Big block VS Small block.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 101
This is a good January topic, idle hands = fevered thoughts.
Back in the late 70's and 80's I clearly remember speed shop bench racers constantly talking about BB Fords, one of the counter guys was a Ford fanatic. I however was a BB Chevy guy that quickly glazed over with all the hard to remember variations of BB Fords. B and RB Chrysler engines were commonly referred to as BB's as well. We all knew B,P,O cars used the same basic engine blocks in their cars so the mental image was obviously different. No one discussed Cadillac engines, no one cared. I think AMC was sharing block size but I'm too lazy to look into it right now.
I think It's the valve covers that puts the BB chevy into a different realm of big blocks for some, it did me.
Back in the late 70's and 80's I clearly remember speed shop bench racers constantly talking about BB Fords, one of the counter guys was a Ford fanatic. I however was a BB Chevy guy that quickly glazed over with all the hard to remember variations of BB Fords. B and RB Chrysler engines were commonly referred to as BB's as well. We all knew B,P,O cars used the same basic engine blocks in their cars so the mental image was obviously different. No one discussed Cadillac engines, no one cared. I think AMC was sharing block size but I'm too lazy to look into it right now.
I think It's the valve covers that puts the BB chevy into a different realm of big blocks for some, it did me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 148
From: Hunterdon Cty NJ
I've been a Mopar guy since my first car in '76 (I'm 58) a 70 Charger with a 318, small block LA engine, I wanted a big block so my second car was a 70 'Cuda with a 383 BIG BLOCK. Was called a big block in 76 and still called big block today.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
The distinction with Chevrolet is they did have their own nick names, for big or small block.
And all manufacturers created a good base for performance enhancements..all it took was money, to make them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
SB Chevy = mouse engine
BB Chevy = rat engine
SB Ford ('50s) = Y-block
SB Ford (later) = ?? (Falcon, Fairlaine, Mustang, etc)
BB Ford = FE engine
SB Chrysler = ??
BB Chrysler = Wedge/Hemi
Only the Ford Y-block and FE designations were generated by the manufacturer (I'm sure that all the blocks had internal designations used by manufacturer employees). All other designations were colloquial (common usage); and different terms may have been used in different areas of the country.
Anyone stating that the colloquial terms were specific designations is misinformed.
BB Chevy = rat engine
SB Ford ('50s) = Y-block
SB Ford (later) = ?? (Falcon, Fairlaine, Mustang, etc)
BB Ford = FE engine
SB Chrysler = ??
BB Chrysler = Wedge/Hemi
Only the Ford Y-block and FE designations were generated by the manufacturer (I'm sure that all the blocks had internal designations used by manufacturer employees). All other designations were colloquial (common usage); and different terms may have been used in different areas of the country.
Anyone stating that the colloquial terms were specific designations is misinformed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
SB Chevy = mouse engine
BB Chevy = rat engine
SB Ford ('50s) = Y-block
SB Ford (later) = ?? (Falcon, Fairlaine, Mustang, etc)
BB Ford = FE engine
SB Chrysler = ??
BB Chrysler = Wedge/Hemi
Only the Ford Y-block and FE designations were generated by the manufacturer (I'm sure that all the blocks had internal designations used by manufacturer employees). All other designations were colloquial (common usage); and different terms may have been used in different areas of the country.
Anyone stating that the colloquial terms were specific designations is misinformed.
BB Chevy = rat engine
SB Ford ('50s) = Y-block
SB Ford (later) = ?? (Falcon, Fairlaine, Mustang, etc)
BB Ford = FE engine
SB Chrysler = ??
BB Chrysler = Wedge/Hemi
Only the Ford Y-block and FE designations were generated by the manufacturer (I'm sure that all the blocks had internal designations used by manufacturer employees). All other designations were colloquial (common usage); and different terms may have been used in different areas of the country.
Anyone stating that the colloquial terms were specific designations is misinformed.
Last edited by Priya; Jan 4, 2018 at 12:48 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Oldsmobile also had Big and Small blocks:
260, 330, 350, 403 = Small Block
400, 425, 455 = Big Block
Designs were very similar and some parts are interchangeable but the blocks themselves are not interchangeable. Bores, deck height, intakes and crankshafts are all different.
260, 330, 350, 403 = Small Block
400, 425, 455 = Big Block
Designs were very similar and some parts are interchangeable but the blocks themselves are not interchangeable. Bores, deck height, intakes and crankshafts are all different.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 731
From: Youngstown Ohio
In a previous life (B.C., before Corvette), I was MOPAR. Two 1968 Roadrunners, 1968 Dart GTS, 1968 Charger, 1968 Barracuda, 1962 Plymouth Savoy.
