Hi all,

I got a mag from Dodge and there was an article that stated that the latest Rams were optioned with a '5.7L Big Block' engine.

My question is, what constitutes a big block. How does one differentiate between 'big' and 'small' blocks?

Another question: Is Dodge's 5.7L 'Hemi' engine a big or small block?

I know manufacturers like to sugarcoat their advertisements with a bit of vagueness, and I know there are knowledable people here who may better define what I read in brochues and such!

TIA!

 

No it is not. A big block is generally over 400CID. There are small blocks larger than 400, but they are just stroked engines.

 

This is what happenes when you let writers discribe an engine.

 

Throw in the Chevy 396 big block and the 400 small block and it really gets interesting. Or how about the Ford 351 Cleveland and 351 Windsor?

So while we are on the topic, is the 6.1 litre Hemi a "big block".

 

Based on 94rt10ohio's definition, the 6.1 wouldn't be considered a big block.

6.6L and above are considered 400CID+, no?

 

And what about a 383? That was a BB too.

 

sure was, had two............

Heres a pic of my real forst new car, the day I bought it... I was back from vietnam for 30 days, and before mods on it.......bought Jan 5th, 1970, 383HP, Hurst CR 4 speed, 390 gears posi, loaded..........DAMN, wish I had it now.................

[IMG]local://upfiles/13612/FFEC15FA88904377A804DAFA4A94DA4A.jpg[/IMG]

 

What would the 4.7 be, in cubes?

 

i belive its around 287


lemme check

yea its 287

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A big-block engine is a North American V8 in a family of engines which generally have greater than 5.9 litres (360 cubic inches) of displacement; factory engine sizes reached a peak of 8.2 litres (500 cubic inches) in Cadillac's 1970s range. Smaller V8 engines are known as small-blocks; some members of small-block engine families may exceed 6 litres, blurring the distinction somewhat. The distinction came about in the early 1960s when the large full-size cars needed a bigger V8 than the smaller intermediate and compact cars. Prior to that point, manufacturers normally had only one V8 engine line.