The Secrets of Chevy's Legendary Small Block V8 - Autoline After Hours 258

UP FOR DISCUSSION:
- First impressions: 2015 Ford Mustang.
- Cadillac's new leader won't cut prices.
- ZF takes over TRW, becomes world's 2nd largest supplier.
SPECIAL GUEST: Dave Cole, Autoharvest.org
- The untold story behind GM's legendary Small Block V8
All that and much more with John McElroy, Autoline.tv; Todd Lassa, Automobile; Drew Winter, WardsAuto.
Get more video everyday at autoline.tv

[@williambeglen4771]

My first car, 1971 Chevy Impala, had a 350 hp. 350 small block. And a 2 speed powerglide. A really great stock combination. That land yacht would get up the road like a dream. 120 mph was not hard to do at all. Getting that big boat to stop was a challenge. 😆

[@JackNeggerman]

Enjoyed it. Encouraged my dad in 1960 to buy a 55 with a 265 when I was 12. I cleaned the engine, removed the valve cover paint and drooled till 64 when I could drive it. I built a 58 283 strong for a friend with a 55. Later in 78, I had a 350 in a 69 Vette. It made 350 hp and felt strong. In 82 I got a front engine Dragster and built a 70 Vette 350. Got to 9.51 at 140 before going to a 454 which I still drive. I got a 95 Vette and built that engine and made a 383 out of it and added 110 hp. Still have it. Can break the tires loose in 3rd gear. I have moved on to Big Blocks for my rail and am up to 925 hp with nitrous, but how can I still not love the small block.

[@andyvonyeast332]

The absolute greatest V8 engine ever built, hands down. The Small Block Chevrolet is my favorite engine ever. There is no job it can’t do.

[@eddiedawkins19]

After 68 years now, SBC is still the engine of choice in the streetrod world, and racing of all types, local drag strips and round tracks as well...The winningest engine ever known to modern man

[@justina3221]

69 years

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Ed Cole created the first SBC based on the Cadillac V8 engine. Once it was built, Ed's wife was working at a public works facility and brought home some orange street paint and the first SBC engine was painted orange. Ed then installed it into his own '53 Chevy Bel-Air car, drove it around for awhile to work out any bugs in it. He enjoyed watching gas station attendants when he asked them to check the engine oil. Ed later showed his '53 Chevy to GM executives and the rest is history. SBC engines had flaws from the beginning and it took GM many years to correct some of the flaws but some still remain to this day.

[@mrd.6594]

Well since I knew just about everything about a small block chevy I still enjoyed the video..you can learn something each time you watch it

[@richardrichard5409]

Great video, love hearing all these throwaway details.

[@john811c]

The 283 was the quietest smoothest running engine I ever had in a car with the windows rolled up you couldn't tell it was running sometimes I would hit the key because I thought it had stalled, when it really was running. On a cold morning it would fire right up and that smooth tone carburetor whistle told you this engine was running sweet. I really miss my 66 chevelle malibu

[@bretfisher7286]

You're right! My Dad had a '56 Chevy 210 wagon with the 283. Fabulous engine. He would do the same thing as you mentioned: turn the key when it was running. It was so quiet and smooth.

[@badbanano]

John Cherish square engines idle the smoothest. The 305 was hard to hear running also.

[@hyperluminalreality1]

But the 283 was nowhere near square. 3.00 x 3.875. The only square small block was the 267 Monza engine. 3.5 x 3.48. I would like to have one of those to run on the street.

[@johncherish3486]

Of course a square engine would be. I know that my Dad's old 63 Studebaker had a 267 cu in engine in it which I think was probably a chevy design or even a chevy engine. One more detail the engine in this particular Studebaker which I just remembered was that it was noted on the chassis that the engine was experimental in this car for some reason. I am not sure but I believe Studebaker used general motors engines in their cars in that era as they were struggling to stay in business. But that said from my personal experience my 283 was extremely quite when running you could scarcely hear the lifters functioning even with the hood open and the vacuum gauge always showed rock steady vacuum at idle.

[@bretfisher7286]

+John Cherish: I think you're right about Studebaker. They were like AMC and maybe Nash, and Rambler- These were manufacturers of chassis and bodies, and not engine builders, if I'm not mistaken.

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

Best V8 ever!!! I have a 99' Tahoe LT with 202k and still going strong! Been very reliable.

[@TheLotBoysTV]

My friend has a 2002 Chevy Silverado. The engine runs strong at 486,000km but the computer system just crashed. It's too bad that the newer motors run off of computers.

[@emmanuelharlan9066]

i realize Im quite off topic but do anybody know a good place to watch newly released series online ?

[@darianmax6425]

@Emmanuel Harlan i use flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@vitoscatigno4207]

This video is like watching grass grow.

