Small vs Big Block - - - Opinion Wanted - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ChevLoRay · 11-30-2002, 07:46 PM

My '69 SWB C-10 Custom, with A/C, P/S, P/B, etc., still has the original 350 block, but later heads. Number 2 cylinder will oil foul the plug, over some indeterminate period of time. All other plugs will be nice and clean, i.e., no unusual coloration.

So, I'm looking at rebuilding it (at least the second rebuild on the block), or replacing it with a crate engine (like one with Vortec heads) OR getting a big block, either a 402 or 454. I have a Turbo 400 and stock rear gears, with a lowered (2.5/4.0) drop and disc conversion. I'm gonna have to spend some bucks, and I will have some downtime to do the engine when I start disassembling the truck to get it ready to paint.

So, what would YOU do?

Oh, money does matter.....my kids made sure I don't have a whole lot of it left to spend on me. However, I have told my wife that I will have as much in the '69 when it is finished, as it would cost to get a new one. The way prices are on new ones, my target price keeps moving up!

guitarman · 11-30-2002, 07:55 PM

Make more power with a BB. Make more torque. I would rather have a 454 Target motor than an HO 350.

mikep · 11-30-2002, 08:06 PM

It all depends on what your driving habits are like. If you haul a lot of stuff or just like to go fast all the time then the big block would be a good choice. You'll use more gas all the time too. Then again a small block built with a decent cam and decent components will make upwards of 400+ ft lbs of torque. I went from 396 to 350 and didnt lose a bit of performance doing it. In fact I'd have to say that this fresh 350 runs and drives a hell of a lot better than the tired 396 that came out of this truck . Why not buid a good small block with decent heads and a strong bottom end and put a nitrous plate on it. That way you can have road manners and still run 12 second quarter miles.

bigjimzlll · 11-30-2002, 08:54 PM

No replacement for displacement

crazy longhorn · 11-30-2002, 10:25 PM

A smallblock will never match the street useable tork that a big block puts out. My 383 runs good, & good tork(in the 440 ft lb range @ 3500).......but i ran a 461 inch Olds in my truck, & that thing was a wild ride! To compair the 2 engines, they both put out about the same HP........but no compairison on the tork, the Olds was in the 500+ range on tork & pulled a 3.40 gear happily. The chev winds tighter, & is running a 4.10 gear. If you have the extra funds for the BB, Id say go for it......

ChevLoRay · 12-02-2002, 03:45 PM

My problem is simply put: I am ALMOST grown, but not quite. At my age (55), and having never owned a big-block powered anything (well, I'm not counting my old 390-powered '67 Fairlane), I have a hankering to "juice up" my truck in time for my 40th high school reunion in 2005. My old buddies made fun of my '54 Ford Customline, 239 V-8/Stick 2-dr sedan...mainly because it sounded good but had absolutely NO power. Ran may-pops and Double-Eagle Porta-walls with 4-bar Lancers....looked good, too, but still wouldn't spin tires on wet grass.

So, this is what is driving me toward my dream. My 350 is still running good, but needs an overhaul. It WILL spin the tires on wet grass, dry grass, wet and dry pavement, etc., but I guess that I'm in the "Home Improvement", aka Tim the Tool Man "Power Mode" of thinking. Anything wrong with that?

72ChevyCheyenne · 12-02-2002, 03:52 PM

Do what I did and go with a ZZ 502 GM Performance crate engine.

lukecp · 12-02-2002, 03:53 PM

Go with the bigblock. Get a 454, put some good oval port heads on it, mild cam, allumium intake, 750cfm carb, and headers. Sure, it is gonna cost more than a SBC, but it will be alot more fun!

Big69C20 Toy · 12-02-2002, 03:54 PM

like said earlier what you gonna use this truck for? A BB will make more juice but you gotta pay to play... also you cant rebuild any motor cheaper than you can a sb 350 to my knowledge and there are TONS of parts for the 350, not to mention a good share for the bb's. i'd go BB but then again it's just my opinion....

cableguy0 · 12-02-2002, 06:50 PM

i would go with the new zz572 big block if you are trying to impress people.it makes 620 horsepower on pump gas. it would look great between the fenderwells of one of these trucks

71k5 · 12-02-2002, 07:45 PM

The only thing better than cubic inches is MORE cubic inches. I really like 427's (not the tall block).

**Desert Rat** · 12-02-2002, 08:15 PM

Well maybe this is more of a question for the ladies,would you be impressed with a lil mighty mouse,or a bam bam with a big club.well you gt the picture.Once you go big block i doubt youd go back,bu what it costs to build a small block,double it,but be like the double mint twins-double the fun!

