Big to Small Block?

[Josh]

I don't know about the "dinosaur" comment. There have been plenty of pathetic small blocks through history as well but none of that OE stuff applies here.
There is no answer to what is better but the old saying of "there is no replacement for displacement" will always be true, if overall power is the goal. As was said earlier, anything a small block can do (HP rating), a BBC can do better or at least easier. At a 400 HP goal, either motor can do it easy and , unless you are looking for the "wow" factor from your friends, there is not much reason to go BBC. At 500HP, either can do it but the SBC will have to wind up a bit, and the BBC will still be docile. Go to 600HP and any non supercharged SBC will be wound up and not too streetable and a BBC will be tolerable. If corner carving is really what you want to do often then the trade off to SBC is worth it, it is entirely a personal choice.