[@QuantumRift]

LOL. Yea, have to agree.

[@GT-fb8nv]

I guess we should have known that when the word Chevy was in the title. :))

[@themainproblem]

Yes, this recording sucked. ZZZzzzzz.

[@montinaladine3264]

Haha, yes, I finally got through the preliminary bullshit only to stop watching 15 seconds after this boring git started talking.

[@4793bigdaddy]

And we had to set thru a Hyundai commercial to boot.

[@FresnoJoe2]

Great Stuff~! Thanks For The History And Thanks For The Fantastic Round-Table Discussions Sorry The Video Game Crowd Can't Seem To Get Excited Over Grown Up Talk.... lol~!

[@Ken6151]

I liked this discussion. I was already driving when the Chevy V-8 was introduced so this is interesting history. I owned 4 different of the SBC and also a 348 in 1958. The 1955 and 1956 Pontiac 8 had reverse water flow. Hot water out of the bottom of the engine and cool water to the heads and valves. A great idea that made good sense-- mostly. Convection forced hot water to rise within the engine and this new system was fighting that. Pontiac abandoned this reverse coolant flow for the 1957 model year.

[@garlinmiller5808]

the v8 chevy engine was the greats thing that ever happened the chevy. going back in time like the 1932 ford flat ford v8.

[@jdrok5026]

Garlin Miller Chevrolet has a more diverse history then the one we all know they made upgrades for fords and made their own cars and they made a d series ohv v8 in 1917 and that engine when gm bought Chevrolet was axed to make Chevrolet the cheap line

[@stevenhs8821]

The first GM V-8 was in 1918. You were driving then?

[@dougdanzeisen9608]

I had no idea the early Pontiac V-8 had a "Reverse flow" cooling system. I wonder if they abandoned it for the same reasons Chevy killed it when they went to the Gen 3 SBC?

[@MrGGPRI]

My parents bought one of the first Pontiac V8s in 1955. The car had one minor problem, it would occasionally backup when in Drive. Towed it back to the dealer to have it fixed; dealer said the cooling system was reversed and had to be corrected.

[@d.haroldangel241]

Yup. I sure picked up a lot of SECRETS. LOL

[@markrich3271]

I love GMs sbc . I just built a forged 383 stroker w/ heads cam intake turbo and gen 3 coil over plug ignition efi ecu. The best of the older and new technology . Daily driven 900hp sbc @ 25 mpg off the throttle . You cant say that about many other motors devolved in 1955.

[@eddiedawkins19]

There is NO other engine designs that even compare or comes close to all the achievements that the SBC has accomplished

[@markrich3271]

@Eddie Dawkins I still have my sbc . I admittedly don't use her as much as I did but she still sits outside in my gmt400

[@clydecalamity6520]

Good thing I read these comments before I watched this video.

[@michaelszczys8316]

Did you ever see small block number # 00001? They take it around to shows. ( at least they did ) interesting thing about it is it has a hole bored right through the middle of it for the crankcase road draft tube. I wonder if that was the only one done that way ?

[@rafaelleonidas2022]

Whats the difference between the original 265/283 small block and the Nascar SB engine? ( Small Block )

[@antonioosoriokory]

fantástico V8 de chevy saludos de México

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Ford also never really used the term “ big block” or “ small block” back in the day. Pretty much all Ford FE engines were “ big blocks” with much wider blocks and long strokes. A Chevy 327-350 was a small block but a Ford 360 had a much bigger block with a taller deck and wide intake. Essentially all Ford engines were “ big blocks” accept the 302 and 289. Chevy went for short stroke low deck height blocks for quick wind up and Ford went for long stroke blocks taller decks wide intake to produce torque monsters

[@sergeantmasson3669]

Ford began with SBF and BBF in 1958 when the FE was first used.

[@jeffcraven7376]

The Hyundai commercial did it for me; if I want to see a Hyundai I'll go to the nearest junkyard where 5 to 8 yr. old still good looking Hyundai cars ,despite the rust, are ready for the crusher. Plus I'd rather have my stock '69 Chevelle Malibu small block 307 V8 (sports package) anyday before I'd buy a new Camaro, Mustang, or Charger.

[@AlvaroPovedaV]

Greetings for Dave Cole, he is son of Great Engineer Ed Cole, he made the first small block V8 Chevrolet

[@jdrok5026]

Alvaro Poveda Valdés someone here knows something about sbc and duntov

[@waswestkan]

Duntov was the brain behind the Corvette. While Duntov may have played a role in the 265 CID V8, but it was Cole's creation.

[@jdrok5026]

Alvaro Poveda Valdés ik but a lot of duntovs ideas and cams where a force in the sbc

[@genedavis759]

Great stuff.

