BigBlock or Small Block?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Montreal QC
BigBlock or Small Block?
There is no answer for which one is better, but I'd like to know the good sides and the bad sides about these engines...
Ofcourse BB has more power and torque, but it is also heavier and makes the weight balance of the car little bit weird... Spare parts are more expensive to BB (I suppose?), but on the other hand BB is more respected...
I'm just trying to get a some kind of a sence wether to buy a BB or SB.
Ofcourse BB has more power and torque, but it is also heavier and makes the weight balance of the car little bit weird... Spare parts are more expensive to BB (I suppose?), but on the other hand BB is more respected...
I'm just trying to get a some kind of a sence wether to buy a BB or SB.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: BigBlock or Small Block? (FinnShark)
In one of the Vette Mags the tech guy said it is very expensive to install a BB in aSMB vette if done properly. Next question how big is your budget. The engine alone will cost you 2 to 3 time more the a 350. You are right BB are more respected then the small little brothers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,220
Likes: 208
Re: BigBlock or Small Block? (FinnShark)
Hi Riku, sorry we didn't get to meet each other at the show last weekend. I went there on friday and just had a quick run through.
Ok, back to the original question, as you may know my car used to be a small block when I first bought it and it was sporting about 300bhp and same amount of tq. After some time this just started to feel like not-enough and I started looking for the different alternatives wheter to try to squeze more power out of the mice block or go for the rat block. After having had test drive in 454 Chevelle there was no going back.
I found brand new LS-6 specs BB and just dropped it in and I was pretty satisfied with the result :D the endless torque is something you don't get with stock small block. My engine was all stock with iron heads and after spend few laps on alastaro and ahvenisto it came clear to me that the car wasn't handling too good and something had to be done, it went on a DIET!!! :lol:
As you know my car is still under body off restoration and what I've done to improve the handling is a lot! I went from VB&P slalom suspension for Performance + kit which includes tubular a-arms and composite mono spring on front and composite mono spring on rear. Then I added offset trailing arms and changed all bushings to poly. I also installed steeroids rack & pinion kit. New wheels came from American racing and are TT IIs in 20" diameter.
As for the engine I tried to use as much aluminum as possible and here's what I've got now: Edelbrock aluminum oval port heads, edelbrock EFI w/ aluminum intake, Edelbrock aluminum water pump, BeCool aluminum radiator, aluminum radiator frame and most of the body/bumber brackets are currently been made out of aluminum. All the canisters will be polished aluminum too. I just ordered complete serpentine conversion with aluminum pulleys and brackets from March Perf along with small late model style steering pump.
After this project is completed it is time to see the difference and I trully hope it is going to be huge.
Oh, your orinal question... maybe I was just trying to give an idea what needs to be done if you want to make your big block car to handle like late model vette. I think that all iron BB is not a good choice when you're looking for good handling car. Yes, it will be a fun drive and it will drink all that petrol you'll poor in the gas tank, so in the end it'll be your choice.
Just my 2 cents.
PS:How was that '80 that you went to take a look in Vantaa? :cheers:
Ok, back to the original question, as you may know my car used to be a small block when I first bought it and it was sporting about 300bhp and same amount of tq. After some time this just started to feel like not-enough and I started looking for the different alternatives wheter to try to squeze more power out of the mice block or go for the rat block. After having had test drive in 454 Chevelle there was no going back.
I found brand new LS-6 specs BB and just dropped it in and I was pretty satisfied with the result :D the endless torque is something you don't get with stock small block. My engine was all stock with iron heads and after spend few laps on alastaro and ahvenisto it came clear to me that the car wasn't handling too good and something had to be done, it went on a DIET!!! :lol:
As you know my car is still under body off restoration and what I've done to improve the handling is a lot! I went from VB&P slalom suspension for Performance + kit which includes tubular a-arms and composite mono spring on front and composite mono spring on rear. Then I added offset trailing arms and changed all bushings to poly. I also installed steeroids rack & pinion kit. New wheels came from American racing and are TT IIs in 20" diameter.
As for the engine I tried to use as much aluminum as possible and here's what I've got now: Edelbrock aluminum oval port heads, edelbrock EFI w/ aluminum intake, Edelbrock aluminum water pump, BeCool aluminum radiator, aluminum radiator frame and most of the body/bumber brackets are currently been made out of aluminum. All the canisters will be polished aluminum too. I just ordered complete serpentine conversion with aluminum pulleys and brackets from March Perf along with small late model style steering pump.
After this project is completed it is time to see the difference and I trully hope it is going to be huge.
Oh, your orinal question... maybe I was just trying to give an idea what needs to be done if you want to make your big block car to handle like late model vette. I think that all iron BB is not a good choice when you're looking for good handling car. Yes, it will be a fun drive and it will drink all that petrol you'll poor in the gas tank, so in the end it'll be your choice.
Just my 2 cents.
PS:How was that '80 that you went to take a look in Vantaa? :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 446
Likes: 62
From: Sugar Land Texas
Re: BigBlock or Small Block? (FinnShark)
I went from a SB to a BB and I can say I don't regret it. I have had SB motors for years and still like them, but I could not pass up the opportunity to rebuild my car and put a big block in it. With a BB, it's easier to get good, streetable HP and TQ. The initial cost for pulleys and brackets was about $300 for all new. I put aluminum heads on it, so the weight difference was reduced significantly.
As for parts costs, the increase in parts prices is not significant and, again, you can get good streetable HP and TQ with less radical parts than what you might have to put in a SB to achieve the same specs on power. I do miss the revs of the small block a little.
As for parts costs, the increase in parts prices is not significant and, again, you can get good streetable HP and TQ with less radical parts than what you might have to put in a SB to achieve the same specs on power. I do miss the revs of the small block a little.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: BigBlock or Small Block? (FinnShark)
My "vote" is for a Big Block !!!
Big block disadvantage include 'running hot' (overheating) - if your in cooler climates this is less of a worry & elec. fans usually solve this problem. :)
Small blocks usually get better gas mileage but often lack the 'streetable' power that everyone expects from a vette. :chevy
Big block disadvantage include 'running hot' (overheating) - if your in cooler climates this is less of a worry & elec. fans usually solve this problem. :)
Small blocks usually get better gas mileage but often lack the 'streetable' power that everyone expects from a vette. :chevy
