Chevrolet big block vs small block

Tadshy · 11-25-2018, 01:05 PM

I'm looking for a Chevrolet nova stocker and was wondering if anyone on here could tell me if owning a big block Chevrolet is a lot more costly than running a small block. I have seen a few guys that had B and C/SA nova's that swapped out their big blocks and now run F/SA. I was just curious if this was for costs reasons or something else.

Bob Pagano · 11-25-2018, 01:34 PM

Simple answer YES for many reasons

Rich Biebel · 11-25-2018, 01:41 PM

Talk to my friend Joe Demarzo. He frequents this site and has a Nova that was a BB and he changed it to a SB He’s a very successful racer that has won many races. His car is a very fast H/SA ....He also raced a SB Camaro in the past. He knows the pluses and minuses of racing both engine combinations.,

Dennis P Chapman · 11-25-2018, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Talk to my friend Joe Demarzo. He frequents this site and has a Nova that was a BB and he changed it to a SB He’s a very successful racer that has won many races. His car is a very fast H/SA ....He also raced a SB Camaro in the past. He knows the pluses and minuses of racing both engine combinations.,

Rich is right Joe knows.

Tadshy · 11-25-2018, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the advice. I sent him a private message.

t.tosto · 11-26-2018, 10:01 AM

Love Stock Elim., but it costs $ to run either combo. and try to run at the top of each class. BB stick will put a smile on your face, big dent in your pocket!

Alan Roehrich · 11-26-2018, 10:55 PM

Mr Tosto is correct. The decision about how fast you want to be determines more about what you spend than the choice between big block and small block. Ask the Sorenson brothers, they went from nasty fast with a 427 to just as fast with a 396, and now very quick with a 350.

Yes, a block for the big block is $1200 higher, and the rotating assembly is maybe 25% higher. But you can buy new head and intakes for the big block, as well as the carburetor. Honestly, the rest isn't that much difference in price, if you're buying top shelf parts and paying for really good work.

And yeah, the nine second big block is a bigger thrill, if speed does it for you.

Adger Smith · 11-27-2018, 09:21 AM

I guess the Next question is which BB combinations in NHRA stock specs produce the most HP per Cu in.?? Mopar, Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, Olds. Say from 1969 back? Exclude the multiple carb combo's...

Billy Nees · 11-27-2018, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

I guess the Next question is which BB combinations in NHRA stock specs produce the most HP per Cu in.?? Mopar, Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, Olds. Say from 1969 back? Exclude the multiple carb combo's...

Adger, this is an excellent subject for it's own thread!
The biggest "issue" in a proper comparison is going to be the aftermarket/replacement/superseded parts situation.
But, it would still be a great subject for it's own thread!

Billy Nees · 11-27-2018, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadshy

I'm looking for a Chevrolet nova stocker and was wondering if anyone on here could tell me if owning a big block Chevrolet is a lot more costly than running a small block. I have seen a few guys that had B and C/SA nova's that swapped out their big blocks and now run F/SA. I was just curious if this was for costs reasons or something else.

Ya know, if you don't want or can't spend a ton of money on a combo, you could always put a 307 in it! There's at least one nut case out there running one.

11-25-2018, 01:05 PM	#1
Tadshy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 19 Likes: 12 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Chevrolet big block vs small block I'm looking for a Chevrolet nova stocker and was wondering if anyone on here could tell me if owning a big block Chevrolet is a lot more costly than running a small block. I have seen a few guys that had B and C/SA nova's that swapped out their big blocks and now run F/SA. I was just curious if this was for costs reasons or something else.

11-25-2018, 01:34 PM	#2
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 241 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block Simple answer YES for many reasons __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA

11-25-2018, 01:41 PM	#3
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block Talk to my friend Joe Demarzo. He frequents this site and has a Nova that was a BB and he changed it to a SB He’s a very successful racer that has won many races. His car is a very fast H/SA ....He also raced a SB Camaro in the past. He knows the pluses and minuses of racing both engine combinations., __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

11-25-2018, 08:53 PM	#5
Tadshy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 19 Likes: 12 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block Thanks for the advice. I sent him a private message.

11-26-2018, 10:01 AM	#6
t.tosto Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 154 Likes: 116 Liked 62 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block Love Stock Elim., but it costs $ to run either combo. and try to run at the top of each class. BB stick will put a smile on your face, big dent in your pocket!

11-26-2018, 10:55 PM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,114 Likes: 1,572 Liked 1,827 Times in 414 Posts	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block Mr Tosto is correct. The decision about how fast you want to be determines more about what you spend than the choice between big block and small block. Ask the Sorenson brothers, they went from nasty fast with a 427 to just as fast with a 396, and now very quick with a 350. Yes, a block for the big block is $1200 higher, and the rotating assembly is maybe 25% higher. But you can buy new head and intakes for the big block, as well as the carburetor. Honestly, the rest isn't that much difference in price, if you're buying top shelf parts and paying for really good work. And yeah, the nine second big block is a bigger thrill, if speed does it for you. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

11-27-2018, 09:21 AM	#8
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Chevrolet big block vs small block I guess the Next question is which BB combinations in NHRA stock specs produce the most HP per Cu in.?? Mopar, Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, Olds. Say from 1969 back? Exclude the multiple carb combo's... __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)