[@robertsutton6033]

Autoline Network I need a quick lesson I putt a 355 Chevy in my 79 Monte Carlo what's the Edelbrock carburetor the I have to have a pcv running to the carburetor I have it on the left side in the front .and a breather on the right side

[@jdrok5026]

edelbrocks really get a quadrajet

[@jackrohde4709]

You can run pcv to the brake bootster line with a plastic 3 way fitting from O'Reilly auto parts, or get a spacer with a manifold vacuum fitting on it and put the hose on it, make sure its manifold not port vac!

[@kevinmacnally5096]

Mr Cole was a brilliant man back in the 50's!

[@johnchildress6717]

Cool to hear his son tell some of the things Mr Cole did.Would be fun to talk to his son Dave.

[@josephgalarneau7177]

One thing they didn't mention was the influence a young engineer named Smokey Yunik had on the small block Chevys. He was a major contributor to Chevrolets performance team. Many don't know he was on the design team that produced the Ford line of small block V8s. 221,260,289. No wonder they look similar.

[@andyharman3022]

David Cole goes on my list of people to have dinner and conversation with.

[@alm7707]

would have been more interesting if they had brought in the guys who swept the floors at gm. I had just watched the story of the 1932 ford v8. now there was an interesting video.

[@speedskiff2]

Trivia: 1st year 265 had no oil filter casting on block.

[@gregwilson222]

1951?

[@speedskiff2]

oldster told me 55 chevy 265 had no oil filter. Whether it's true or not, don't know.

[@alansnowden8025]

+speedskiff2 they used canter for oil filter

[@jdrok5026]

the first sbcs didnt have oil filters

[@jdrok5026]

390 merc ford didnt design it your just trying to justify looks of a motor as gossiple but look at the ponchos buicks and mopars vs a y block

[@MystikalDawn]

SBC's absolutely love to eat valve stem seals, signature blue smoke for a second on start up is a sure sign of this problem.

[@jdrok5026]

MystikalDawn no they dont

[@MystikalDawn]

yes they do they were well known for it

[@jdrok5026]

MystikalDawn no they really werent

[@jdrok5026]

MystikalDawn valve stem seals seriously do you know what a valve stem is

[@MystikalDawn]

journeyperson mechanic by trade. So yea I think I do, and yes they are.

[@mitc0185]

good stuff

[@2right4words]

I remember the Buick engines always had a reputation for having bad wrist pins. The real stink came, when people bought Oldsmobiles and found out that they had Chevy engines in them

[@andyharman3022]

I remember the "Chevymobile" controversy of the late-70's. I thought it was complete nonsense. The sbc was a lot better engine than the Olds.

[@jackrohde4709]

Not as pure transportation, the olds was more reliable, had less cracked heads or flat cams! Olds stock outlasts Chevy stock!stock, stock.

[@2right4words]

jack rohde don't even bother with the other guy, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Of course the Oldsmobile was a much better engine, and the other thing about it was that the cars that had the Chevy engines in them traded at a lot less value

[@jackrohde4709]

2right4words Your right, you can't teach an old chevy DOG new tricks, my good friends moms best friends an old couple, bought a new 77 olds 88 with the chevy 350 her and her husband were so pissed they took it back and ordered a new one with the 403, well my friends mom was looking for a new car also so she went and looked at it "the 350 one" at the dealer and liked it, so bought it, my friend always used Pennzoil which sucks but he changed oil every 3,000 miles to be safe, and it ran perfect to 140,000 miles then they sold it, it even had the chevette turbo 200 in it! but this gos to show you if you baby the crap out of a chevy it will last a while, but still not as long as a Ford or Mopar under the same conditions.

[@kenmoule825]

The second half of that was a waste unless you want the GMC outlook on GM. To those who know the real story on the SBC they go way more in depth than the general discussions here. To the general public 5 generations were available up to the Vortec era. The new LS is a different beast and really shares nothing with the earlier design big or small journal motors. The mouse just needed a better lighter piston in the 265. They were crappy. Rods were thin but damn they screamed till the piston skirts broke lol.The ring package in 56 and pistons allowed the 57 to go up to the 283 and injection. I think the Studebaker Golden Hawk ran a blown 283 mouse in 57'. IMO the 327 is the legend of the early design. Still gittin' it done till this day street, strip and roundy round.

[@andyharman3022]

Gen I is the original '55 engine. Gen II is the reverse-flow cooled LT1 that was introduced on the '92 Corvette. Gen III is the cathedral-ported head, deep-skirt block engine that was introduced on the C5 Corvette. Gen IV is the LS3, L92 rectangular port cylinder head engine. Gen V is the direct-injected engine introduced on the C7 Corvette and 2014 trucks. LT1, L83, L86, and LV3 V6. The only dimension of architecture shared with the Gen I is the 4.400" bore spacing. The rod bearing is still the same size, but different part number. And the valvetrain is still cam-in-block pushrod with 2 valves per cylinder and a wedge combustion chamber. The new Gen V engine has canted valves.

