disadvantage of having a big block
07-22-2018, 03:37 PM
#21
Le Mans Master
07-22-2018, 05:16 PM
#22
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
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St. Jude Donor '05
Oh I can think of some disadvantages! The constant yammering from the small block crowd about how a big block adds 92,000 lbs to my front end and makes the car handle like a battleship. Then there's the the ever present 'my small block puts out more than your BB' crowd. (But they never mention they have $10K invested in their small block and has been dyno engineered, and my BB was built in my garage and tuned by ear)
Other than that, the only REAL issue I have is the price of parts. SB heads are affordable......BB heads are a kings ransom.
Other than that, the only REAL issue I have is the price of parts. SB heads are affordable......BB heads are a kings ransom.
Big cubes pull a tall gear at any rpm its a blast, who cares about mpg really??
Last edited by cv67; 07-22-2018 at 05:20 PM.
07-22-2018, 05:38 PM
#23
Drifting
Thread Starter
ajrothm said "weird idle and rough rev". Probably true, but my cam already has a rough idle and at low rpm- idle to 3500- the engine ran without an apparent roughness. Not sure if the bad plug fired at all or was intermittent. It did not fire at idle speed. Traffic in my area prevents most flat-out acceleration runs, otherwise I probably would have noticed the problem if the plug was completely bad. Anyway, it's fixed and I hope the 50 year old car will run without incident for a while until the next problem 
07-22-2018, 05:44 PM
#24
Race Director
Here is your big block at 8 or 9k flat out sound. Also why i like boats. Put ANY car at full throttle and leave it there. Even my Prius, and youare breaking every law and causing mayhem in seconds!!
07-22-2018, 07:25 PM
#25
Le Mans Master
I am definitely a person who would be happier with a big block in my 77, and if money was not an object, I would have one. One question I have to the big block owners, and one thing that I have come to love about my 350 is the Nascar sound of high RPM........given torque is so much better on a big block, I guess you never get to hear that high RPM sound. That would be the only disadvantage I can think of, if I am correct. I get that sound in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear, on my SBC....when I would probably be already at the speed I want to go in 1st gear in a big block. With that being said, I still would prefer a big block, cause its all about torque, just like my Harley.
I mean I love a 7000+ rpm SBC as well..but a 6500 rpm BBC does the same work with much less fuss and maintenance....
07-22-2018, 08:31 PM
#26
Race Director
07-23-2018, 11:50 AM
#29
Race Director
All my flat bottom and jet drag boats had big blocks.
I wish we had go pro's and small video cameras back in the day.
I would have a full library of videos to share with my big blocks roaring at 7000 rpm's.
Nothing like going over 100 mph, inches above the water, with a big block six inches off your back with open exhaust.
I wish we had go pro's and small video cameras back in the day.
I would have a full library of videos to share with my big blocks roaring at 7000 rpm's.
Nothing like going over 100 mph, inches above the water, with a big block six inches off your back with open exhaust.
07-23-2018, 08:12 PM
#30
Instructor
Overheating issues with a big block are easily solved with a decent radiator and fan set up and a front spoiler extension from the 79 model , helps to direct more air up into the radiator , the extra weight really is not a problem
07-23-2018, 10:01 PM
#32
Racer
Here is your big block at 8 or 9k flat out sound. Also why i like boats. Put ANY car at full throttle and leave it there. Even my Prius, and youare breaking every law and causing mayhem in seconds!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_f6GUdldCdo
07-27-2018, 06:46 AM
#34
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
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I guess it depends on what you consider "high" RPMS.... Pretty much any BBC with a decent cam will go 6000 rpms... and those with solid flat tappet cams or either kind of roller will go 6500+ rpms...
I mean I love a 7000+ rpm SBC as well..but a 6500 rpm BBC does the same work with much less fuss and maintenance....
I mean I love a 7000+ rpm SBC as well..but a 6500 rpm BBC does the same work with much less fuss and maintenance....
And then you have the 7000+ rpm big block. No sound quite like it!