What is a 'Big' Block

[Andy_L]

I'm confused,

I've seen a Ford 302 V8 referred to as a small block engine

The 1800 vauxhall engine referred to as small and big block.


So what the hell is big block?

[Stuart]

ignore the V8 engines lol I'm sure nearly all car manufacturers have a big and small version of engines.

In our case the GM European I4 engines are reffered to as Big Block/Small block and Vee (although its reported the Vee engines are based on smallblocks)

In the late 80's there was a 1.6 carb engine in the Cav that was a big block and all engine sizes above that were "big block" too(keep thinking I4)
Then the 1.2/1.3/1.4 and 1.6 8v engines were made as small blocks... small ammounts of confusion between the big block and small block 1.6 ensued lol.

it pretty much staye like that but each type moved to 16V and in the back end of the 90's the 1.8 small block was made. Again confusion between the two types ensued.

vauge but hopefully right enough

[Mike]

Andy, your getting confused with American cc's here lol Your example, Ford 302 v8, (302 cubic inch) in USA a small block is generally something under about 4.0 lol

1 L is about 61 cu in [exactly 61.0237441 cu in])

[burgo]

general rule of thumb is 1.6 and below is small block and 1.8 and up is big block. there are a couple of exceptions tho but there rare enough to not worry about it

[mowgli]

originally the gm 4pots were referred to as family 1 - 1.2/1.3 & family 2 - 1.6/1.8/2.0 but these names seem to have been lost in the mists of time.....

as for the v8, gm small block v8's go up to 5.7
the ford small block goes up to about 5.0, the big block being nearer 7.0

[meritlover]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_1_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_II_engine

[Andy_L]

Mike, I see school boy error made!

Cheers for your replies

[Jack]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_II_engine

20XE - 157hp
I love Wikipedia lol

In terms of American engines, big block and small block usually refers to the distance between the pistons. In general, big block engines are larger than 360cid (5.9l), and used as lower output-per-weight "smooth" engines for luxury models, whilst small block engines tended to be lighter, revvier engines used in sporty applications. Exceptions to the rule include engines such as the 426 Hemi and to a certain extent the 440.

Whilst up to the early 70s, cars had both big and small block engines fitted, after the oil crisis in 1973, big blocks started to die out. Nowadays they're only fitted in big SUVs and trucks.