Big Block or Small Block

I want a poll.

Is the Cleveland and big block or small block.

What say you?

mike

Small Block

I am pretty sure it would be considered a small block, just the heads are big. I think the big blocks are the FE/FT series.

It is a small block if you feel the need to use such terminology.

In my circle of friends and at the dealership it was considered in the small block family. Big block was any FE/FT or 385 series (429/460).

Small block. It has a shorter deck height than a 351W that everyone considers a small block. Chuck

It is a small block if you feel the need to use such terminology.

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Just a "friendly" discussion I am having with my mechanic.

He calls it a big block.

mike

Just a "friendly" discussion I am having with my mechanic.

He calls it a big block.

mike

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That's the only way some can explain why it runs so strong, especially chevy guys...

Just a "friendly" discussion I am having with my mechanic.

He calls it a big block.

mike

Click to expand...

That's the only way some can explain why it runs so strong, especially chevy guys...

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Don C, I used to hear that all the time. Back in the day when I used to do a lot of "Late Night" drag racing, my pewter "M" code Mach 1 would run like something that had lost its mind. It was Very capable of holding it's own against most stock big block cars. The Mopar, GTO, etc fellows would just tell you "Good race, I'll get you next time". The Chevy guys with the 396/402 cars would cry about I should have outrun them since my 351C was a big block. The only thing changed on mine was a 3:50 locking rear, a high stall convertor, some distributor work and a Boss 351 intake. Nothing major, considering how strong some of those big blocks were and a lot of them were running the same mods I was!

It is a small block if you feel the need to use such terminology.

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Just a "friendly" discussion I am having with my mechanic.

He calls it a big block.

mike

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I've heard it called a midblock. I generally consider it the 460's little brother, since they were both designed about the same time.

They're a small block, no two ways about it. If someone still doesn't believe you, just tell the numpties like I did years ago, "if it was a big block, then the heads wouldn't fit on a 302 block to make a boss, would it"

We had production 302 clevos I reckon that kind of solves the argument

I think to explain it to Chevy guys you can say it's a small block with big block heads!

But the block is definitely small.

The problem is that the terminology is Chevrolet terminology and should have never been applied to Fords-but the cat is out of the bag now, so we are stuck with such nonsense.

The problem is that the terminology is Chevrolet terminology and should have never been applied to Fords-but the cat is out of the bag now, so we are stuck with such nonsense.

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^^^This^^^

It has something to do with the angle of the pistons.

What is the angle of the Windsor pistons vs. Cleveland

vs. 427?

mike

Angle of the pistons??????? I think you meant something else. Look, the LS 1 Chevy engines and the 265 thru 400 older Chevy engines are both small blocks, but a different series of small block within GM's manufacture. Such is the case with the 351c vs the Windsor Fords, both small blocks, but two different series of engines within Ford's manufacture. FEs and 385 series 429/460s are both big blocks of two different series within Ford's manufacture. Hard to believe there are some who STILL haven't comprehended the concept of different series engines. Learn!

Small block. Here's some "documentation", and a good read besides.

Steve

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1001-muscle-car-engine-shootout/

It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. 351c engines are like that...a lot of fight in those.