366 Big Block

[Jamie McDavid]

Any of ou guys ever messed around with one of these before? I stumbled across one today and saved it from the crusher. I seam to be a sucker, I just cant stand seeing stuff get crushed... I know these motors were torque power houses but not so much on horse power. I think I'm going to clean it up and maybe drop it in one of my street toys to play around with and burn some rubber. Sounds pretty mean atleast...

[Stepper562]

366 BB??? Never heard of it.

[S10Fan]

Big trucks and school buses, I'd let it go.

[Jamie McDavid]

They were only used in big trucks and buses. I'm just wondering how it will do. I know there not a "performance" motor but in something much lighter than it was intended for it would have to shoot a little bit = )

[rwhit57]

Originally Posted by Jamie McDavid

They were only used in big trucks and buses. I'm just wondering how it will do. I know there not a "performance" motor but in something much lighter than it was intended for it would have to shoot a little bit = )

I remember some guys messing with one of those back in the 70's. Those motors are built for low end torque, and only rated at about 250hp. There are no performance parts avail for it, so you're stuck with a 250hp motor. Just about any stock 350sb puts out 250hp and will rev a lot faster and farther, and out run it all day. I wouldn't waste any time or $ on it.

[BigRed76]

So it doesn't make a lot of power, but if you think its cool, then go for it. Thats what matters right? My dad put a 305 v6 in a '41 chevy, simply because it was different...

[Warrens69GMC]

Grab the crank out of it, its forged steel and a 396 (3.76)stroke. Find a standard deck 454 and build a 427!!

[Pyrotechnic]

They were basically designed to run at WOT all day in a dump truck. If anything, it's a work horse that will last a long time. I bet you could put a lot of miles on one before it would need a rebuild.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Grab the crank out of it, its forged steel and a 396 (3.76)stroke. Find a standard deck 454 and build a 427!!

This is absolutely true. Back in the day, if you wanted to build a bullet proof bottom end on the cheap for a 396 or 402, the 366 truck crank, rods and 4 bolt mains were the donor items to get. The 366 short block would fetch around 150.00 to 200.00 at the salvage yard.

[100%Chevy]

It's a tall deck.
Built strictly for torque and heavy duty use.
Designed to last.
I've a 427 t.d.-Often used to build up to a 496,but expensive!
They're not for high revving.Most have governors mounted under the carb.
4 rings per piston for longevity.
You could use it and tell everyone it's a 454.Be hard to hide the huge intake manifold.Normal big block intakes won't fit because the .4" higher deck changes the intake to head angle and height.
Special intakes can be had,but cost $$$.
And there's spacer sets to mount stock intakes as is.
I also have a GMC,351 V/6.It's a great engine for hauling,pulling heavy trailers,etc.
I would keep it as is and stick in a corner,you might use it later!
Mike.

[BigBlocksRule]

Tiny bore for a big block - 3.935" - makes it hard to breathe!!! They were for economy on trucks and busses that didn't need to rev over about 4 grand, they're a LOT tougher than any smallblock. If you want a comparison, it's like a 350 vs a 305, it can be made to work but doesn't have nearly the potential of a 4.25" bore block. You'd have to bore this thing .065 just to get to the same bore size as a 350!!!
Snag the steel crank, truck rods and 4-bolt caps, scrap the rest.
Best part is you can push the pistons out the bottom of the block, bores are so small that the pistons won't even hit the main webs.

[Stepper562]

Thx for the info guys. I never knew a 366 bb existed, I blame my dad and my age hehe.
Posted via Mobile Device

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by Stepper562

I blame my dad

He was just protecting you from headaches.

[Stepper562]

Haha I love these kind of headaches.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Your41Plague12]

I was just building one of these that I got for cheap when I made a rookie mistake and re-used the head bolts. Broke off flush in the block. Anywho, I'm basically posting in this thread to say that parts are just about impossible to find. If you have one that's complete, you should be ok though. They'll last just about forever, but you won't be getting anywhere fast.

[Pop's C-10]

If you like & wanna save it...clean & paint it up real good & make it garage art...i've always wanted to do a motor like that

[ECU PIRATE]

You can always throw the internals in your ride and bring them up to me in northern Virginia. I have a place for them

[ECU PIRATE]

You can always bring the internals up to me in nova. I have a place for them..................

[Desert1957]

looks like a 454 , Runs like a high mileage 283....Junk

Desert

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by Desert1957

looks like a 454 , Runs like a high mileage 283....Junk

Desert

I have a high mileage 283, slower than a coal train on a mountain.

[rjn72]

you guys sure know how to make a guy feel good about something he already bought. I think along the same lines, I have stuff laying around that no one else wants now, but one day when I die and my great grandchildren find it it will be worth some jack. By the way I am 28 and my daughter is almost 2 just for perspective. But I hate to see things crushed when there is nothing wrong with it, just not desireable.

[Jamie McDavid]

Thanks rjn72!!! Haha

[BigBlocksRule]

Don't look at it as something being crushed...look at it as an obsoltete engine being recycled into a 6.0L LS engine!

[motornut]

try to sell it,heck if it's that rare they must be worth something to the "right" person
people convert busses to campers all the time

[BigBlocksRule]

^ problem is they don't make good power for their size. A 427 tall deck would be a much better choice for that app.
I heard of a guy that used a 454 crank in one once, said it didn't pick up nearly as much power as he'd expected, the small bore really restricts airflow.