As a fan, I've found the easiest way to tell between a small block and a big block is to look at the headers. Big blocks usually have equally spaced exhaust pipes, o-o-o-o. The small blocks usually have the center pipes very close together, o-oo-o.
on the current cars you cant see the headers from the grandstands though. the body panels completely enclose them. what you are saying used to be true up until the early 1990's when the old body styles left the headers exposed.
Thank Mike for the educational class on the engines and cars we are seeing at the track and their differences. Thanks to you for bringing us our tech on Tuesday!!
One makes the boat go and the other gets thrown over board to keep it from going at all..... the chain usually fits both anchors. I always loved the BB’s
Great video....as usual. My wife and I love dirt racing, but probably know less of the tech stuff than Billy lll. One thing though....thanks to Mike for calling an engine an engine and not a motor! A motor is electrical. Never could understand why they say.... Motorsports then! Maybe because enginesports doesn't sound too good!!! Keep up the good work.....pray for an early spring.....no more snow!
Thank you Mike for another execellent Tech Tuesday Video. I have indeed learned a great deal this off season and look forward to the beginning of the season being armed with a little more knowledge about the sport. Thank you!
Mandee and Mike thanks for clearing that up there are so many rules so many different classes and then different tracks have there rules very hard to keep up with thanks for the help don't forget to plant your corn early this year might have to get dad to explain this 😂 he is a very wise man that didn't grow up with a smart phone just listened and learned thanks for sharing your video
many thanks for information . 1976 Cadillac Colorado 500 cid engine FWD THM425 transmission. what the modern engine replacement can fit direct.without big modification.
Great video Mandee and Mike. You guys should do a tech Tuesday with David & Ashley Stremme owners of leathal chassis. And explain the difference in mod series cars.
Pretty basic, but more important than the size in why Chevy created the big block in the first place: the heads. The Mark IV big block origins were the NASCAR mystery motor...it was designed from the heads out to breathe better to compete against the Chrysler Hemi. This is why the heads were called Porcupine heads. The valves were not arranged in a line, instead sticking out at different angles and requiring different length pushrods for intake and exhaust.
Are Big block Mods always faster than Small Blocks (in general). The Small Block is lighter. Do Small Blocks therefore handle better than Big Blocks? How about maintaining speed through a turn?
So the small blocks have to be iron blocks, yes? How about the big block, cast iron also or can it be aluminum?? What engine companies build the big blocks? There is one or two that usually are putting out a little more power.
Mandee, love your tech videos. Ask Mike if small blocks are allowed to use spread bore blocks to achieve larger bore sizes and cid. In other words, can a spread bore small block run in the same class with a big block. I have seen spread bore small block chevy's in excess of 450 cid in late models.
@@ledoshuffle Thank you. I am a Late Model guy and am trying to get a better understanding of the various engine combinations in these North East Modifieds.
@@jamesweber7369 no, because the max displacement is 358 cu in (with a tolerance up to 360) so there is really no point in using what you are talking about. super late models of course are different as they have no limitation on displacement.
What do you mean how? I just do. Not telling you specifics because it is a grudge car but we do eat a big blocks. Throw a 300 shot of nitrous on and then you’ll have just as much top and black. Even with a little bit more gear. And it’s all aluminum so it’s a hell of a lot lighter than a big block too
But yes I do see your point if you do have an equal big block and a small block the big black should win. I do get that. You’re right, that’s why you just gotta build it even more🤪
@@crsracing1313 ahhh ok, man I've never used nitrous or been fast like that. Just the usual street/strip builds that go to the track. What you think about edelbrock rpm heads? Since I already have them
Honestly for a street strip motors are awesome! I don’t have anything against them. If you ever want to step up your motor a little bit I recommend a dart pro 1 head. For a street strip motor though rocks are awesome man. Seems like you got a pretty good motor. Ours is actually a street strip motor also I mean it’s not no 2000 hp motor. We just have a lot of high dollar shit in it and we changed it down a little bit. Would you run race fuel but it’s not like an insane 15 to 1 pressure. We can still take it to local places on the street still at fun. When we go to the track we just turn it up a little bit and put the nitrous on and have a good time
Small block based off the 1969 base 350 chevy motor. Big blocks off of the 1966 chevy based 427 motor? Small block chevy siamese center exhaust ports. Big block single exhaust ports as do fords and some dodge motors. And the newer chevy engines. Most all dirt track motors are based off of the chevy small block but the world of outlaw sprints and I take the big bllock modifieds being 410 cubic inch of displacement or size of the engine...
Robert Phipps The 9 means that the cylinder is displacing an area 9 times smaller when piston is at top dead center compared to the displacement in a cylinder at bottom dead center
@@nicholaswarner1143 almost - it is the volume, not the area. area of a piston always remains the same. to give an easy example to the original question - when the piston is at the bottom of it's stroke the total volume of that cylinder would be something like 60 cu in and then as the piston travels to the top of it's stroke the volume would be compressed 9 times to about 6.7 cu in.
charles shapley The engines sound different between the small block and the big block. Other than that you can’t really tell unless you can see the engine, then look at the exhaust (header spacing) like Mike said.
Typically you can’t tell. If the rules for a certain sanction/track call for big blocks to have windows and small blocks to have sail panels, that would really be the only noticeable difference.
@@charlesshapley686 the big block has a lower pitch to the sound of the engine and a small block has a higher pitch. the other main way to tell at a lot of Dirt Car sanctioned tracks is that small blocks have to run a rev limiter set to 7600 rpm... towards the end of the straights this makes a sound something like a machine gun as the ignition is cut out to limit the revs. big blocks do not have this so all you hear is pure engine noise all the way to the end of the straights.
being able to run alcohol has nothing to do with engine size. it depends on which series / rules you are competing under. the Super Dirt Series does not allow alcohol , but PA modifieds are allowed to run alcohol.
Not trying to be a jerk, but everything you said differentiating between small block and big block, was inaccurate and irrelevant. The architecture of the block is the biggest differences. I.e. centerline of cam height from crank, deck height, etc.
R L Pretty sure you meant engineering not architecture but this was not a class for engine builders, but a basic explanation for the fans in the stands! What was inaccurate or irrelevant? Everything you said about the blocks, while true doesn’t mean shit to the fans in the grandstands. Maybe go try and impress some 12 year olds! Have a great day!! 👌
As Douglas kindly stated, these tech videos are for fans that aren’t as advanced. It was simply made so they could see the difference. If you’d like to do a more ‘accurate and relevant’ video to ‘your liking’ then by all means, go right ahead. Otherwise, you can keep your negative and irrelevant comments to yourself. Thank you
