The Engine that Powered America

The iconic Chevy Small block engine was developed in the early 1950s for an initiative to 'turn chevy around.' But nobody could have predicted how long it would stay relevant and how it would influence the automotive industry as a whole
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[@dadgarage7966]

Reason No. 3, size and lightweight. This engine was described as a "packaging miracle." The small block Chevy could fit into just about anything.

[@MrWaalkman]

In my '66 Impala convertible there was enough room around the engine that you could stand in the engine bay - with the engine.

[@herbertwoodbury1958]

Including a bug eyed Sprite....

[@Lobo-tommy10]

Only like a 16 piece casting I think.

[@johna9706]

I have an earlier post here about how I put one in my 48 Chevy. Yes it fit right in there where a 6-cylinder was originally in a very narrow car .I did have to move the battery into the trunk.

[@DBVintage]

I have a 1964 El Camino. It still has its original 283 small block under the hood.

[@daleolson3506]

What a difference from today’s corporate world. They are in a race to bankrupt.

[@bigblocklawyer]

Enh. cafe regulations and government mandates have caused manufacturers to focus on compliance with ridiculous, draconian economy and safety requirements way more than delivering reliable, dependable autos to the masses.

[@FYMASMD]

@@bigblocklawyerthey are also beholden to stock holders. Greed as usual, all around.

[@wlewisiii]

@@bigblocklawyer Bzzt. Thank you for playing. Stop listening to to Faux, get an education (especially in basic economics) and come back for the real reasons.

[@Robstrap]

The difference is huge companies don't go bankrupt these days (mostly). They get bailed out by the tax payer. Which is why all these huge companies keep doing stupid things because that risk has gone

[@CrazyBear65]

Corporate is Big Brother.

[@haggis525]

I'm not quite sure how many small block Chevy equipped cars I've owned... but it has to be a dozen at least. What I do know for a certainty is that one of them - a workhorse 305- was in my '95 Chevy pickup and I bought it almost new (a repo) and sold it in 2019 with over 500K on the original drivetrain. Obviously there were many, many small repairs and routine maintenance along the way... brakes, starters, rads, tires, various electrical things, changed out the window transmission (or whatever that's called ... the thing that you crank to make the window go up & down), yada, yada, yada. The engine, the transmission and diff were all absolutely original and all I ever did was change out the fluids/filters.... plus I had added an aftermarket tranny oil cooler. I never abused it but she ran like a top! Talk about dependable! In 2019 I put it on Facebook marketplace and got $1500 for it the next day! No wonder this engine family is a bloody legend!

[@hendo337]

305 didn't have enough power to break it's self or the glass 4L60E trans from '95 or the rear.

[@haggis525]

@@hendo337 Imagine that 🤔🤔 Well... it had enough power and torque to serve me for hundreds of thousands of miles... enough to tow my (admittedly small) 25 foot trailer sailer Catalina boat, my 24 foot travel trailer and supply my acreage with wood, equipment, water, yada, yada, yada... and that for around a quarter century! It's a pickup truck, right... not a muscle car... seriously man wtf do you demand? I think it was an amazing vehicle that provided stellar service! I am more than satisfied with what it did for me... if you're not then get something else. 🤷 Edit: you sound like a f"ing idiot, frankly.... no offense... but if you are offended rest assured that I don't give af. 😎

[@middlesiderrider]

Window regulator. And like the other guy said, the low power 305, plus your intelligent addition of the transmission cooler are likely what kept your 4l60e alive.

[@haggis525]

@@middlesiderrider Regulator... thanks, man! I'm finding it more and more common to search for words as I get older 🤷... but at least I'm getting older.

[@haggis525]

@@middlesiderrider As for the longevity of a vehicles drivetrain... I've believed for a long time that keeping the fluids fresh by changing them out frequently is a great idea. I also find doing smallish jobs like that on my vehicles rather therapeutic.

[@phantom0456]

I see old footage of the 50’s and 60’s and wish that I could step back in time, even if only for a day. I’d love to be able to see America and its automobile industry in its heyday.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I grew up in that era. It was super.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

@@michaelbenardo5695 If i had a ''Time Machine'' I'll go back to that era and never come back.

[@wlewisiii]

Planned obsolescence, unsafe in collisions, poor economy, spewing pollution, fugly aesthetics, rusted out in a couple of years so you had to buy a new car? THAT heyday?

[@ckmoore101]

@@michaelquinones-lx6ks Yep. Would be great to be 25 in 1955

[@tsbrownie]

I was there in the days of 2500 mile oil changes, 10,000 mile "tune-ups" (distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, oil, points, condenser, ....), grease zerks, black spots on driveways and parking lots, oil slickened roads and highways, no seat belts where small accidents led to big injuries, steel dashboards, drum brakes, manual steering, poor gas mileage, AM radios with static, unsafe tires, poor aerodynamics, low quality plastics that cracked in winter, rusted floorboards, bench front seats, dim headlights, ... you mean that "heyday"?

[@eieghn]

Ed Cole. I lived down the street in Detroit from him. Ioved riding my bike as a kid to his house....just to see what he had parked in his driveway. He even came out just to let us "kick tires".

[@rickastley5944]

I have a fuel injected 350 in my 1990 chevy suburban. In my opinion it's one of the best motors chevy has ever produced. They are so easy to work on and enough power.

[@oldbiker9739]

I still drive my 91 GMC 1500 with the original 5,7 with 499 k on it , you couldn't pry that truck out of my cold dead hands .

[@rickastley5944]

@oldbiker9739 same I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

[@Slowgroovin]

283 and 327 were among the best engines ever made.