[@billp5656]

The 327 was perfection

[@WJKPhD]

Insight into the GM organization and function, esp Cole and son, but too little on what you promised -- info on the small block.

[@lostsoul3154]

The first SBCs used oil. A bulletin to dealers was issued to pour Bon-Ami down the carb at fast idle to roughen the cylinders up a bit.

[@johnrooke12]

Patrick Joseph

[@jdrok5026]

Patrick Joseph the first sbcs had nonoil filter provisions which means you filled it and drained it through the valve cover and oil pan just the same except it would get dirty so the provisions for a filter where added putting oil in a carb is a bad idea

[@turbo8454]

My dad bought one in December of '54. Part of the oil consumption problem was inadequate oil drain back from the heads.

[@lostsoul3154]

JDR: They poured BON AMI down the carb -- not oil. Thanks.

[@utah133]

I have a Chevy, made in Detroit. The gas engine doesn't run very often, though. It's a Volt.

[@BassRacerx]

would it be too much to ask you to have a Table of contents with these long podcasts? i would love to be able to skip to the different topics on the video so it would be easyer to digest these videos in sections.

[@HOTRODRICH]

A bunch of guys sitting around reminiscing and talking about things that have nothing to do with the small block Chevy V8 I thought I was going to learn about. And an hour of it! Not for me. I'm sure even leaving this comment is a waste of time I guarantee I will not watch one of your other videos

[@10bbremer]

HOTRODRICH What did you expect? They said it was a secret.

[@stevenhs8821]

Throwing this up, only. What about a Mustang or Camaro with a little rear suicide-door like the Mazda RX-8? Your thoughts.

[@gkauto1959]

This video promised to go over why the SBC was such a success and wound up being mostly an old boys reunion with some talk about the team but it so missed the mark by a mile and didnt really go into why the SBC was such a success, but they sure ran their mouths didnt they? No mention of how good the oiling system was, with the hollow push rods and their hydraulic valve lifters, or of how efficient their cylinder heads were, or how well those heads were affixed to the block with the bolts arranged in a semi circle around the bore, or how well the crankshaft was designed to withstand the hi RPM of 5,000 in a day where 3,000 RPM was tops. They sure did bring out the personalities of the design team but left out what they accomplished. Next time get it right!

[@Georgiagreen317]

I may have fallen to sleep but while awake, no mention of Zora Duntov in a conversation of small block Chevy's? Really? I cut my teeth on these engines going back to 55. The stock engine was not much to talk about and the history was really made with the Corvette adaptations of the engine. So much so most high performance parts were usually referred to Duntov parts. All of the higher performance parts were derivatives of Corvettes and this is what made this engine so popular. Anything above the original 265 was an adaptation of Corvettes in one way or another. The small block reference started in 58 with the 348 (developed as a truck engine) and continued with the larger 409. In my opinion, no other engine ever matched the 409 for it's sheer power of era.

[@ronaldsutton2726]

as a young man looking at cars in 1955, I was Not Impressed with the Overhead Valve Gear. The long used Rocker Shaft was replaced by individual Stamped Rocker Arms which pivoted on a ball shape which was on a stud Pressed into the cylinder head. As an engineer, I was skeptical and smelled trouble. Wrong!

[@andyharman3022]

Ball-stud-mounted stamped rocker arm worked well for production engines up to about 6000 rpm, but very high performance race engines use shaft-mounted rockers.

[@jackrohde4709]

When racing racers change the valve train on Chevy's to a shaft type setup, because its superior, like Mopar and Ford, AMC! had stock, the Chevy valve train was OK for drag racing in the early years, but even then it's stock rocker arms can't handle a cam as big as Ford or Mopar stock,! these guys like to argue, but only know Chevys,!

[@jackrohde4709]

mystic1754 Yes you mean the chevy guy in the black no3 that used to run everyone off the track then died doing it, I don't care what he drove I had no respect for him sorry, too bad he died though, but I was talking about factory cars durabilty, not modified race cars, the NASCAR rules favor chevy because they were the biggest to give payola to France, and the most technically inferior motors, except the 1963 mystery motor which blew up all the time from eating its valve train, but it did get pole position a lot.

[@arvbergstedt3303]

Seen many failures of the stud half ball rocker. Run cockeyed and push valve stem sideways wrecking guide. Seen the stud pop out on a 400 76 pickup. Not impressive.