11-30-2002, 07:46 PM	#1
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Small vs Big Block - - - Opinion Wanted My '69 SWB C-10 Custom, with A/C, P/S, P/B, etc., still has the original 350 block, but later heads. Number 2 cylinder will oil foul the plug, over some indeterminate period of time. All other plugs will be nice and clean, i.e., no unusual coloration. So, I'm looking at rebuilding it (at least the second rebuild on the block), or replacing it with a crate engine (like one with Vortec heads) OR getting a big block, either a 402 or 454. I have a Turbo 400 and stock rear gears, with a lowered (2.5/4.0) drop and disc conversion. I'm gonna have to spend some bucks, and I will have some downtime to do the engine when I start disassembling the truck to get it ready to paint. So, what would YOU do? Oh, money does matter.....my kids made sure I don't have a whole lot of it left to spend on me. However, I have told my wife that I will have as much in the '69 when it is finished, as it would cost to get a new one. The way prices are on new ones, my target price keeps moving up! __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-30-2002, 07:55 PM	#2
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Make more power with a BB. Make more torque. I would rather have a 454 Target motor than an HO 350. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

11-30-2002, 08:06 PM	#3
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	It all depends on what your driving habits are like. If you haul a lot of stuff or just like to go fast all the time then the big block would be a good choice. You'll use more gas all the time too. Then again a small block built with a decent cam and decent components will make upwards of 400+ ft lbs of torque. I went from 396 to 350 and didnt lose a bit of performance doing it. In fact I'd have to say that this fresh 350 runs and drives a hell of a lot better than the tired 396 that came out of this truck . Why not buid a good small block with decent heads and a strong bottom end and put a nitrous plate on it. That way you can have road manners and still run 12 second quarter miles. __________________ No truck :-(

11-30-2002, 08:54 PM	#4
bigjimzlll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding,CA...USA Posts: 4,736	No replacement for displacement __________________ It's called "drag racing" if they called it "tic..tic..WHAM!..BANG! F*&K!!!", they'd have to keep the magazines under the counter with the other men's publications click the clicky to join the site.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php 67 lwb..first hotrod in 25 years..540 best ET is 9.45 @ 141.44 Anderson,CA

11-30-2002, 10:25 PM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	A smallblock will never match the street useable tork that a big block puts out. My 383 runs good, & good tork(in the 440 ft lb range @ 3500).......but i ran a 461 inch Olds in my truck, & that thing was a wild ride! To compair the 2 engines, they both put out about the same HP........but no compairison on the tork, the Olds was in the 500+ range on tork & pulled a 3.40 gear happily. The chev winds tighter, & is running a 4.10 gear. If you have the extra funds for the BB, Id say go for it...... __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

12-02-2002, 03:45 PM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	My problem is simply put: I am ALMOST grown, but not quite. At my age (55), and having never owned a big-block powered anything (well, I'm not counting my old 390-powered '67 Fairlane), I have a hankering to "juice up" my truck in time for my 40th high school reunion in 2005. My old buddies made fun of my '54 Ford Customline, 239 V-8/Stick 2-dr sedan...mainly because it sounded good but had absolutely NO power. Ran may-pops and Double-Eagle Porta-walls with 4-bar Lancers....looked good, too, but still wouldn't spin tires on wet grass. So, this is what is driving me toward my dream. My 350 is still running good, but needs an overhaul. It WILL spin the tires on wet grass, dry grass, wet and dry pavement, etc., but I guess that I'm in the "Home Improvement", aka Tim the Tool Man "Power Mode" of thinking. Anything wrong with that? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

12-02-2002, 03:52 PM	#7
72ChevyCheyenne Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Woodstock, GA USA Posts: 300	ZZ 502 Do what I did and go with a ZZ 502 GM Performance crate engine. __________________ Bill Durham http://home.attbi.com/~bulldurham 72 Cheyenne Restoration in progress Currently: frame sand blasted and powdercoated, Inline Tube brake and fuel lines, Blazer tank in rear, Holley Red electronic fuel pump, Eaton posi with 3.42 gears, 2 1/2" drop front spindles, 4" drop rear springs with adjustable panhard bar, KYB shocks, ZZ 502/502 GM Performance crate engine, Zoops brackets and pulleys, Vintage Air, dual electric fans, Ram Air II hood and late model sport side bed.

12-02-2002, 03:53 PM	#8
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Go with the bigblock. Get a 454, put some good oval port heads on it, mild cam, allumium intake, 750cfm carb, and headers. Sure, it is gonna cost more than a SBC, but it will be alot more fun! __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

12-02-2002, 03:54 PM	#9
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	like said earlier what you gonna use this truck for? A BB will make more juice but you gotta pay to play... also you cant rebuild any motor cheaper than you can a sb 350 to my knowledge and there are TONS of parts for the 350, not to mention a good share for the bb's. i'd go BB but then again it's just my opinion.... __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

12-02-2002, 06:50 PM	#10
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	i would go with the new zz572 big block if you are trying to impress people.it makes 620 horsepower on pump gas. it would look great between the fenderwells of one of these trucks __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member. Last edited by cableguy0; 05-12-2006 at 02:37 AM.

12-02-2002, 07:45 PM	#11
71k5 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Manchester, PA Posts: 138	The only thing better than cubic inches is MORE cubic inches. I really like 427's (not the tall block).

12-02-2002, 08:15 PM	#12
Desert Rat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Darrington, Washington Posts: 3,963	Well maybe this is more of a question for the ladies,would you be impressed with a lil mighty mouse,or a bam bam with a big club.well you gt the picture.Once you go big block i doubt youd go back,bu what it costs to build a small block,double it,but be like the double mint twins-double the fun!

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