[@TheOzthewiz]

I want to include the Buick 3.8L V6!!

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Ford's 289, 300 6-banger, 302, 351, & 428 / 429 would fall in that category, too, along with GM's big blocks, the Chrysler Slant 6, and Cummins' (older) diesels.

[@babydriver8134]

LOL When the 283 in my 57 was due for a rebuild, I put a 327 in its place. TOO BAD , I had to sell it. Solid engines.

[@stevemiller1517]

318 ?

[@MrSpartanPaul]

@@Slowgroovin The sounds they made were the best.

[@imthedarknight-8755]

I’ve got a 283 in an old pickup. It’s my favorite vehicle I’ve ever had

[@Thunderrolls87]

A legendary Engine for sure! Chevy tough!

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Like a Rock

[@drcovell]

Nothing I love more than the sound of AMERICAN IRON with a pushrod V8 in it. GM’s small block are indeed legendary. I had a Chrysler 318 v8 (Smallblock) in a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I’ve passed to my son/grandson. I expect it to last at least a decade of 100K+ MORE of hard driving in rural TX. With fuel injection and an overdrive transmission it gets 22 mpg on the highway, with 12-80# bags of Sakrete as a load. Aircon didn’t work, but on the Monterey Peninsula, the mean temperature is 67 degrees, so a heater is necessary, not air conditioning! I now have a 2022 Lexus RX-350, beautiful and comfortable SUV, that I bought on the conditions, after a substantial fight with my CFO about it, that it has the following: A roof rack, trailer hitch capability, and AWD. (Also it’s the last year with a naturally aspirated V6 *without* all functionality locked up in an “Infotainment Screen,” which can glitch out if the inverter cable at the bottom gets loose. Happened to me in a BMW-NOT fun!) If one has a an SUV, if you can’t use it as a light truck upon occasion, why bother having one? Although I don’t think it will go straight up a muddy mountain, like the Jeep would! 😂😂

[@Bigrednumber77]

It's funny you say that about your dad, mine always said the same thing. (Also said 57 was the only Corvette year he'd ever tolerate in his garage. XD)

[@iggyzorro2406]

today's corporate culture was born in the beginning of the MBA boom of the 1980's when the day over year, week over year, month over year mentality was born. Caring about nothing but numbers and short term bottom line profits over any semblance of quality and stifling attempts at innovation is the unfortunate rule. When the accountants run anything besides an accounting firm, interested only in this week's net, companies suffer, merge, bankrupt and die.

[@BlackPill-pu4vi]

Reaganomics spawned many many evils. MBA's being just one demon in the legion.

[@Rockinruffhouser]

I love the 327 so much. My favorite sbc. Got it in my 64 chevelle Malibu ss convertible, and my 59 Chevy Apache

[@thenadonation2664]

Number 1 selling crate engine. 350 small block.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Produced for GM in their trucks up to 2002

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

@@shadowopsairman1583 I thought you could still buy an LS Crate engine?

[@ABa-os6wm]

Isn't this a bad sign if many engines fail and you have to buy a new one?

[@buzzwaldron6195]

@@ABa-os6wm - They wear out after 150 - 500K miles, depending how hard of usage...

[@JusticeAlways]

​@@buzzwaldron6195 I got 494,000 miles with my 1985 pickup...305 engine. I rebuilt it when reverse gear in the transmission quit working.

[@johna9706]

I had a 1948 Chevrolet that I put a 283 small-block in. I rebuilt the motor myself stock when I was a teenager in 1978. That was a good old days when a kid could afford to and build a motor himself . I did have some help from dad and his buddies but did all the work myself. The motor was still running strong when I sold the car in 2020.

[@timothyknight2236]

I love my SBC......I have and have had several.

[@marinervalley1588]

I daily drive a 1975 c20 with the original 350 still in it. Great video!

[@weskirkland5850]

1955-2002! 47 years available in GM Production vehicles of all kinds from corvettes to early tractor trailers to cadillacs to firebirds! sold as a new crate engine until now and beyond! Lots of industrial uses too!

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Marine apps too

[@Texasmule]

It was in big 1 ton trucks too

[@wildcoyote34]

@@Texasmule i've got an 83 GMC C3500 that up until 2020 had a 350 in it ,, the old 350 died at 455,000 miles and got replaced with a big block 454 , i do a lot of heavy duty towing , mainly pulling a big 5th wheel camper all the time ,,and the 454 is up to the challenge ,i've also upgraded the SM465 4 speed manual to a 7 speed eaton ,gives me a lot more pulling authority

[@DeanMk1]

The 265 was called the 265, because it displaced 265 cubic inches, not 260.

[@randykelso4079]

Precisely correct: bore (3.75) squared times stroke (3.00) times pi/4 (0.7853981063) times number of cylinders (8) equals 265.0718801 cubic inches. Close 'nuff!

[@DeanMk1]

@@randykelso4079 I prefer Pi R Squared times the height. It's easier for me to remember the formula and I don't have to deal with the extra calculation to find out what 1/4 Pi is.

[@randykelso4079]

@@DeanMk1 Fine, Dean, as long as it yields the same result. In my case it was easier to simply memorize the constant to four significant digits (0.7854) and the rest was easy. To each his own.

[@DeanMk1]

@@randykelso4079 "To each his own." Exactly! ...btw, I round Pi to 4 places, too. It's how I learned those formula's in Diesel school.

[@MrSpartanPaul]

I once heard that the Chevy small block has won more races than all other manufacturers combined.

[@maddhatter3564]

People say all kinds of things.

[@MrSpartanPaul]

@maddhatter3564 I'm assuming that includes every demolition derby, dirt track and local drag racing events.

