Small/ Big Block ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tynee · 05-26-2005, 08:00 AM

So, I'm talking to a guy the other day with a fairly nice '71 or'72 burb. I notice the "400" badge on the fender, and I ask if it still has the BB in it. He informs me that it is still the factory SB 400. This was confusing to me. I thought the 400 was just the 396 BB in these trucks. I know that GM did make some SB 400's, but I didn't realize they ever put them in these trucks.

Am I crazy? Did he know what he was talking about?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 05-26-2005, 12:35 PM

According to the Suburban brochure specifications for engines there were (4) available engines, 250 six cylinder, 307 V-8, 350 V-8, 400 V-8, (402). As far as I know the SBC 400 was never installed from the factory.

If he has the documentaton showing that the 400 sbc was installed by the factory it would be interesting to know about it.

Jim

71HUGGER396 · 05-26-2005, 01:52 PM

I had a 1972 chevy truck with a smaalblock 400 in it. It had the 400 badges on the fenders, but more important, It did have on the glovebox label listed as an option, 400 smallblock. No I don't have proof, I had the truck about 15 years ago. I sold it to my buddy, who is also a board member, but he sold it about 10 years ago, it want to Canada. One day I needed something from the parts department of my local chevy dealer. When I said it was a smallblock 400, He said it must have been made late in the year.

Tynee · 05-26-2005, 02:07 PM

Hmmm, did they start offering the sb400 as an option in '73? Sounds like your parts guy thinks maybe they started them a little early in some of the '72's

Blazer1970 · 05-26-2005, 05:14 PM

They did NOT put 400 cid small blocks in these trucks. They were never used in trucks until the mid '70s. People who think they have seen a "factory" 400 small block in a '67 - '72 can't tell the difference between a big block and a small block.

smokekiki · 05-26-2005, 05:22 PM

I have never seen one in our trucks,but the 400 smallblock came out in '70.It was used in Impalas and Monte's.Full size trucks,mid 70's.This is from car craft..http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/1001/index1.html

71HUGGER396 · 05-26-2005, 06:39 PM

I don't who believes me or who think that i'm full of sh**. I know what I had. It was a factory 400 smallblock in a 72.

John Engelberg · 05-26-2005, 11:23 PM

I had a 72 suburban 4x4 back in the late 70's or early 80's that had a factory stock small block 400. I know it was original because I checked the tag in the glovebox and then checked the motor, it had the cutout on the harmonic balancer, the balance weight on the flex plate, and the area on the block where the cylinders were had raised areas showing the extra clearance for the water jacket. This burb was so rusty that I could see the road under my feet while driving down the road. I removed the body shortened the frame 6 inches and put a 69 Olds vista cruser body on it. Fun car till my brother rolled it.

05-26-2005, 08:00 AM	#1
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Small/ Big Block ? So, I'm talking to a guy the other day with a fairly nice '71 or'72 burb. I notice the "400" badge on the fender, and I ask if it still has the BB in it. He informs me that it is still the factory SB 400. This was confusing to me. I thought the 400 was just the 396 BB in these trucks. I know that GM did make some SB 400's, but I didn't realize they ever put them in these trucks. Am I crazy? Did he know what he was talking about? __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

05-26-2005, 01:52 PM	#3
71HUGGER396 Confirmed Truckaholic Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sarver,PA 16055 Posts: 732	I had a 1972 chevy truck with a smaalblock 400 in it. It had the 400 badges on the fenders, but more important, It did have on the glovebox label listed as an option, 400 smallblock. No I don't have proof, I had the truck about 15 years ago. I sold it to my buddy, who is also a board member, but he sold it about 10 years ago, it want to Canada. One day I needed something from the parts department of my local chevy dealer. When I said it was a smallblock 400, He said it must have been made late in the year. __________________ 1968 50th STEP SIDE SHORTY, 350/350, a/c, ps, p,b Daily Driver, 1970 Cst short fleet, all black, 350/350, 1970 2wd Blazer, 2wd, 6 cyl. 3 spd, original, now a 454, 350turbo, 3.73 posi, on the road 1971 2wd fleet shorty, 454, 700r4, 3.73 posi, SOLD to 67OLDSTYLE72 "My rig's a little old but that don't mean she's slow" - SAWYER BROWN's Six Days On The Road SEMPER FI "I use to be a lean mean fighting machine, but now I'm a huffin, puffin, over stuffin love muffin"

05-26-2005, 02:07 PM	#4
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Hmmm, did they start offering the sb400 as an option in '73? Sounds like your parts guy thinks maybe they started them a little early in some of the '72's __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

05-26-2005, 05:14 PM	#5
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,510	They did NOT put 400 cid small blocks in these trucks. They were never used in trucks until the mid '70s. People who think they have seen a "factory" 400 small block in a '67 - '72 can't tell the difference between a big block and a small block. __________________ Tim

05-26-2005, 05:22 PM	#6
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	I have never seen one in our trucks,but the 400 smallblock came out in '70.It was used in Impalas and Monte's.Full size trucks,mid 70's.This is from car craft..http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/1001/index1.html __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires Last edited by smokekiki; 05-26-2005 at 05:29 PM.

05-26-2005, 12:35 PM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	According to the Suburban brochure specifications for engines there were (4) available engines, 250 six cylinder, 307 V-8, 350 V-8, 400 V-8, (402). As far as I know the SBC 400 was never installed from the factory. If he has the documentaton showing that the 400 sbc was installed by the factory it would be interesting to know about it. Jim

05-26-2005, 06:39 PM	#7
71HUGGER396 Confirmed Truckaholic Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sarver,PA 16055 Posts: 732	I don't who believes me or who think that i'm full of sh. I know what I had. It was a factory 400 smallblock in a 72. __________________ 1968 50th STEP SIDE SHORTY, 350/350, a/c, ps, p,b Daily Driver, 1970 Cst short fleet, all black, 350/350, 1970 2wd Blazer, 2wd, 6 cyl. 3 spd, original, now a 454, 350turbo, 3.73 posi, on the road 1971 2wd fleet shorty, 454, 700r4, 3.73 posi, SOLD to 67OLDSTYLE72 "My rig's a little old but that don't mean she's slow" - SAWYER BROWN's Six Days On The Road SEMPER FI "I use to be a lean mean fighting machine, but now I'm a huffin, puffin, over stuffin love muffin"**

05-26-2005, 11:23 PM	#8
John Engelberg Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2	I had a 72 suburban 4x4 back in the late 70's or early 80's that had a factory stock small block 400. I know it was original because I checked the tag in the glovebox and then checked the motor, it had the cutout on the harmonic balancer, the balance weight on the flex plate, and the area on the block where the cylinders were had raised areas showing the extra clearance for the water jacket. This burb was so rusty that I could see the road under my feet while driving down the road. I removed the body shortened the frame 6 inches and put a 69 Olds vista cruser body on it. Fun car till my brother rolled it.



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