Big Blocks and Small Blocks

Big blocks cylinder engines are considered muscle car engines or truck engines with a displacement of larger than 360 in.³ or 5.9 L and eight cylinders.  Beginning manufacture in the 1960s for the large full-size cars and by late 60s was popular for muscle cars and installed in smaller vehicles for street racing.

Popular big blocks like the Chevy 427, Ford's 429 and Chrysler's 426 Hemi were manufactured to be available for NASCAR's 7.0 L engine size limit and every muscle car owner wanted the performance of big block fitted into their intermediate sized car.  The resulting 1970s oil crisis changed the common passenger car and the big block was no longer installed in passenger vehicles.

In the new millennium, powerful street vehicles are still a dream of many car enthusiasts, so new modern powerful big block engines have been made available with a Chevrolet 572 in.³, 9.4 L available with 620 hp and a 528 hemi engine, 8.7 L and even a 540 in.³ Hemi engine, 8.8 L all of these big block engines run on unleaded gasoline.

The popular small block V-8 engine of the 1950s has continued its popularity due to fuel economy and lightness of engine weight.  The displacement of this small block in the popular Chevy 350 in.³ and the Ford 351 in.³ engines have a reputation even today of a tough, powerful engine and is often seen in trucks and sports cars during the 70s and the 80s

As of the 90s, the term small block became accepted even for blocks that were over the 360 in.³ 6.0 L displacement with V10, 505 in.³ 8.3 L engines becoming available on the market.  Because of its lightness, it was regularly used in newer sports cars and medium duty trucks.  Many muscle car and hot rod enthusiasts are well-known to bore out the cylinders of the small block for more power resulting in a modified performance small block.

Rebuilt Engine Store loves to build performance remanufactured engines and if you're considering modifying a small block or a large block for performance and horsepower please give us a call or e-mail so that we can be viewed the horsepower you're looking for in your rebuilt/remanufactured big block or small block.  Years of experience and an honest joy of the craftsman at Rebuilt Engine Store for modifications and performance specifications that result in a rebuilt/remanufactured engine that will outperform your expectations.