[@hilleryclifford1350]

You would be correct, it is still winning countless races to this day, in case you think I don’t know what’s going on, I live near Flint , Michigan where the small block was FIRST produced

@@maddhatter3564 _People say all kinds of things._ You mean say things like, "people say all kinds of things", in other words, like you are doing? What's your point?

[@calebgarland2756]

NASCAR used Sbc2 till like 2007

[@johnwinter9722]

Great video and nicely recapped history of the small block. The Chevy small block has been part of all of my life. My dad's '57 Belair convertible with the 283 Power Pack when I was 5, my grandfather's '60 Chevy with the 283 2 bbl that he had so long I played in it and later drove it, my buddy's '66 283 that we rebuilt together, and on into my long lived Suburban, two Silverados (currently driving a '22 LTZ), and three Escalades. Fantastic motor and a story well told. Thank you.

[@motorTranz]

American cars are the best! Great documentary! Thank you for sharing this!

[@PrinceMagnum]

This is the engine I learned to work on first. To this day I haven't found an engine that comes close to it's reliability, power, and economy. This was a very nice video. Thank you for doing it.

[@8.2deck]

Great video. I owned a 67 c10 with a 283, then I built a 350 for it and swapped it in the summer after I graduated (2017). It was a ton of fun, but then I got a fox body and sold my c10 and only bought Ford cars trucks and vans after that, mainly because I had parts for them. Every time I work on a small block Chevy it takes me back to a time not that long ago but a world apart.

[@hendo337]

The 327 is considered by most to be the "sweet spot" the 375hp Fuelie 327 was the highest specific output and max output reached by a factory sbc. The 283 Fuelie reached 315hp, the 302 was only rated 290hp. Factory DZ302s were rare but, easy to make with a 327 or 350 block and a 283 crank. Some of the Formula 5000 and Trans Am 302s are said to have reached 550-575hp in full race trim. Typically NASCAR 358ci was created with a 327(or 307) crank and a 4.185" bore(0.060" over 400 block). It wasn't until the LS6 made 385/405hp that the 327 375hp was unquestionabibly surpassed by a factory GenIII SBC. Somehow Bob Lutz and Opel were getting 327 SBCs until the late 70s, I have never been able to find out any information on where that special production was done. I know that Chevrolet South Africa got a special run of DZ302s that they had to fight tooth and nail for. I'd love to get a little Firenza or Magnum that didn't rot out and do a replica of that car. Great stuff Bart.

[@TheOzthewiz]

The "302" was rated at 290HP to avoid "insurance surcharge" keeping it out of the "muscle car" list! It put out WAY MORE than 290HP!!

[@shadowopsairman1583]

LS6 rpo code was used twice, please keep that in mind

[@scootypuffjr.]

There is a huge difference in how horsepower was rated from about 1973 on. Net vs Gross horsepower. That 385hp Corvette Z06 engine made A LOT more power than the 375hp/327. In 60's rating that 385hp would be more like 500hp. That being said, many 60's engine were intentionally underated.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Yep, it's engine that made me a Chevy fan. It's also a very forgiving engine from a beginner hot rodder with no experience. Genius design. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@user-Dr.]

Not to mention, more SBC's have been produced and sold then all others combined, worldwide, and the SBC has won more races of all different kinds of racing, then all others combined, and still winning more races today than all other brands combined worldwide, both of my race cars are sbc powered, my neighbors toyota truck is powered by sbc.

[@normwetherbee3403]

I'm really old and I consider now to be the epitome of the internal combustion engine, GM's LS, Ford's Coyote V-8, Chryslers 5.7 Ltr hemis, BMW's Inline 6's, Honda's 4's, VW group's EA888 and VR6, Nissan's VQ35, Benz's 5 litres, and all their variants. That's what I can think of off the top of my head. Name a better time to be an engine fanatic. AND they pollute less and get much better MPG than ever. I think I read somewhere that Corvettes get 30 MPG on the highway. My wife's old 442 with a 455 CU engine got 13 MPG on the highway with 370HP. Now you can get a VW golf with 325 HP that'll do 35 MPG. I'd call that progress.

[@rickbrandt9559]

Engineering and todays materials great, I lived those days and it was fun, todays cars boring ,no identity

[@455sBuickOldsPontiac]

You do realize what that 442 is right? It’s a 442, the car that olds through at the chargers and mustangs and corvettes and Camaros and buicks gsx, an olds 442, and if it was the 370hp especially? You making 370hp, and 520 pound feet of torque, that vw only making probably 275 pound feet max, but yes the mileage is better, but they have no identity, not the same type of feel, you can tell what a classic was made for, for fun, for the people to enjoy, now the cars are made do get you to work, make sure you don’t die, only for “regular” traffic conditions etc stuff like that, they are made for money not for what they are meant to be..

[@rickbrandt9559]

@@455sBuickOldsPontiac 1964 - 4bbl,4 speed, dual exhaust

[@455sBuickOldsPontiac]

@@rickbrandt9559what u mean? 442, 1970, 71, 72? The 455 wasn’t even a thought in 1964, if I remember right olds didn’t have the 455 till 68, which I figure is wrong and it 1970 is when they came in, olds, Buick, and Pontiac got their 455s in 70, cause ik pontiac and Buick got it in 70, but idk about olds but probably 70 too, unless maybe your saying the first year for a 442?

[@rickbrandt9559]

@@455sBuickOldsPontiac 1st year with that designation of 442 it had the 400, they contined with that 442 logo ,even thou OLDS configuration changed

[@AdhirSingh_SA_1995]

This is a great video! Thanks for doing the research and conveying it in an enjoyable manner.😎 Please do more like this, on engines and platforms (like VAG's MQB, Toyota's V6, and so much more) 🙏

[@TheOzthewiz]

Buick V6....

