small block v. big block

[Jim D.]

been a c2 vette owner for 30 yrs...small blocks.want to trade up to a big block but hear pro's & con's.my 365 runs like a clock easy to maintain...am i looking for trouble with a 396,390,400,425? running hot , lots of maintainance??
is the 390 milder and easier to care for rather than the "hotter" hp's?
love some input.

thanx
jim

[Steve Pettit]

Re: small block v. big block

I think the 327 is one of the all time great engines, in some ways unsurpassed. Having said that, the 427/390 is pretty-much an unalloyed joy. My 66 roadster sat in a barn for almost two decades with no advantages in the storing. I got it out, rebuilt the carb and did the other rejuvenating things laid out on these pages and it runs like a dream. The engine has great gobs of torque, very civilized town and country driving characteristics, and mine does not overheat even in the Cal. summers. Others on this forum will know more about the relative merits of the engines you describe, but I love my 390.

Steve

[Dave F.]

Re: small block v. big block

I had a '65 396/425 with side pipes, which was a straight line blast to drive! Won lots of gas money BUT it was a furnace to live in, a bit nose heavy, and was murder on valve springs. My other three were all 327/350hp and better handling cars that ran cooler. But weren't as cool as the 396. Different animals for sure, and I wish I had them all now.

[Rich G.]

Re: small block v. big block

This question is like asking "Blond or Red Head?", but here goes: I have a 66 327/350 and a 68 427/435. They both run normal temps. They both are fun to drive and to look at, but if push came to shove and I could only have one, I'd keep the small block. I hope it never does. I guess my advice is you need at least one of each.

Rich Giannotti

[Dave F.]

Re: small block v. big block

I'd take the blonde - two women at one time is a younger man's game ;-)

[Dick W.]

Re: small block v. big block

Whar I come from, we use small blocks as starter motors for our big blocks

[Jon #40768]

Re: My wife used to commute in heavy traffic

My wife used to commute in very heavy traffic every day with my big block. I had to get her pregnet to get my car back. Nothing beats torque. The car does tend to cook your feet in a long trip on a hot day. I loved my 327 solid axel, but would only consider a big block or an injected small block in a mid year. Good luck with what ever you decide.

[Chris H.]

Re: small block v. big block

Jim, I've only had Big Blocks, so here goes. My first was a 396 Coupe with Side Pipes. It was a Monster. I had to where ear plugs, and could only drive it for half hour spurts, as the heat was overwhelming, unless it was under 40 degrees outside. I loved the brutality of the car. Wife and kids wouldn't get near it. A "mans" car if there ever was one.

My current ride is a 70 454 coupe. Just look at the gas pedal, and the tires go up in smoke. All low end torque, no need to rev beyond 4500 rpm.

Keep in mind there are two flavors of Big Blocks....low end torque ones and high horse / high rpm ones.

The 396 is a high horse / high rpm one. 4 bolt mains, wild cam, solid lifters, square port heads, high-rise intake. The L72 and L71 are of the same architecture.

The 454 is a low end torque one. Milder cam, hydraulic lifters, oval port heads and low rise intake. L36s and L68s are of the same architecture.

The high horse motors tend to be slightly more expensive, and require periodic valve adjustment. They were also more likely to be raced, blown up and crashed. Hence those cars are more likely candidates for restamped motors, etc.

I like 365 cars. Want to trade?