[@waelal-rihawi2496]

The big question is, what is going to happen to the small block chevy? Are we going to see the discontinuation of suck a legacy? Are we going to see GM taking the same road Ford? They teased us with the V6 in the Vsport, but is it what we are going to see replacing the new LT series in the future? Maybe it is just a test bed for the all new small block chevy which has much lower displacement variants and variable geometry turbos on each bank.

[@timothylines7115]

i,ve seen numbers of a ,511 cid,2500 h/p small block.

[@Papasmurf7597]

In reality! There was a 'small block V8' in a Chevy way back in either 1917 or 1918. I think it was a 265. I saw one many years ago in Hersey, Pa. And recently on youtube.

[@richardrichard5409]

I didn't think there was a 'small block' until the '65' big blocks'? :)

[@V8rings]

It was actually 288 cubic inch. 👍

[@HunterNugent1]

Yes, today we still run at a war effort pace to design things. Otherwise that'll be the next thing to go over seas.

[@ThomasDeLello]

The industry had to upgrade their HP output in the early 1950's simply because there was an Interstate Highway System in the works and the writing was right there on the wall. You'd think these guys would have mentioned that. Chrysler got the jump in '52 and Ford went OHV in '54. Ford had to, because the old flathead would overheat every time because of those block side exhaust ports for the two middle cylinders where heat would build up. You'd think that Henry would've been smart enough to make his middle exhaust port bigger in diameter to avoid heat buildup there. Chevy's 265 ci V8, a much better engine than what Ford had. It was needed for the same reason, the Interstate Highway System.

[@jdrok5026]

390merc65 the d series was a single cast block before the ford flathead and theny block and sbc

[@jdrok5026]

390merc65 no the y block was out in 1954 thats when development was finished

[@jdrok5026]

390merc65 and the sbc had no ford hand involvement

[@jdrok5026]

if you actually look at a y and sbc a windsor a buick nailhead a poncho a Cleveland and a mopar without hemi heads and a amc v8 they all look similar their designs are actually not at all the same they all look like ys due to the configuration of the cylinders s which is a 90 degree v8 and no the first ohv v8 was in 1917

[@jdrok5026]

Thomas De Lello and all sbcs had a front and back distributor hardly means anything the sbc made its first appearance in a prototype corvette that was design for racing in 1952 the early sbc look nothing like a y block from a far if you have good eyes the sbc had no oil filter provisions it had a different size entirely different shape of how the intake fit lol your digging yourself a hole here 390 merc next youll say the duramax is a ford design because nothing gm does can be there even tho the ls is more similar to the 8-6-4 caddy then anything

[@irocitZ]

Everyone I know with the exception of a few melenials has owned a car with a SBC engine at some point, I still have a car with one. It's 40 years old and has never been out of the car, by the looks of it I'll always have at least one or more cars with a SBC.

[@b3877896]

Speaking of Small Block vs. Big Block Chevrolet V8 engines . . . I recall the small block engines being labeled and advertised as the "Turbo-Fire" V8, and the big blocks as the "Turbo-Jet" V8. For that matter, the six cylinder chevy engines during the 60s and 70s as the "turbo Thrift" engines. Great stuff!

[@jkanderson7]

You should have heard them rev up - could hear them right across the flight line and when they passed peak revs to wind back down, then you'd hear the rising whine of the J-58s. Fond memories!

[@turbo8454]

I remember in the mid 60's hearing them referred to as big block and small block.

[@geoffdearth8575]

I thought this was going to be something entirely different. Never mind.

[@andyharman3022]

Yeah, not much technical detail. It's more about corporate project management.

[@gil8132]

i need it

[@dallasangler]

No Audio

[@ronhon100]

No problem for me. Try again.

[@vanlittle5893]

If we're going to talk engines let's talk engines.

[@johnbecay3686]

this is not about the development of the small block...it is more about the development of the 55 chevy

[@tuxedo9824]

B O R I N G ! ! ! ! !

[@janveit2226]

It depends what you are interested in and what you are looking for at the moment......

[@novaman3509]

I thought Porky the Pig was just a cartoon character.

[@detroitbluesguy]

Tough viewers here!

[@jjhemp5713]

It's all about secret masonic handshakes and signs during this video....

[@MrRemo58]

262 , 265 , 267 , 283 , 302 , 305 , 307 , 327 , 350 , 400 . Did I miss any ?

[@manuelforero2116]

453

[@timothylines631]

383

[@LightningFabrication]

Started watching, too many ads so screw it.

[@idontreadurreplies_umadbro7601]

there is no engine more legendary than an LS smallblock. even their v6 is boss.

[@jdrok5026]

ls smallblock legendary nope sbc is yes

[@stevenbryant4718]

that is why sbc was king of the drag strip for years?

[@jdrok5026]

Idontreadurreplies_umadbro sbc is the king of the dragstrip

[@stevenbryant4718]

hemi.

