Wolf74

I have a small block 65. Fantastic car to drive and tons of fun. I also have a 70 SS454 Chevelle and every time I open it up it puts a big grin on my face and I just think, what would that BB do in the 65. If I had the chance, I would definitely buy the BB vette just to find out! Plus when you have the hood open and people see those big ole valves covers in the Chevelle, their eyes seem to light up.

babbah

The is no substitute for Cubic Inches!

BIG BLOCKS RULE!

Crunch527

I've built a several 383s with 500+ hp and torque...aluminum heads/cam and have driven L79s. They are both fun. The 383s I built are way MORE fun when backed with a TKO600 and 411s for sure...but absolutely nothing beats a BBC.

Realistically, you won't be driving this car as a daily driver.

As we all move further away in time and distance from the hey-day of the C2 era of muscle cars, there is absolutely nothing that can over-match a BBC, not mention one with side pipes. I will take it a little further and will go with a Shafiroff 540 all aluminum with TKO600 and 411s on my next build, for no other reason than "because." And to those who crap on everyone on this forum who dare add HP and cubes to the C2 construct...you need not apply

Cheers to Wolf74/babbah...I had a friend in high school (circa 1988) who had a 70 LS6 454 Chevelle...warmed over with aluminum heads/cam/4:11s...visceral and silly.

babbah

Visceral and Silly is the only way to go! Ask me how I know!

MikeM

BBC's are not attractive to me at all. I restored one about 1-12 years ago and after I got done, drove it to a cruise night. Returned home and parked it. Been there ever since. Yeah, it's one of the good ones. 396/375(425).

About all they're good for is doing easy burnouts if you have a good clutch and skinny tires.

Your opinion may vary.

L76_Cpar

Thanks for your thoughts and all those who have taken time to comment. I have one shot to get the right car (as a middle-aged hobby type). Ever try the 365's? I have been told that this is the car that the NCRS judges all own....

MikeM

I don't know all of them but, Is that because they can't afford an L 84 or what?

1snake

I suggest driving both and making up your own mind based on your experience. I've owned several solid lifter big block cars and even more solid lifter small block cars. I'll take the big block over the small block every time.

AZDoug

Why limit your self to those two choices? Unless you want 'as original".

IMO, the 360 HP 396 is somewhat of a pig, in stock form. OK, but not great. The mech cammed 396/375 was lot hotter little number but with the large port heads, was not something you idled around in, in high gear, streetablity is limited unless you are true gearhead looking for stop light races against other mid 1960s cars. They were also front heavy, the extra 200 lbs was noticeable. I have driven both in the mid 1970s. The 396 cars look a lot cooler with the hood and side pipes.

If you want performance, get a large (383-421) small block, with modern aftermarket heads and a decent hyd roller cam, they will stomp all over any original 396/375 car and will have much nicer street manners for daily driving.. You can even make it look like an original 327 under the hood with those alum double hump larger port aftermarket heads someone sells, and proper intake manifold selection. And you can also buy a bumped BB hood if you want a high rise manifold. And even put side pipes on...

Doug

SW Vette

Big block engines are blunt instruments. The excess of low end torque means anyone can imagine they are Donny Garlitz, Champeen Drag Racer. All the fun is over around 4000rpm, right where a good small block is really taking off.

Do you want a sports car or a drag racer? Great sports cars generally don't rely on a huge dump truck engine to go fast.

Tough decision. Me? I'll take one of each

MikeM

If you want a BB, drive one of these. They've sold thousands of them.

Nowhere Man

you can bench race all you want and can rely one what everyone else likes. then you can test drive different cars and see for your self. chances are your never use the full potential of the engine so a base 327/250 will suit your needs. all the engines will get the car up to the speed limit in respectful time. they are not barn burners and all your new four door cars can beat you in any race. most like the high horse engines because they are rare and high in value. few uses these cars to its potential.

MikeM

Very true! And did I mention the BB hoods and the kickstands (sidepipes) ruin the clean looks of the C2 lines?

Jeffthunbird

L79 is a well mannered, easy to drive fast car. The BBC is a loaded gun!

1Cerberus4u

Owning both a built 468 in a 65 vert and a Shafiroff 427 sbc making 585hp with a 5 speed, they drive differently. Love them both, but there is NOTHING like the brute torque of a BBC.... With some 22 cars in my stable today, including exotics, new, old, you name it, I've got it kind of collection, the BBC is just fun... Yea, none of these cars can be fully exercised on public roads, but coming off the clutch or leaning on it coming out of a corner, its grin making material.. Loud, rude to an extent, and so much more.

No question the BBC with side pipes makes people's heads snap around and look... SBC, yea, some look, but not as many

Kinda like do you want a 426 Hemi or a 340... both cool, but you know the Hemi is king

A few years ago, I was looking at an exotic car purchase that was not a Ferrari... Guy comes up and we are chatting... He says thats a cool car and all, but if you buy it or any other exotic car, you will still want to buy a Ferrari..... Its the same thing with a big block vette.... yea you can go out and buy a small block, but no matter what and after the purchase, you will still want to buy a big block....

Lotsacubes

Geez I just love my 2 1/2” kickstands puffing on my feet as she warms up. Bunch of other reasons too besides keeping her from falling over.

Patman65

Fun to drive- most definitely
overheat- not if tuned right with a solid DeWitt repro radiator, perhaps sitting in LA traffic.

What kind of ride are you looking for??

Donny Brass

I feel so ashamed at my lack of cubic inches.... Apparently, I am not having any fun at all.

sigh.

Best advice in this thread is to drive both cars and chose the one you like better. Both are great options and there is no need to throw shade at either option.

bb62

Yes, you are a small block guy in your impressive 66, but what I want to know is how fast you would be after tuning a solid-lifter 427 in the same car. Completely stock into the 11s?

emccomas

A good friend of mine, and also one of the best known Corvette restorers in the local area, once made an interesting statement.

He said "Your automotive experience is not complete until you have drive a properly functioning big block Corvette."

I have not owned (or even driven) a C2 big block, but have driven plenty of C3s, both big block and small blocks (including LT-1s).

I have a friend that owned a 1970 454, 4 speed coupe, and another friend that owned a 1970 LT-1, I drove both, and personally I would go with the LT-1. but there is nothing quite like the feeling of that big block Corvette.

Another friend (yes, I have plenty of friends) had a 1955 Chevy with a built 454, 4 speed, 4.11 rear end back in the day (mid 1970s). He used to tape a $20 bill to the inside of the passenger side windshield and tell his passenger "If you can reach up and take that $20 bill off of the windshield while I am going through the gears, the money is yours. He never lost his $20, but he ended up having to give up the 55 Chevy. The car had so much torque it was twisting the body and breaking the trunk welds.

It really is a matter of personal preference. The small block car has more room to work in the engine compartment.

Good luck on whatever you decide.