The Engine that Powered America

Reason No. 3, size and lightweight. This engine was described as a "packaging miracle." The small block Chevy could fit into just about anything.

What a difference from today’s corporate world. They are in a race to bankrupt.

I see old footage of the 50’s and 60’s and wish that I could step back in time, even if only for a day. I’d love to be able to see America and its automobile industry in its heyday.

Number 1 selling crate engine. 350 small block.

I'm not quite sure how many small block Chevy equipped cars I've owned... but it has to be a dozen at least. What I do know for a certainty is that one of them - a workhorse 305- was in my '95 Chevy pickup and I bought it almost new (a repo) and sold it in 2019 with over 500K on the original drivetrain. Obviously there were many, many small repairs and routine maintenance along the way... brakes, starters, rads, tires, various electrical things, changed out the window transmission (or whatever that's called ... the thing that you crank to make the window go up & down), yada, yada, yada. The engine, the transmission and diff were all absolutely original and all I ever did was change out the fluids/filters.... plus I had added an aftermarket tranny oil cooler. I never abused it but she ran like a top! Talk about dependable! In 2019 I put it on Facebook marketplace and got $1500 for it the next day! No wonder this engine family is a bloody legend!

I once heard that the Chevy small block has won more races than all other manufacturers combined.

283 and 327 were among the best engines ever made.

It's funny you say that about your dad, mine always said the same thing. (Also said 57 was the only Corvette year he'd ever tolerate in his garage. XD)

I liked the 396 engine. I had it in a 1969 chevy SS 4 on floor.

Great video. I owned a 67 c10 with a 283, then I built a 350 for it and swapped it in the summer after I graduated (2017). It was a ton of fun, but then I got a fox body and sold my c10 and only bought Ford cars trucks and vans after that, mainly because I had parts for them. Every time I work on a small block Chevy it takes me back to a time not that long ago but a world apart.

today's corporate culture was born in the beginning of the MBA boom of the 1980's when the day over year, week over year, month over year mentality was born. Caring about nothing but numbers and short term bottom line profits over any semblance of quality and stifling attempts at innovation is the unfortunate rule. When the accountants run anything besides an accounting firm, interested only in this week's net, companies suffer, merge, bankrupt and die.

1955-2002! 47 years available in GM Production vehicles of all kinds from corvettes to early tractor trailers to cadillacs to firebirds! sold as a new crate engine until now and beyond! Lots of industrial uses too!

My first hot rod was a ‘66 Chevelle with a 327. I miss it

I'm really old and I consider now to be the epitome of the internal combustion engine, GM's LS, Ford's Coyote V-8, Chryslers 5.7 Ltr hemis, BMW's Inline 6's, Honda's 4's, VW group's EA888 and VR6, Nissan's VQ35, Benz's 5 litres, and all their variants. That's what I can think of off the top of my head. Name a better time to be an engine fanatic. AND they pollute less and get much better MPG than ever. I think I read somewhere that Corvettes get 30 MPG on the highway. My wife's old 442 with a 455 CU engine got 13 MPG on the highway with 370HP. Now you can get a VW golf with 325 HP that'll do 35 MPG. I'd call that progress.

The 327 is considered by most to be the "sweet spot" the 375hp Fuelie 327 was the highest specific output and max output reached by a factory sbc. The 283 Fuelie reached 315hp, the 302 was only rated 290hp. Factory DZ302s were rare but, easy to make with a 327 or 350 block and a 283 crank. Some of the Formula 5000 and Trans Am 302s are said to have reached 550-575hp in full race trim. Typically NASCAR 358ci was created with a 327(or 307) crank and a 4.185" bore(0.060" over 400 block). It wasn't until the LS6 made 385/405hp that the 327 375hp was unquestionabibly surpassed by a factory GenIII SBC. Somehow Bob Lutz and Opel were getting 327 SBCs until the late 70s, I have never been able to find out any information on where that special production was done. I know that Chevrolet South Africa got a special run of DZ302s that they had to fight tooth and nail for. I'd love to get a little Firenza or Magnum that didn't rot out and do a replica of that car. Great stuff Bart.

Lots of SBC put in forklifts, emergency generators, pumps, all kinds of industrial applications

Thank you for making this video. Small Block Chevy for life!!!!!!!

On the question of whether we could have another engine that will just last and last, I think it is possible. History tends to move in cycles, so the same forces that created the people, economic and social pressures that made it possible the first time could come back around again. I'm not going to hold my breath though.

I love my SBC......I have and have had several.

This is the engine I learned to work on first. To this day I haven't found an engine that comes close to it's reliability, power, and economy. This was a very nice video. Thank you for doing it.