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History of the Chevy Small Block

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Old 11-01-2015, 09:40 PM
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History of the Chevy Small Block

This is an amazing article that I thought Chevy Guys would want to read.


Link = http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...chevy-history/
Old 11-03-2015, 09:11 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

Thanks for the read... I learned that the engine that I would like to put into a 3rd gen is actually a Gen IV not a Gen III...
Old 11-03-2015, 09:54 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

Nice article. I still love the Gen 1 smallblock myself. Its simple, it works, I like it.
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Old 11-07-2015, 04:38 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

Good article but I noticed a couple of omissions/errors. The 327/350 (RPO L79) was available as early as 1965 in Vettes and 1966 in Novas. in 1967 it was detuned and rated at 325 HP.

To me, the L79 was the sweetest small block Chevy ever dropped between 2 frame rails. Ask me how I know...
Old 11-07-2015, 06:25 PM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

The history may be fun to know, but very little of it is of any practical help. The 365 HP 327 peaked in the '65 'vette. All the history of the SBC that anyone really needs to know these days is the '95 LT1, the '96-up L31, and the LSx.
Old 11-09-2015, 08:21 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

One thing that always confounded me is they consider the 1986-1995 Block a Gen 1 block even though they went to the 1 piece rear main seal... That means that basically the Crank, Block, and the oil pan were all changed.

Or can you convert the earlier Gen 1 blocks to use the 1 piece rear main seal?

John
Old 11-09-2015, 12:10 PM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

I always had a place in my heart for one of the most under powered V-8's ever. The 1975-1976 262 cu.in.. Poor little guy. LOL
Old 11-10-2015, 07:42 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

Originally Posted by MY87LT
I always had a place in my heart for one of the most under powered V-8's ever. The 1975-1976 262 cu.in.. Poor little guy. LOL
Benefits of an under powered motor...
1) They will last virtually forever..
2) You cannot over abuse them.
3) Drag racing tickets are almost impossible.
4) Speeding tickets are challenging
5) You can act like you are more mature than you really are by pretending to be Grandpa
Old 11-10-2015, 06:31 PM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

One of the most best and entertaining SBC articles I have read in quite a while was "Birth of the Small Block", Parts I, II and III written by Smokey Yunick.

It was printed (re-printed?) in a May or June 1998 issue of Chevy Small Block Engines, published by Petersen Publications. I think it may have been a single run edition.
Old 11-10-2015, 06:47 PM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block

Giving the Lx engines their due...I love having a "classic" SBC under the hood.

When I was a kid, everybody was pulling old engines of all makes, and installing SBCs. I hated 'em. They were everywhere, and to me, as boring as could be.

Now, people are pulling SBCs left and right, and putting Lx (or Hemis, or Coyote) motors in. So much so, that at bigger shows, it's almost "rare" to see a modern build with an SBC. Like the flat head Ford, which was a center piece of early hotrodding, the SBC was huge for 40+ years. And to me, it's nice to see a well built, or well restored one.
Old 11-12-2015, 06:01 AM
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Re: History of the Chevy Small Block





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