[@weegeemike]

The Chevy Gen 1 small block, specifically the 350 5.7, and the BUICK V6, specifically the 1988+ 231 3.8 3800 are two of the best engines ever made. Both are stupid reliable, their best attribute. However, they make good power, both are torquey engines and, if maintained, can easily go 300k+ miles without a whimper. I think it's a shame that they're both gone. I know, i know. They're old engines and antiquated compared to todays engines, but their simplicity is what made them so great. They just worked. With all of the rediculous emissions standards and MPG requirements, engines are getting harder and harder to make consistently reliable, especially with all of the computer modules that are used to control them. Sad. We probably will never see an engine that proliferated the entire auto industry like the Chevy small block. Great engine, and great video! Thanks for the awesome content.

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

My first hot rod was a ‘66 Chevelle with a 327. I miss it

[@user-Dr.]

My first car was a 65 El Camino, 283, I miss it too.

[@michaelwaters8879]

I think we sadly overlook how great the 327 was. It was capable of powering everything in the Chevy line up from Nova to HD work trucks. The dual carb 375 hp version was the tits for the Corvette prior introduction of the big block engines. The tamer versions provided smooth and reliable everyday power for the family BelAir and Impala. Plenty of torque for most towing duty. The 327 block, 4-inch bore, 4-bolt mains and forged steel crank ultimately became the foundation for the legendary Z/28 302. I am the original owner of a numbers-matching 69 Z/28 with the DZ code engine. Oh dear Lord, when it was new and I was stupid, I could smoke thoseE70x15’s for days, shifting the the four speed at7100 rpm! I still have it and trust will be with me to my dying day. After that, my wife and I may entrust to a museum for display. I am truly proud to own this car.

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

@@michaelwaters8879 yes such a terrific motor. Your 69 Z/28 sounds awesome!!

[@tsbrownie]

With double hump or camel hump heads?

[@billybob1723]

@RandallSoong-pp7ih My first car was a '66 Chevelle 'DELUXE" with a 196 six banger and 4 doors. Nothing "DELUXE" about it. Didn't even have an AM radio. The double bench seats were good for packing as many as 8 to 10 people, driver included. We redefined hot boxing.

[@joecummings1260]

Lots of SBC put in forklifts, emergency generators, pumps, all kinds of industrial applications

[@CamoShirt]

not sure they take the top spot in that category. lots of wood chippers and stuff had 300 straight 6 Ford motor

[@joecummings1260]

@@CamoShirt yeah I have one of those 300 Fords sitting in my shop that's a power unit. I'm not sure what it's from. The bellhousing that is on it looks like there was a big hydraulic pump driven by it

[@aaronsnowden6311]

I really like the LS 350, mine has 188k miles on it and still runs like it is new. Keep in mind I change the oil every 3k miles. Take care of your engine and it will take care of you.👍

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Are you talking about the LS1 from 96/97?

[@rodneybjornstad9016]

I had that engine in a 1994 Buick Roadmaster. Honestly. Ridiculously fast. My dad had 454 in his pick up. Fast. He had 455 in his Buicks. My LS 359 woulda eaten their lunch easily. Still have a buick w 455. Glory be to that LS.

[@cmkeelDIM]

LS is not this block.

[@superdupergrover9857]

Me a parts guy: what's the year make and model? small block chevy man: Oh, it's just a small block chevy Me: I need a year make and model. SBC man: doesn't matter, they're all the same Me: **sigh** I need a year make and model for my computer. SBC man: oh uh, lets go with a uh, hmmm. what about a...

[@knockrotter9372]

this really made me hate working in a parts store, I know what theyre talking about but I still need to put in the special make and model to see if the store actually has any

[@briang4470]

That's just ignorance on the customers part, anyone who thinks all sbc parts are the same is either uninformed or completely delusional. People with hotrods or custom builds really should do research on what exactly they need for their application before going to an auto parts store.

[@knockrotter9372]

@@briang4470 it's just what happens when a 350 is put into any car, and there was a time in recent history when you could walk into a parts store and ask for a pan gasket for a small block and the counter guy didn't have to dig through a computer to find it. Realistically it a counter guy knows what's what you could just search up any make with a small block but that's up to who's working at the store.

[@briang4470]

@@knockrotter9372 it's still not that simple, there are actually 4 different types of sbc oil pan gaskets from 1955-2002. So just because "I put in a 350" means nothing unless you know exactly what year/year range of oil pan and timing cover that engine is equipped with. Same goes for things like alternators and water pumps, you can put a 350 or 305 in an old 55 Chevy but if you use the 1955 brackets then you have to use a 55 style short water pump just as an example. Many parts are interchangeable but interchangeable doesn't mean it's the same. Another big thing with sbc engines is starters, there are DOZENS of different starters and soo many people think they are all the same. It all comes down to research what you need before asking for parts. Years ago you had to learn from people who already knew and that was difficult but now with the Internet a quick 10-15 min Google search can help figure out pretty much any parts combo you need.

[@knockrotter9372]

@@briang4470 theoretically that wouldn't be an issue with the computers searching for make and model but from what I have been told by people that had experience in the other big name chains, I was a napa guy, it's a bit more niche of an ask in some cases. They could just have something in their system as just being a pan gasket for an sbc whether it be one with the bend for the dip stick or not. Napa was pretty good with this though, their backlog went back pretty far despite not actually stocking much of use, because who really does anymore. Plus they had an actual catalogue you could look through with the customer if TAMS was being stubborn, I don't know if anybody else still has anything like that.

