I thought the Buick 350 was considered a big block instead of a small block?

I was just curious why people are calling the Buick 350 a small block when I thought it was a big block? Maybe, I'm mistaken?

Robo No:

 

Yep!

Although the torque will fool ya ...

The Buick 300-340-350 are small blocks.

The 400-430-455 are big blocks.

 

I belive it's the pontiac 350 that is a "big block"

 

yeah, but a big block of what? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

MY 72' SKYLARK STATES BB 350 ON THE STICKER ON THE RADIATOR COVER!!!!!!!!!o No: IM SURE THAT THIS MEANS BIG BLOCK, UNLESS IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE?????????

 

That means "Bad-ass Buick 350".... Not Big Block:laugh:

 

My uncle always insisted that he had a big block 350! Of course he also claimed to have a 'steel' 53 Vette before he went to Vietnam!!ou: Between the war stories and the truck driving stories...I've heard some real doozies!!

Scott

 

I guess the 350 can be considered a BB to the 6 cylinder Buick offered in '70?


Rob

 

But then what would you call a V6? :laugh:

 

We can call the 6 cylinder a small block. Small blocks or big blocks aren't only considered for V8's, are they? If cubic inches are what makes a small block or a big block then, why is there a 400 chevy small block and a 396 chevy big block? Just wonderingo No: :

 

big block/small block isn't about cubes... its about the physical size of the block. Most manufactures happen to have 2 basic size blocks.
The term big/small block only really counts for V8's and I've never heard it reffered to other motors

 

A friend of mine classes engine as follows;
Big Block (396-up V8)
Small block (350 & Under V8)
Baby Block (Straight or V6)
Infant Block (4-banger)
Of course he is a Chevy guy.
Duane

 

but a chevy 400 is a small block.

 

IMO 400+ is a big block. Engines in the "gray area" would be:

400 Chevy Small Block
400 Pontiac Small Block
403 Olds Small Block
429 Cadillac "Small Block"
400 Mopar
Ford 400 M (which was really a bastard motor sharing little to nothnig with other Fords)

(I say "gray area" because I think that's where some of the confusion comes in)

Sub-400 Big Blocks would include

396 Big Block (actually a 402 Big Block)
348 Chevy "W" series Big Block
366 Chevy Big Block tall-deck truck motor
368 Cadillac Big Block
385 Ford Big Block
383 Mopar

I didn't include Nailheads in here because I don't know enough about them. Weren't they all based off the same block?

 

400 mopar is a big block- it shares parts with the 383.

 

I was under the impression that it was the crank and or main bearing size thet denotated BB or SB

my uncle had a 66 olds with a 425 BB and I had a 425 Buick Nailhead that was considered small block o No:

thats how you can have a 400 SB and a 400 BB

now this is just my 2 cents worth

scott

 

Many people call the buick 350's big blocks because of their physical size, being a 90 degree block, the engine appears much larger than their 60 degree cousins. Chevys265-400 are 60 degree blocks, thus appear to be much smaller.

 

Why is this important almost a decade later??? where did you even find this thread?