[@jackrohde4709]

Slant six is the King of durability!😂

[@stevenhs8821]

My favorite GM engine is the Olds diesel. ; -)

[@turbo8454]

I have a few of the original examples still running.

[@fredmcelroy6290]

turbo8454

[@d.e.b.b5788]

The original GM v8 diesel was horrible. It took them a couple of years to get it right. By then, nobody wanted one anymore, as it had gotten a bad rep. Once they fixed the problems, they tried advertising it as 'the Goodwrench engine', but it was too late.

[@matrox]

Hey, Jesse James is on the panel today.

[@dallasangler]

Thanks, problem was on my end... sorry

[@britinihinkley1033]

I enjoyed this but the title is very misleading and will disappoint many viewers.

[@mylanmiller9656]

Chevy Ford and Plymouth were the bread and butter Cars that sold in the largest numbers GM would never drop the Chevy line, That was were they made most of there money. Pontiac realy got the shaft from Corporate GM in the early 1950's. Pontiac had there V8 engine ready for production by 1953, Because Buick didn't have a V8 GM wouldn't let Pontiac use there V8 engine until 1955!

[@tomcollins494]

We wanted to see the engine and it's production. Not to guys sitting around talking for an hour about things we already knew.

[@dr.detroit1514]

Chevy's small block V8 secret? Taking Pontiac's ball stud stamped steel rocker arm valve system.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

It took many years to do away with Chevy adjustable rocker arms and I bet that you don't know why. All other GM divisions had done away with them long before Chevy did.

[@dr.detroit1514]

@@sergeantmasson3669 I'm only interested in Pontiac engines, so please enlighten me...

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@dr.detroit1514 only 1955 Pontiac V8 engines had adjustable rocker arms. SBC had to have them for many decades as well as starter shims. The reasons are Chevy used more than one factory to cast engine blocks, thus, slight differences between tolerances. Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac had their own block factories and not multiples like Chevy. GM didn't figure out, for decades, using just one engine factory was a better idea.

[@dr.detroit1514]

@@sergeantmasson3669 Some stuff I didn't know. Thanks for the info.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@dr.detroit1514 50+ years as a master level factory certified auto/truck tech, I learned a few things over the years. I also built many, many, auto racing engines as well

[@mikebroszczak5767]

The title does not match the discussion (what's the secret).

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Having played with SBC as road and race engines for decades the two best things about them is the oiling system that is the best for the day and even now. Then the 5 bolts per cylinder to retain the heads unlike the oppositions [and LS!!] 4. That coupled with the shim headgaskets made the engine very stiff. For an iron head engine use them, they are still the best and .020 or less as well. The tin rockers on a standard or near standard engine running under 6000 are reliable enough though this style rocker always loses out right lift. The heads themselves were ok and in the early days modded to make serious power, though so could the opposition who some times started with better base. The intake manifold design is very efficient, Edelbrock effectively copied it for the Performer. As [for standard and near std engines] the Q jet as well. The cam lobes were always too small as were the lifter bases, the failure of thousands of the engines as they wiped off a lobe. The cooling system is as good as any, better than most. Though I do agree with Smokey Yunicks views that taking the hotwater from the exhaust side of the head would be better [for endurance race engines] Too build a strong engine for a classic car that is reliable, driveable a 10-1 comp with the better fuellie [or 292] heads, factory intake [or Performer] Q jet with a mild hydraulic cam with springs to suit [many mild will cop factory springs] will make a gutsy 350 driveably HP which is better than a lumpy grumpy 400 for a street car with a std tranny [auto or manual] and eg a 3.08 diff. The 3.36 fitted factory to many cars will make better performance at the expense of highway economy. Though a 3.36 is better for a powerglide car. 3.08 for a manual or turbo trans.

[@3Ddude101]

Edelbrock did not "copy" the Rochester QuadraJet carb. They simply designed their own high performance version of that carb as a direct replacement that would bolt straight onto the Q-Jet stock manifold without any modifications. All the hoses and fuel line were direct hook-up. My father was a hot rodder before me, and in '74 he bolted on an Edelbrock Q-Jet carb onto his daily driver stock '68 Camaro with a 327. We were amazed at the difference in performance from merely a carb swap. Felt more like he'd added headers.

[@jackrohde4709]

yes it's a Carter copy actually.

[@turbo8454]

Q-Jet is the best carb out there. Just gotta know what you're doing!

[@jackrohde4709]

***** Smokey Unick said the same thing in his how to build a chevy small block book, he said in there that Ford and Mopar had better motors about 5 times! and how to use their ideas to improve the chevy motor! I have the book and marked it with red felt pen to show my motor pals! THE ONLY PLUS CHEVY HAS IS THEY ARE ABUNDANT AND CHEAP TO GET, they cost more in the long time.

[@jackrohde4709]

mystic1754 There not too bad on a stock grandma motor if you adjust them first, my neihbors had 4 new chevy impalas 65--74 all idled very high 1,200 rpm and squaked the tires every morning when put in gear, this was very annoying as this was in a car port next to my bedroom window at 6;30 the lady would start her car and go in for 10 minuites for years during grade school I never got a good night sleep, so I hate GM Rochester carbs, my parents Fords never idled like that ever.

[@mebeasensei]

What can Cadillac do? .....bought to you by Hyudai!!

[@beaconrider]

Well you couldn't spell 'brought' or 'Hyundai'. But at least you figured out how to spell Cadillac.

[@haroldbawlz8934]

Dude! Before you condemn anyone you should try and read your own post! You obviously said Hell Yes to drugs and fucked up your brain.

[@IssaBendeck1]

jajajaj nice secrets thanks alot

[@gfdfperte4248]

Where are all the Secrets ???

[@jackrohde4709]

Fords motors last longer!

[@jackrohde4709]

And Chrysler motors.

[@gfdfperte4248]

Ford motors do not last longer. Gm motors do not last longer. Chrysler Motors do not last longer. It is about abuse and misuse. Does Cast Iron know what we call it.

[@jackrohde4709]

Your in denial, 😝

[@jackrohde4709]

Treat them all the same and Chevy's won't last as long as Ford or Mopar, go ask the taxi and police fleets.

[@voodoochild661]

the guy was wrong about the small block history.

[@williamcox5216]

I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A VIDEO THAT WOULD SHOW THE BEST V8 EVER DESIGNED AND BUILT, ABOUT HOW THIS ENGINE BLEW FORDS SORRY ASS BOAT ANCHORS AWAY, NOT!!!!!!!!

[@CARSON441]

John, you should learn from the Sandy Munro show not to have Sandy on with that other guy who was very argumentative for no apparent good reason . Sandy seems to have forgotten more than that guy ever knew. Sandy can carry the show alone.

[@davidmann4533]

They’re trying to get too much horsepower out of a four-cylinder the longevity will not be there

[@chrisvig123]

Too bad GM is completely missing the boat on the future. Internal explosions engine are going gentlemen...let's get on with hybrids...electrics. The writing is on the wall

[@jasonsteiner57]

Hydrogen > electric

[@michaelkearney3646]

​@@jasonsteiner57Yep. Electrics are a transitional tech.

[@aricsnyder5882]

Oy that accent small blaaaaakk Chevy you can listen to out paaaaaaaad cast

[@timothylines7115]

fords best engines v8,s.330 cid.361 cid.391cid 477cid 534cid all truck engines.not one used extra gas,taxas having f 150 day because of all others,

[@nickd.7267]

Holy shit . .

[@4thstooge75]

55 Chevy all new except for the crappy 2 speed powerglide transmission.

[@b3877896]

I respectfully disagree. The GM Powerglide transmission was an extremely durable and long-lived design. Two speeds aren't my cup o' tea either, but considering it's longevity the 'Glide was a grand slam home run for GM and it's Hyrdamatic Division!

[@QuantumRift]

Loved the powerglide in my '68 camaro..

[@canibusnj]

Thank you!!!!!! You took the words out of my mouth! The "Powerslide" as they use to call it is one of the greatest transmissions in automotive history!!! Not great highway trannys, but durable as a block of granite!!!

[@QuantumRift]

My buddies and I had powerglides in our Camaro's. We'd call it the "Slip n Slide Powerglide" cause you could BEAT IT TO DEATH. I was doin 90 one night and wanted to see if I could kick it down into first and yep, it did.

[@thatsmrharley2u2]

Yep. In the late 70's early 80's we all used "slush-o-matics" on our street strip Chevies...you could beat the snot out of a Powerglide and it would still run with the big boys. With the advent of shift kits and torque converter stall speed technology we were in Heaven!

[@garyshirley6141]

You mean ford design.

[@eds1994fatboy]

The Volkswagon air cooled was the hot stuff for 58....pushing a whopping 1/2 horse3 per cylinder....weighing in at 33 lbs.

[@PatrickBaptist]

Chevy, only thing legendary about them I've ever noticed was they were legendary for not being reliable, like a rock they just sat there, like my RV, 454 only 40k miles already needing a engine... That's the only thing I know chevy to be legendary from.

[@sethhughes2163]

Never got past all the solicitations in the beginning... adios

[@tubedude1077]

they were not all the holy grail of engines . 350s were only good for the first 3 or 4 years then they had all sorts of problems with rocker arms and cracking heads and bad cams of the 305.and they never corrected the "hot start " pisser . Dictation anyone ?

[@JohnnyRebKy]

What’s Cadillac going to do?? Well they fell under due to that horrific Northstar 32v V8 engine. Worst engine in GM history. I had one that burned 2 quarts of oil every 900 miles with under 100k miles on it. Soon after 100k the head gaskets blew and engine overheated. Cost more to fix than worth. They killed the Cadillac Deville in the 2000s. I didn’t have bad luck this was a notorious problem with Cadillac Northstar engine. Meanwhile the Ford 4.6 in the town car, Victoria, police car, have been going 300k miles and more

[@vernwallen4246]

Chevy took the 49 caddy v-8 and shrunk it

[@andyharman3022]

Did you even listen to what David Cole said? He said they purposely didn't copy the Cadillac V8 because Ed Cole thought they could do a better engine the second time around.

[@treedog86]

I have had more fun going to the dentist

[@user-fd5rg4ce9n]

ระวัง มัน ส่ง เครื่อง สลับ แบบฟรอมส์ ของ มัน

[@JohnnyRebKy]

The only engine failure I ever had was a Cadillac Northstar V8. Complete junk! Chevy small blocks, Ford V8...never had a problem with any of them

[@johnricci4511]

...and I've had an 04 Deville DHS since 12 and it won't quit! You never know.

[@JohnnyRebKy]

John Ricci don’t jinx yourself. Very few have been lucky with a Northstar. I hate to say that too because I really liked my Cadillac

[@lowercherty]

One other weak point was the gasketing of the inlet manifold to block and head. Most of them would start leaking coolant into the oil eventually. Only modern silicone goo finally got it under control. If it was bad enough the engine could be destroyed in short order.

[@johnmatarazzo9178]

No diagrams of small block versions no photos or video of small block just a bunch of gray head guys spitting out sales guilds of products

[@SupercarsGT]

I love this engine,today is the best engine of USA in my opinion.I hope to Chevy never introduce the downsizing in this V8

[@boknows3841]

Chevrolet always made the cheapest car with the crappies parts and only designed it to last as long as the car payment.

[@ziiofswe]

Misleading title... I expected a tech inclined video. A bunch of guys in suits was an early warning, but I decided to not judge by the looks.... I should have. It wasn't totally uninteresting as a history lesson, but there were definitely not any secrets about the small block engine... Also lots and lots of talk about totally unrelated things. 5/10, will not actively seek out any more of your videos.

[@ezcondition]

talking about Mustangs in a video about the "secrets" of the small-block Chevy? stick to the topic.

[@firstlast1357]

It is not about the engine, it is about people, their attitude towards the job, the family and the country. It is about doing things, Now most of it is replaced with political correctness and - it cannot be done attitude. Thanks god that we found a president who actually does things and let’s the dems and the media howl. God help us if they get into power, you can kiss the country goodbye.

[@robdonna1000]

odd bunch of girls I mean dudes

[@sahiel5]

that is exacly the problem with the chevy ppl - they live in he past nad thats exacly how they buid they engines

[@TheWwong]

I agree, but you have to admit they get very impressive hp numbers from the 2 valve pushrod engines in the Corvette and Camaro.

[@niurou]

ICU2 yes, considering hp/engine weight, it's very good.

[@sahiel5]

niurou ye if u intrested in such as irrelevent characteristic... i look at its pathetic hp/displacment number and fuel consumption

[@JETZcorp]

***** Thing is, it doesn't have pathetic hp/displacement or fuel consumption, unless you want to compare it to a Honda K20 or some other small engine. But if you compare the LS3, LT1, or any of the other modern GM V8s to other engines that make comparable horsepower, they are generally smaller and lighter and usually offer at least comparable economy. Look at an LS3 (6.2L) engine on a stand, and set it next to a Ford Modular 4.6, or an Audi 4.2, or a Toyota 1UZ 4.0; the DOHC engines are all enormous. The Toyota is the only one that's even close in size until you start looking at 60-degree V6s. And regarding mileage, a Corvette Stingray gets 29mpg on the highway. For over 450hp, that's phenomenal.

[@sahiel5]

JETZcorp dude only thing i can say is:buahahahahaha u chevy ppl are so short sighted im not thinking honda cuz they vtechs are just emberising that peace of crap,no... talking v8 - ford 4,6 was 15years old when ls3 was introduce 1uz is 20 year old they stoped producing it 4 years before ls3 was introduce and yes it is pathetic ls3 has69hp/liter fors boss302 dose 89hp/liter ford mustang 5.0 87hp/liter bmw and audi dose over 100hp/liter so no lt1's 73hp/liter is not phenomenal,its not even decent and 29mpg is thanks to 7 and 8 speed gear box not the engine and shou cares if its a little smaller if its crap