[@fbombsflyingwrenchesgarage6334]

I still daily drive small blocks and have a few big blocks as well good engines..easy to fix.. cheap to make power and if done right not gas hogs at all. Not to mention modern overdrive transmissions bolting to them since gm kept the same bolt pattern for some LS's..

[@Chris_at_Home]

My first car when I got my license in 1969 was a 1963 Chevy Impala. The first girl I took on a date that summer is sitting next to me now. We have three Chevy pickups now. They all have small blocks. I’ve rebuilt a few.

[@JonathanMiller-fg7qn]

As awesome as the Honda engines are, ehat makes the small block the most prolific engine ever is the fact that its able to be used from automotive to marine, to industrial. To guite you "an engine that is so versatile, so adaptable that it can just keep trucking along". Good video

[@TheOzthewiz]

And, all sorts of "hop up" parts are readily available at low cost for anyone unlike Ford parts that were ONLY available to people like Holman & Moody, Parnelli Jones (R.I.P.), Dan Gurny , etc.

[@jamesglass5402]

I just loved the 283 I my 1957 Chevy. My parents had a new 55 but dad didn’t like it because the 365 had an unfortunate habit of cracking the pistons.

[@jamesglass5402]

Typo I meant 265.

[@UQRXD]

I liked the 396 engine. I had it in a 1969 chevy SS 4 on floor.

[@EdwardTimothyMartinez]

Yes sir. However, the 396 and others in that line up were Mark 4 big block engines, descended from the 366 medium truck gasoline engine.

[@nojunkwork5735]

The small block Chevy. A favorite with Chevy and Ford Hot Rod builders for years.

[@The0utmode]

Thank you for making this video. Small Block Chevy for life!!!!!!!

[@c.c.hiliner1065]

The small block Chevy is a legend! It became a Marine engine in 1958!

[@genehart261]

I had a neighbor who had a scrap metal business. He had a 1965 Chevy Viking 60 tractor cab with a 327, sm 420 manual trans and a split axle. That truck could pull two loaded trailers. Overhead cams are nice but Chevy has proven that pushrod engines can be better, so much simpler in a v8.

[@josephpiskac2781]

We had a 1955 Chevy Station Wagon and drove it on long distance vacations. Never let us down.

[@justinpeterson6839]

My brother had a 72 el camino with a new 350 goodwrench crate motor and the biggest cam youve ever heard that shit would smoke damn near anything

[@phearlobe]

Versions of the SBC where, and probably still are used as back up generators at FAA facilities. They can run on natural gas or just gasoline.

[@mross302]

Id have to say, the honda k series is the Japanese equivalent to the sbc,

[@fastinradfordable]

Nope d series is just as good in every way.

[@mross302]

@@fastinradfordable it wasn't made for the same lenght of time, also b and h series are far superior to the d series also, not hating on the d, but all the other honda's are just better. And K is king

[@ddoormatt4834]

Do a full video on the A series!

[@mlc7boosted]

0:52 "Great New V8. The valve-in-head eight as only the valve-in-head leader can build it! 162 horsepower with an 8-to-1 ultra-high compression ratio! Highly efficient oversquare design means less piston travel...less friction and wear. Exceptionally high horsepower per pound! The new Chevrolet V8 brings you brilliant performance, surprisingly high gas mileage, and extra-long life."

[@johnhess351]

The GM small block is marginally the winner in numbers, but the Ford flathead V-8 layed the groundwork for most of the concepts that were refined in the Chevy small block. Chevrolet was not the only engine powering America.

[@charlesbutterfield3464]

General motors also had an overhead valve v12. I remember that a friend of mine had a 1930 cadillac with on overhead valve v12. This car also had wood spoke wheels and headligts the size of dinner plates.

[@gkauto1959]

Some things you missed on the small block; it cylinder heads flowed much better than the competition, and the shape, called wedge heads, were very good at compressing the mixture and delivering a clean burn, while the wedge design made the mixture very easy to ignite and so give great torque. Other factor was the oiling system, with oil coming up from the pushrods and spraying all over the rocker arms made it reliable and alot less prone to valve train failure, plus with all the oil being splashed onto the rocker arms, the piddle valve in the lifters made sure that valve train would always be responsive and run nearly forever! It also was efficient in weight and gas mileage. So its cylinder heads gave a good running and responsive engine while the oiling system then made the motor almost perfect!

[@jackpoage5419]

I had a buddy with a C2 with the 340HP 327 and it was a screamer, and I am a Ford guy.

[@craigpaul623]

On the question of whether we could have another engine that will just last and last, I think it is possible. History tends to move in cycles, so the same forces that created the people, economic and social pressures that made it possible the first time could come back around again. I'm not going to hold my breath though.

[@MrOiram46]

With EPA regulations and penny-pinching running rampant and making cars more complicated & lesser in quality at the same time, it’ll be hard to make a reliable car outside of being simple and solidly built.

[@TheOzthewiz]

The Buick 3.8L was in production for 33 years and dates back to Buick's 1961 "Special". It was the FIRST AMERICAN V6! It is considered the BEST engine EVER produced, most reliable though not the most powerful.

[@hendo337]

'62 was the first year of the 327, the last year of the early Corvette.

[@88SC]

I remember magazine articles at the time (maybe even GM too) referring to the new LS V8s as the “Gen III” small block, even though it was a whole new design. Specifically in the mid 1990s, before the C5 Corvette was released to the world. It only shared the 4.4 inch bore spacing and the bell housing interface. I hoped at least that they would keep the side mount boss/bolt pattern to keep backwards compatibility going. That was one of the things that made messing with Chevys easy and inexpensive, was that they kept them interchangeable with previous iterations in their earlier cars.

