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Author Topic: what years are good for small blocks?  (Read 12579 times)

Offline thachevythang

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what years are good for small blocks?
« on: February 16, 2011, 02:00:05 am »
Being on this forum and reading around, I've read articles that state certain years for small blocks are better than others.

I'm in the market for another engine so I'm just curious as to which one is really the better block or if it really matters. All are being pulled for a swap with project vehicles. All are for about the same price and I plan to rebuild it either way.

First is out of a 73 nova: 350 Bone stock, never been opened up, and has set for some time. Still runs

Next is a 350 out of a 83 Chevy truck w/ 86000 original miles. Still stock and runs

Also I'm curious about a 427 small block. Seriously a small block not a big block. Looked it up and its built by motown or something like that. Don't remember who but, would it mount up like any other small block. If its a real deal then its a steal for the price. Its a longblock but I just don't think my intake would mount up and I'd definitely need a bigger carb.
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Offline Sartobuilt

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2011, 10:22:11 am »
Any block with an "010"or "020" casting number is the best block to use for a high performance application. Both the engines you listed are probally 2 bolt mains. The nova would probally be the best choice, older castings are a little stronger. I don't think any of the heads will be of anything performance though (low compression). If you can get the casting numbers, I can look them up.
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2011, 10:31:57 am »
For me I think its any block post 77 (I think) cause the dipstick is on the right side and the master cylinder seams to measure with me
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2011, 05:35:55 pm »
Unless you are building a Drag motor, either of those will be fine.  2 bolts are stronger than factory 4 bolts.  If you need more clamping force used splayed caps, for a street engine, either is fine.

A 427 SBC is a bored and stroked smallblock.
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Offline N2TRUX

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2011, 08:10:00 pm »
Quote from: Irish_Alley on February 16, 2011, 10:31:57 am
For me I think its any block post 77...
I like the opposite. I prefer anything built after 97....;)
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2011, 09:42:40 pm »
Quote from: Captkaos on February 16, 2011, 05:35:55 pm
  2 bolts are stronger than factory 4 bolts. 

Really?
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Offline 1979C20

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2011, 09:49:54 pm »
It has to do with the amount of space between the center bolts. When you zing up the rpms on a 4 bolt and then put stress on it(launching) the crank can drop out of the the oil pan, but on a 2 bolt, it has a higher chance of staying strong and holding the stress. Thats what my dad explained to me when he saw I had a 4 bolt.
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Offline thachevythang

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2011, 06:09:15 am »
Well the 83 truck sold and the Nova guy is gonna pull both the engine and trans combo for the same price next week. The 427 is a tall deck shortblock stroked and was used for drag racing. Needs a rebuild but, not gonna mess with that one!

I can pick up a shortblock Friday with casting 14088548. Its listed as a 4 bolt 1 piece rear main, high nickle tin block. 86-88. Do those numbers match up?

I only have a 305 to use for heads though. I'm just gonna clean it up, paint it, and throw a rebuild kit on it for the time being. Will I have to do any work to the heads for it to run? I'm thinking about vortec heads later in the future so it wont be permanant.
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Offline Sartobuilt

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2011, 08:44:29 am »
That looks like a good one to use. You will have the benefit of a leak free bottom end with the one piece rear main and the one piece oil pan gasket. I don't think i would use the 305 heads though. The Vortec heads are pretty cheep and work really well. Just remember you will need a Vortec style intake manifold.
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Offline thachevythang

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2011, 01:29:04 am »
Thanks for the advice Sartobuilt. Just checked summit and they have a decent price for vortec heads! I'll be picking up the block and got some saved up to put into it. A decent budget build at least.

Will this rebuild kit work? http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductId=148

Anybody have some reccomendations for a rebuild? I'll be posting it under projects once its underway!
« Last Edit: February 18, 2011, 04:37:20 am by thachevythang »
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Online VileZambonie

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2011, 05:43:59 am »
The early change over blocks 86 to 90ish were the ones I saw with the most failures. I would look for a later roller vortec small block.
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Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2011, 11:00:35 am »
I would also stay away from 1 piece just cause if it leaks the you have to pull something and not just the oil pan
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2011, 07:32:17 pm »
Quote from: N2TRUX on February 16, 2011, 08:10:00 pm
I like the opposite. I prefer anything built after 97....;)
Ditto.  I have dumped every SBC block and head I have stored over the past year. 
If it isn't an LS series I don't want it.
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Offline gearhead45

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2011, 09:47:30 pm »
Sorry guys I am new here just needed to know if a 5.7 distributor will fit a 1976 350 block
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Offline beastie_3

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Re: what years are good for small blocks?
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2011, 10:40:48 pm »
a 350 is 5.7 its just a different unit of measurement.
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