I have been looking for a 1968-1971 for a while now. Was actually trying to find a 4 speed w. a 350. I came across a 1972 Automatic w. the 454 and side pipes. I know in 1972 the hp is down to 270 in the 454 which really doesn’t matter to me that much. My question is with the Big Block I’ve heard that the handling is not that great compared to the small block. Is it really that noticeable? Thanks

 

Probably not. Have you driven a big block car?

 

big block engine is usually much heavier and messes up the front to rear weight ratio vs a small block.. so yes you will notice an effect if you have the feel for such a thing.

I would not notice as I do not drive a 50 year old car on the track or even fast around curves.. I drive a cruiser....

if you require great handling then choose accordingly.

also.. a small block with power brakes, air conditioning, power steering approaches the weight of a no option big block.. you really need to know what you are comparing to.

 

Ok thanks, I have owned a 78 and a 81 w. 190 hp in the past and I was just wondering. Just sold a 2015 C7 last month to get back into a Classic.

 

no not a big difference. If youve never driven either you wouldnt say "OMG this thing handles bad". Lot of it is repeated internet stuff
Those BB covers and tq...gotta have it.

 

For 50 years people have been telling me this same silly story about how big block Corvettes don't handle well, and it's just plain wrong. While it may be true about Camaro's and Chevelle's with big blocks, it's not true about Corvettes.

In general terms, a 63-82 small block Corvette has about a 49/51 front to rear weight balance, while a big block is closer to 50/50. The reason for this is because the engine in a Corvette is set back in the chassis, behind the front crossmember, not over it like in most cars. Placing the engine behind the crossmember, also allows it to be lower in the chassis, further improving the weight balance. The slightly heavier weight of a big block, may make low speed steering a little heavier in cars without power steering, and a big block may be a little more prone to understeer at it's absolute limits, but 99,9% of owners will never approach those limits.

 

In a C3 which the underpinnings come from the C2 that was engineered in the early 60’s it ain’t going to matter!! I have a 71 with a 454....almost any passenger car today could outhandle it! It was ahead of its time back in 71....in 2019 let’s face it they’re old tech but fun!

 

For drag racing, the additional horsepower and torque of a big block will more than make up for its heavier weight, relative to a small block. So, generally, the big block wins hands down.

Road racing, however, places enormous demands on cornering and braking. So the more powerful big block cannot nearly as easily make up for its additional weight with quicker acceleration.

All other things being equal, the heavier the vehicle, the stronger the inertia, and the more the vehicle will resist turning and braking. An additional hundred pounds on a C3 Corvette will have a somewhat undesirable effect on both.

How much does it matter? It depends on how many and how tight the curves are you’re trying to negotiate, and—perhaps more importantly—just how close to the performance margins you intend to push the car. If you don't push the car near its limits and you're just trying to have fun, the big block may be more enjoyable due to its greater capacity for acceleration.

That's one of the reasons why the L88 and L89 427 engines were so impressive for their time. They both utilized lightweight aluminum heads so the driver could enjoy big block power without suffering big block weight gain.

 

IMO. If you want your Vette to put you back in your seat when you stomp it then get the big block. You could very cost effectively add 100-200 hp to the big block if you want more power

 

As I said in my earlier post, because of the engine set back in a Corvette, the effect that the slightly heavier big block has on a Corvette's handling, is nearly imperceptible. Even in stock production trim, the weight balance of a big block is a perfect 50/50 balance. From a handling standpoint, a stock big block Corvette may have a slight tendency toward understeer at the limits, but a car that understeers is not a bad thing in the hands of an average driver.

I have spent a good part of my 65 years crewing on road race and autocross Corvettes, as well as autocrossing them myself. From my experience there is very little difference in the way a small block and big block handle. Figuring an average weight of 3000 pounds, the difference in weight between the two is less than half a percent. Small blocks and big blocks have always raced in different classes, because the added torque and horsepower of a big block, more than makes up for the slightly heavier weight.

 

"My **** is too big. I sure wish I had a smaller **** ", said no guy ever. Same thing goes for engine size. And the '72 wasn't actually down to 270HP versus 365HP for 1971. It's virtually the same horsepower as '71 because it's virtually the same motor. The government just started mandating the standardized SAE net HP testing procedure in '72 that wasn't required in earlier years.

 

My only advice is that you get one with power steering or adjust accordingly for the lack of it.

 

if you get a small block, power steering and brakes are a must have too...

 

Thanks everyone. Kings Corvettes in Alabama have 2 Big Blocks in stock that look very nice. I think that I am going to plan a road trip. Has anyone heard of them and have any thoughts?

 

are they charging the "vette tax", standind behind it? Try some local machine shops bet a few of them have something thats known to be good rather than a "story" and a pressure wash.

 

buy from an owner. he knows and is more likely to tell you the car's real story. a reseller is tacking 5 to 10k on to the price and it is not in his interest to point out anything except how shiny it is. and also look at some crappy ones near you. gives you an idea of the bad stuff to avoid. and it is still after all vette shopping...

 

Took a quick look at inventory. One is reporting matching numbers, other doesn't mention it, could be a NOM. If you're paying for original matching numbers, be sure to get in writing 'ORIGINAL' engine, matching numbers. Some sellers are passing off restamps as matching numbers, getting away with it so long as they don't claim originality. You'll pay quite a bit more buying from a dealer than private.

 

Agree 100%. I have a 72 454 w/o power steering and at very low speeds the steering does require more effort than my 66 SB, also w/o power steering. However at speed there is not much difference. Since I avoid all parking lots and stop and go traffic it's really not an issue. Incidentally the lower horsepower rating was mainly due to the way it was measured. For 72 they started using a "net" number, prior to that it was a "gross" number. In all acceleration numbers I've ever seen the 72 454 is just as quick as the 71 454 which was rated at 365 horsepower, LS-5 version.

 

Big Block all day i've had both and it's the torque of the big block that make driving so much fun , no great difference in handling and you can extract plenty of performance out of a big block quite easily

 

Why is everyone talking about the engine? If you want a 4-speed, an automatic will NOT scratch that itch.