[@The_Future_isnt_so_Bright]

The 4.3L V8 small block aka the L99 is such an oddity that shouldnt have existed and somehow does.

[@r-tyomfrolov4211]

great video, thanks a lot! made me want to resurrect my '90 G20 with TBI 350/700r4 combo

[@robertrussell5948]

I had a 327 300 hp and it was a beast of a small block with high rise intake and a Crane fireball cam in it and it was a badass

[@jamesstoy8967]

There was the 262 and 267 SBC in the mid to late 70's. They were ment to meet emissions but had no power

[@Iconoclasher]

I shoehorned a 350 crate engine into a 54 Nash Ambassador a few years ago. It's a sweet engine. It's a real screamer with that Ford 8" 2.79 rear end. One time I cruised up I-15 towards Las Vegas and I hit 90 mph. 😀

[@greenfuzz13]

You madman! Where can I see it, please?

[@uasparts]

I agree 1000% The Chevy small block was perfection that needed no drastic “back to the drawing board” redesign for a half a century for endless reasons. The design and unveiling was genius, and really didn’t need any extreme revision for a half century because the traits of its design were so genius, it would take that many decades for competitors to catch up, even the competitors that were inside the umbrella of the GM divisions. It was simple, compact, lightweight, efficient, powerful, had far less moving parts and manufacturing expenses than competitors, and was FAR easier to work on than anything before, or after its initial design. The LS engine is an updated offering based on the advantages the original small block had, and an improvement on the original small block’s weaknesses on all fronts- and this is the reason the LS is still far and away the go-to engine swap runaway success that the SBC used to be.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

LS was design lessons taken from the G1 SBC and the BBC

[@riogrande163]

No engine is perfect, and even before the LS there were engines that surpassed the SBC in one metric or another. Lots of GM designs had tons of aftermarket support, not because they were a superior platform to build off of, but because it had a GM badge stamped on it.

[@uasparts]

@@riogrande163 😆😆😆

[@impalaSS65]

What an excellent presentation! I'm no expert, but I used to be fairly versed in the details of the SBC (and the BBC mk4) until 10-15 years ago. I have forgotten things, but FWIW, I didn't notice one misstake here. On top of that it eas very enjoyable to watch. Using a real narrator, instead of AI, is worth ten-hundred times the enjoyment!

[@WindsEternal]

Very cool video, Bart! The 350 SBC has long been my favorite, as a driver and mechanic. They are one of the easiest to understand and to work on, parts are easy to find and inexpensive, and if maintained properly they run forever! I currently have the L48 in my 76 Corvette and it's the perfect combination.

[@donreinke5863]

Ive told the dimbulb across the street many times that if you cant work on a Chevrolet engine, dont bother touching a wrench. Ive always preferred Ford engines, but Ive had to help him out many times with all the Chevrolets he owns. He was going to stick a 350 (a "hecho en Mexico" Goodwrench) he got from a "friend" in a 77 Chevy C-10 he bought, and its a good thing I told him to check the bearings before he installed it as water had gotten in it somehow and pitted the #5 main journal. He then stuck aftermarket valve covers on it and shoved rubber plugs in the PCV and oil fill holes in them, and wondered why it blew oil out the dipstick tube. That guy must be carefully supervised despite the fact his dad was a line mechanic for years at a Chevrolet dealership.

[@googleuser6875]

Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company revolutionized the auto industry once again in 1932 with the introduction of a low-priced V-8 engine

[@jaskopeter813]

Excellent video ! alot of the aftermarket company's exists because of the small block like Edelbrock for instance thousands of machine shops are still in existense because of the small block, and the fact that to this day it is still the most popular choice for hot rodders , racers, says alot about those engines. can there be another engine like the small block chevy? absolutley not! if the LS did not surpass the SBC in popularity, nothing will! it is simply the best engine of the last 70 years and still counting The small block chevy has won more races than all other manifacturers combined.

[@j-pargefournier3114]

Thanks brother

[@Mtoutdoorsman]

Such great engines, I have a 1998 k1500 with a 350 vortec that has 285,000 miles and is still running great to this day, have had multiple small blocks and big blocks over the years and they have always satisfied me, I don’t like the new generation of the small block due to the afm/dod though

[@tommissouri4871]

While you, and others, try to link the LS engines as sort of a 5th Gen small block, they really are a completely new engine. And that is good, not bad. Plus amazingly, the small block hasn't died. It isn't in production cars anymore, but they still produce a lot of them for over the counter sales. That is something that never happened with most other engines and says a lot about the longevity of the Chevrolet small block. The SBC went from 1954 to 2003 for a production vehicle run of 49 years. The current LS engine family has been running from 1996 to present, for 28 years and looks good for many more. As to my 5th Gen, many refer to the standard SBC as one generation now, but it had several major changes. Basically, the engine changed in 1961 ('62 model), 1967 ('68 model), 1985 ('86 model), and 1991 ('92 model). This doesn't include the offshoot of the Siamesed-bore block for the 400.

[@marchettejw]

my personal fleet is powered almost exclusively by variants of the small block chevy gen 1 and 2, I've got a carbureted 350 in my 1967 C20, TBI 350 in my 1989 C2500, and a MPFI 4.3l V6 Vortec in my 1996 C1500. The only old chevy I have that isn't small block powered is my 1950 3600 (3/4t) It currently has an era appropriate 236ci inline 6, I'd like to update to a 4.3 V6/4l60E combo or if I could get a decent one a 292/250 inline 6 with the same transmission.

[@sonofculloden2]

I have a 250 inline 6 with super low mileage I can selll you.

