Big block ,Small block

[mikedc]

No, it's really not a GM-centric designation. Ford and Mopar both have clearly understood "small block" and "big block" motors.


--------------------------------


When we describe all this stuff in text, the different engine details might kinda jumble up and run together in the reader's mind. But if you actually had all these motors in front of you, the SB and BB differences would be very clear.


For example, the Mopars - yes, there were multiple deck heights on the "big block" shape. The B and the RB blocks.

But if you had half a dozen different 1960s Mopar engines all sitting in front of you, there is absolutely no question of what is related to what. The B and RB blocks are both rooted in the same design. Even with different deck heights, they are so similar they can barely even be told apart just by sight. Almost everything (including the actual cylinder heads) is still interchangeable between them.

Whereas you can pick out a B/RB block from any LA (small block) from across the room.

---------------------------------


Let me put it this way - I could rattle off a ton of differences between the Camaro and Firebird. When it's printed in text and you don't have any visuals to work with, the descriptions could easily start to make the these two cars sound like very different animals from each other. Same with the differences between a Chevelle and a Pontiac GTO.

But they're not. Park a 1969 Camaro, a '69 Firebird, 69 Chevelle, and a 69 GTO all together . . . there's absolutely no question which two are related to which other two. You can clearly see it from across the parking lot, no matter how many differences can be documented on paper.


-