When we see a 68 Mustang GT and the hood is down ..we ask if it has a 302 or 390.
If it is 67 Mustang GT we ask if it is a K (271 HP 289) engine or a 390.
Don't confuse us Mustang guys with GM guys.
I had to learn a whole new language when I left GM cars...... for Ford.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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Originally Posted by RangerPilot
I always just thought that 399 CI and less was small block and 400 CI and bigger was big block, despite manufacturer. Apparently not.
FE: 332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428 4 displacements above 400 and 4 below. So what is it?
335 series: 351M, 400 1 above, 1 below
385 serices 370, 429, 460 2 above, 1 below
See why the big/small designations that the simple minded GM people came up with don't apply to real engines?