[@jamesbarnhart3642]

I think the only thing I’ve ever bought was a Chevy Small Block. Aluminum Heads/Iron Block style was my least favorite, head gasket issues. It does have two separate metals mated together.

[@user-Dr.]

I use Cometic triple layer head gaskets for that combo, they come in many different thicknesses and last forever.

[@mry82]

Another car dude with an Odyssey, lol. Cheers!

[@The_Future_isnt_so_Bright]

I recently had to replace my 4.3L v6 after 300,000 miles ,it spun a bearing. So, on EBAY I noticed 454 big blocks were the same price as the small blocks. I bought a big block and I love it BUT if you run into having to make this choice, buy a small block. Big blocks are great but the parts are so expensive. You want serpentine belt setup, factory brackets are $600+, after market brackets are double that. Need a performance chip for the computer (or just a stock one) $350, small block $25 -$100 + - . Want to make your vehicle handle better, avoid big blocks. My 454 is punched out .040 and with the intake and exhaust manifolds attached weighs 850 pounds (385.554 kilos). My truck used to set high up till I dropped in the 454. I get into it like a car now . Had to readjust the headlights and the transmission ( NV3500 5 speed) hates this engine. It has a hair line crack down the case just after installing it. Dont get me started on the price of clutches. 12 inch clutch will cost you a kidney. Small blocks are far more fun, cost effective, and less destructive to the vehicle it is in currently. Just it being in the truck is destructive on everything holding it up. Its still a monster of pure power ,over all I love it.

[@andyharman3022]

Yeah, an NV3500 would be no match for big block torque. Look for an NV4500.

[@purplehazers92]

I might be wrong but I think the 327 was introduced in 1962 because it was available in the 1962 Corvette

[@impalaSS65]

1962 is true for B-body at least.

[@JohnnieDorman77]

I love the mid to early seventies Chevy's with naturally aspirated engines, like my 73 El Camino with a 454 big block that has a four barrel Rochester carb on it. Sounds the best to me without all the new electronic tech on it. My El Camno isn't a gas hog, the oil companies are money hogs. I feel that we Americans were bullied into too much emissions regulations, etc. I don't care for American cars or trucks made after 1973.

[@Joe_Dirt82]

SBCs used in generators too

[@davidpowell3347]

How long was the Chevrolet "small" V8 in development ? Was it done in faster time because of being able to use "notes" from the already developed Olds and Cadillac V8s ? Also Pontiac's modern OHV V8 was being developed for several years before its being introduced to the market but GM upper management forbade Pontiac to sell it for one or more years after its completed development because of fear that it would take sales away from Oldsmobile and Buick ? Was the main reason for the success of the Chevrolet V8 in having thick lower block walls and main bearing saddle webbing in spite of the small/low short deck height ? Also very large bore size in comparison to the stroke allowing more width for large valves?

[@88SC]

It absolutely was the result of lessons learned by a team who had three other OHV V8 programs under their belt. One of them said that exactly.

[@mjhprojects321]

What of the Ford 300/240 engines? They were used in automobiles and power plants and all other engine needs. How do they compare to the Chevrolet small-block engine?

[@cjespers]

Good motor, no doubt. They really knocked it out of the park when they started turbocharging those transmissions. To this day, GM is the only manufacturer to accomplish that amazing engineering breakthrough. I am still amazed !

[@middlesiderrider]

Where did Bart find the 383hp rating as the most powerful factory Chevy small block? I don't see that anywhere I search. I'm finding 375hp for the L76 and LT5

[@davidpowell3347]

Corvettes with the most potent small block V8s could outrun Corvettes with big block V8s on road courses because of the lighter weight of the small block allowing better handling/control ?

[@drewsey5733]

We have a 91 fleetwood hearse with a tbi chevy 350. As big of a pain in the cunning linguals as this motors been over the last year I still like it. It’s given me nothing but trouble trying to get it to pass emission, I’ve practically gone full ship of Theseus on it, cat, egr, plugs, cap rotor, wires, rebuilt the tbi unit, intake manifold gasket. I still like it, it’s a classic gm product, it’ll run like ass longer than a lot of cars will run at all. It’s super easy to work on, decent power for what it is, great torque. Not amazing on gas but that’s probably from it being in a hearse and it running like crap still. Out of the old school American v8’s I own I do prefer the late 80’s lo po efi 302, if only for the distributor being in a better location, but the 302’s been pretty much the most reliable engine I’ve owned, and I can get 20 mpg out of it if I try. Those old American v8’s are solid

[@fastinradfordable]

Replace your temperature sensor It’s probably. What’s been the problem all along.

[@coolmonkeymc8268]

My Dad had a used car lot for 35 yrs starting in 1960 I got to see pretty much every model of car, When Chevrolet first introduced the V8 I think it was a 265 the take away was that it wasn't much more powerful than their existing 6 cyl. Maybe they were just testing the waters. Personally I think the really first time they committed to a real V8 was the 409.

[@candykid5135]

in my opinion " 350 v8 chevy is the greatest american engine ever made ", because i owned 1991 chevy suburban v1500 with barn doors

[@toddfleury7324]

You do good work!

[@TestECull]

15:23 And mechanical backwards compatibility. You can mate any transmission from the LS era to a smallblock and vice versa. Engine mounts pretty much transfer right over. Why swapping LS's in older Chevies is so popular; they damn near bolt right in. Aftermarket parts even exist to further improve the LS by divorcing it of all its computerized bullshit and letting you use the faithful and tested Quadrajet/HEI distributor that has worked so well for nearly 50 years at this point.