There are, and there always were Chrysler big and small blocks. They have always been referred to as such. SB Mopars are similar to SB Chevy. Big block Mopars are big blocks (physically bigger, like Rat motors), no interchangeable engine parts, not even distributors.
Last edited by C3 Stroker; Jan 4, 2018 at 05:24 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 2
Since I was a kid, BB/SB has applied to Chev, Ford and Mopar no question. RAT and Mouse, now that is Chev only. The vanity plates for my fathom green L36 project: "RAT A2E"
Last edited by rloblaw; Jan 4, 2018 at 05:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
I had a 68 cougar GT eliminator. the orig big block 427 was gone. I went and bought a 67 fairlane GT 390 cuz it had a reasonably correct big block. only diff between the 390 and 427 was the bore. same short stroke Med rise heads. they were both big blocks. if I had put a small block in it, 302 or 351w, it would have been too light in the nose, and devalued it.
Last edited by derekderek; Jan 4, 2018 at 08:21 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 25
From: Buxton Maine
Yes, I remember the Chrysler motors being called the "Elephant". Dominant at the drags.
And when chevy came out with the small block it was referred to as the "mouse" because the only thing huge elephants are afraid of is a tiny mouse. The legend of how the mouse was named.
Last edited by 69L46vert; Jan 6, 2018 at 08:04 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Speaking of the small block, its remarkable how similar the Ford engine is to the SBC. Put the distributor hole in the back(where it belongs 
) along with the oil gallery plugs and you might mistake the Ford for an SBC with a passing glance.
) along with the oil gallery plugs and you might mistake the Ford for an SBC with a passing glance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Oldsmobile also had Big and Small blocks:
260, 330, 350, 403 = Small Block
400, 425, 455 = Big Block
Designs were very similar and some parts are interchangeable but the blocks themselves are not interchangeable. Bores, deck height, intakes and crankshafts are all different.
260, 330, 350, 403 = Small Block
400, 425, 455 = Big Block
Designs were very similar and some parts are interchangeable but the blocks themselves are not interchangeable. Bores, deck height, intakes and crankshafts are all different.
I've had both small and big block Oldsmobile engines.
Last edited by Jason Staley; Jan 6, 2018 at 02:56 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
But why does it so deeply upset you what guys call engines
I never thought of "rat"or "mouse" being anything except chevy,
I recall guys saying their mopar had an elephant and my first thought was is that lable because its heavy?
Now i know guys bore small block chevies pretty darn big and other makes used the same block across the board,
I did "assume" the 427 ford was bigger block than a ford 289 making one a big and one a small block but i honestly never cared all that much,
I get to say my 69 has a rat and thats good enough for me...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 57
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Interesting thread,
But why does it so deeply upset you what guys call engines
I never thought of "rat"or "mouse" being anything except chevy,
I recall guys saying their mopar had an elephant and my first thought was is that lable because its heavy?
Now i know guys bore small block chevies pretty darn big and other makes used the same block across the board,
I did "assume" the 427 ford was bigger block than a ford 289 making one a big and one a small block but i honestly never cared all that much,
I get to say my 69 has a rat and thats good enough for me...
But why does it so deeply upset you what guys call engines
I never thought of "rat"or "mouse" being anything except chevy,
I recall guys saying their mopar had an elephant and my first thought was is that lable because its heavy?
Now i know guys bore small block chevies pretty darn big and other makes used the same block across the board,
I did "assume" the 427 ford was bigger block than a ford 289 making one a big and one a small block but i honestly never cared all that much,
I get to say my 69 has a rat and thats good enough for me...
Thanks
John.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
It doesn't upset me. It's just a thing that people used to correct me on. The reason I bought it up, is because I was on a Pontiac forum and the people on their were all saying the same as me. So I posted it here. And when I was young, I bored engine blocks for 2 year's and the boss always corrected me if I called it the wrong way. To him. But most people where I live which is Michigan. Never called BB or SB. Only if it was Chevy. Even when I lived in Tennessee. But it's pretty funny now.
Thanks
John.
Thanks
John.
For me a "motor" runs on electricity , "engines" run on fuel
But being on forums a few decades hammed it home people interchange the two...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 57
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 414
Likes: 407
From: Meadville Pennsylvania
Jerry
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA