- Both small and big blocks are V-8 engines. The engines have a cylinder block with eight cylinders configured in a V-shape, with each arm of the "V" block having four cylinders. Big block engines are about 30 percent heavier than small blocks and contain larger dimensions, usually about five inches wider and six inches taller than small blocks.
- Engine performance can be improved in lots of ways. To compare performance between a small block and big block properly, evaluate both engines on their "stock" condition. The main difference between the two is in the size of the exhaust and intake valves. Big block engines have larger intake and exhaust valves, enabling big blocks to have a better fuel-to-air ratio during compression. Typically, a better fuel-to-air ratio inside a cylinder means better performance.
- Chevy introduced small block engines in 1955 through a 4.3-liter V-8 engine equipped in the Bel Air and Corvette models of the era. During subsequent years, several versions of small block engines were released with different displacements, ranging from 4.3 liters up to 6.6 liters.
The big block came along in 1958 when Chevy released the 5.7-liter V-8 engine. It came standard on several Chevy full-size cars and trucks and categorized under Chevy's "W" series of engines. Big block engines have displacements that range from 5.7 liters up to 9.4 liters, with the 9.4-liter engine first released in 2003. - Chevrolet habitually made the small block the standard engine for most of their vehicles, while the big block was offered on trucks and as an optional upgrade. Because of this trend, second-hand small blocks are far more available today than big-block counterparts, also leading to the higher price range of big block engines.
Configuration and Weight
Stock Performance
Production
Availability
SHARE