[@dragonsnake111]

The engine design stolen from Checker Marathon. Check your facts!

[@jamest.5001]

About the only things a 307 is good for is getting you to the grocery store. And donating it's crank and rods to a 350 to make a 327 ! If I was building a hot rod @ or under 2000 lbs, a 327 with a 3.73:1gear and a 4 speed could be quicker than a 350 especially if its revving past 7k rpm. I have heard stories of a 283 built taking down big blocks on the 1/8 mile strip . A 327 only has a 1/4" longer stroke. And with some mods and main studs, balanced, it should easily exceed 7500 rpm easily with the proper cam and heads A pair of 600 Holley carbs, or a single 750-850. With at least 12:1 compression, and a 150 N.O.S shot it should blast off. Shut the nitrous off at 7250-7500, on at 3200, dropping the clutch at 3500, and spray soon as the thing starts moving. (As long as it's hooked to the track!) A pair of 15"x14" rims and some sticky wrinkle wall slicks to fit, it should hook. Especially double deadlocked , with just enough air in there to hold it up. Get half the tire laying flat on the track! A 3500-4500 rpm launch , you would be really thinking you are about to launch, when all you see is sky! 😳 Shift and do it again!, Depending on tire diameter maybe a 4.10 or 4.56 gear would be better, or just a 3.90, a model A or stripped down fiberglass (carbon fiber) Camaro ot Nova isn't going to weigh much..

[@TestECull]

20:08 Funny thing about it...good as the smallblock is, I'd stil lrather have the six. My 71 C10 has the 250cid I6 and I am not changing it for an 8. If I ever get a tri-five I will go out of my way to see a stovebolt under that hood, be that from original or if I have to swap a V8 out to get the six in. What can I say I like that smooth, long lived buzz of half a dozen cylinders.

[@SternLX]

Your dad saying what his dream car was is exactly how I determined what mine was. I got my dream car. 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback, I was born in '68 and my dad had a 66' Mustang Coupe w/289ci Hi Po V8. He bought it brand new. I spent a lot of years riding around in that car. Sadly he had to sell it when I was 12(1980 was the worst year of the recession for my parents). Anyway, you should have seen his face when I rolled up in my '68 for the first time back in 2004. He was tinkering with his T-Bucket HotRod, powered by a 350ci SBC with bigass Blower on top no less. :) His daily was his old 1972 F-100 Ranger still. My family never got bogged down with which Mfg was the "best". We bought what worked. Hell my mom bought a used 1980 Malibu Wagon my senior of HS(1986) that she drove the wheels off of until 2008ish. My dad got tired of fixing it, lol.

[@markbarber7839]

Thanks for the video. Today they have given up on passenger cars. I think this is a big strategic mistake

[@rogerbuesing9374]

My 1st road car was a ‘63 Impala SS Convertible with the 327!!! I think you’re really describing mechanical, engineering and manufacturing advancements though…the 283 is just as great an engine as is the 289 for Ford. All leading to advancements like the 396, 427, 454 etc. Quite possibly the best engine of all time is the 350!!! Had a few of those with several having in excess of 250,000 miles like my ‘96 Impala SS

[@ew1usnr]

Ford was proud of its heavy Y-block V-8 until Chevy surprised them with its small block in 1955. Ford was not able to introduce something comparable until 1962.

[@Makeitliquidfast]

Still driving the 98 Chevy Tahoe 4x4, 96 3/4 ton Silverado 4x4, 97 Z71 shortbed 4x4, all equipped with the legendary 5.7 litre Vortec small block engine. Replaced the spider injectors on all three which was the only weak spot, these drivetrains are unbelievable for reliability and ease of maintenance. My trucks are better than the new junk on the market and I will pass them on to my boys.

[@brianallen9810]

I would say that the best engine GM made was the in line six. 2nd was the small block.

[@Joseph-u3t2n]

My first engine rebuild was a 1965 283 Chevy. It only had 72,000 miles when I got it but I had it bored and honed ten thousandst over, put a over stock cam into it, stuck 202 heads on it and a wheiland hi rise intake and 650 cfm carburetor on it. Put it into a 1978 Monti Carlo with a ford 9" rear end and 400 turbo transmission. For a mouse engine it would put you back in the seat and get a 17 year olds adrenaline pumping.

[@MegaGeorge1948]

My 55 Chevy Belair four door with a 265 V8 and two speed Powerglide automatic got 18 MPG on my trips up to Maine from Boston (but gasoline was $.25/gallon then). The car steered like a truck and the brakes would lock up in the snow if I was not careful (the car had hardly any traction at all in snow with the bias-ply tires). The ignition points would burn up at odd times in the Summer and the car would stall until the points were cleaned using a match book strike surface in a pinch. The Tetraethyl leaded gasoline forced mandatory 3,000 mile oil changes. Or the crankcase would sludge up. Spark plugs lasted 10,000 miles due to the leaded gasoline. Once in a while I would smell crank case gas fumes from the vent tube under the car (pre-PCV) at idle.

[@mr.spartacus6390]

I’ve worked in the oilfield in a lot of different capacities. There’s industrial small block chevys mounted on skids, powered by natural gas, used as natural gas pumps to pressurize various production systems or whatever, they’ve been running for probably 10 years at like 3000 rpm. They’re not only the most versatile engine on earth, but the most prolific

[@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602]

I don't know what new brand of opium you're smoking, but the Chevy small block was hardly "the engine that powered America"! That engine was Henry Ford's first V8 in 1932. Everything else was just toothpaste, especially by 1955. You really need to learn something about cars before you go setting yourself up as some self-appointed, sidewalk authority who knows a little about everything and a whole lot about nuthin'.