FRSTR90

Lately, I have been looking at the big inch small blocks (not that I plan on building one in the near future or anything), and I've been wondering why people go this route instead of the big blocks. I understand you can get BB horsepower by going with the more cubes with the weight of a small block, but you can get even more cubes if you went with an aluminum block.

So, what kept you from going with a big block?

ratflinger

I always built small blocks, so that's what I'm most familiar with. I'm sure I could, I just haven't. I've never owned a BB Chevy, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

CA-Legal-Vette

Mine came down to accessoriies.

I already had all the brackets and heads for the small block so went with a 400 when I needed to switch.

The big block would have been cool, but I didn't think it was worth the cost and effort. I may change my mind once I hit the limits of the engine that I chose though.

The Money Pit

In retrospect I could have built more power out of a BB than the 406 I have now,but having to toss all the smallblock brackets,intakes,headers,etc. that I already had baught and paid for,I felt I could (and did) build enough horsepower with the small block.

I also tend to like the rumpity idle I have with my 540 horse 406,and in comparison to a 454 pushing only 540 horse,the 454 would idle like a Caddy.The other concideration I had was cost.In all the catologs I've seen when the "big block" is mentioned,the price of the part is "BIG BUCK".

weimer20

The vote really didn't give me the option that I needed which would be the weight and handling issue. I don't have the dollars to go out and buy an aluminum big block and I don't want to have the extra pork upfront screwing up my handling.

0Corvette Engineering

500 hp, less weight than a stock small block, how can that be bad?

I built my 434 in 1999 and a STILL happy

FRSTR90

I am not trying to say it is bad by any means. I was just curious to know what were peoples reason for not going with a BB. In fact, I kind of like the idea of having a big inch small block. Some have the idea the SBCs are weak and cant produce similar numbers of a BBC. Obviously, that statement is wrong. The idea I love the most about the SB is that you can dress it up to make it look like an LT-1 or an L82 and actually have a 427 or 434. The most rewarding part would be to see the people's faces when you car does 11 sec in the quarter mile!

I hope you didn't get the feeling that I tried to put the SBC's down. I was just curious as to why people went this route.

Gordonm

Because the car was a SB to start with and had all the acc. for a SB. A 500 HP SB is about all you can use on the street anyway. I can hardly get any traction with what I have. If I built a BB pretty much the same way it would be around 700HP. That is quite a bit of HP for a street car, although there never seems to be HP.

0Corvette Engineering

Thats funny I thought the most rewarding part was DOING the 1/4 mile in 11 seconds

Oh no I didn't feel put down at all. Sorry if it sounded that way.
The down side is it LOOKS like a small block.
The upside is it sounds like a big block when it starts up ( a healthy big block at that...

vetteaddic

I would love a BB, all aluminum,
but 1 reason I chose a 427 SB is more room,and less weight,
something about a BB, more of a gas hog to me.

Tim H

I'll stick with small blocks.
Faster with less money.

skeptic

I still have the stock engine, but I voted anyway because I've already decided to go small block after I finish some other projects and I'm ready for an engine swap.

For what I want, I'm looking at EFI, 300-350HP, and 5-spd/6-spd, improved handling through suspension upgrades. Cheaper and easier to stay with a SB. I know not all of that is related to SB vs BB, but I like to consider all upgrades as a package not just look at all the parts individualy.

FRSTR90

I guess that would be the most rewarding



Sounds like you package will result in a good cruiser with good gas mileage. Good Luck on your build!

Ironcross

One uses the little guy to start the BIG guy.

FRSTR90

Jughead

I scrapped my SB and went over to the dark side.

panic

I like both engines, each one has its pro and cons but prefer a high perf SB for its weight and for its 'urgency' in revving high, i've been thinking to pass to the wild side though but only when i'll be able to effort a full alu high compression BB engine, which means plenty of $$$$$$