Big Block

Need some insight as to what to buy. I have a '65 C10 longbed/fleetside with a rebuilt 327 in it, and it's just not putting out enough. I want to step up to a big block, but I'm on a slight budget. What do you think I should buy? and what are some reputable places to order my engine from? I'd like to start from the ground up and rebuild the engine myself, so I'm really not looking into a turnkey crate engine. Thanks for the help. By the way, I'm looking for about 400-450 HP at the wheels.

you can make that kind of power from your small block

If your on a budget, Bigblock is not the way to go.I find that building big blocks cost 30-50% more than smallblocks. That 327 is capable of your 400- 450 hp. But a little pricey to reach.We all know that the chevy 350 is the most common, easiest, cheapest strongest for the price, engine to build.So that should be your startpoint.You can get 400-450 hp with aftermarket heads, agressive cam, headers, 700+cfm carb. But if your wanting a extra bump, think 383 stroker engine. Your old chevy truck will love it. with a tranny to match, 4.11 gears with a Detriot locker. If this engine were in a camaro it would smoke probly 60% of bigblocks on the street for half the price............Throw in a supercharger and make it 80%........ Bigblocks are nice, but I like smallblocks cuz of the price.


Journeyman
70 chevy ,blueprinted 350
400 horse, 400+ torqe

Yea, small blocks are nice, but do cost more. I guess Price really doesn't matter much as I am not driving the truck right now, so I have all the time in the world to save up for anything I need, but it's that inability to wait that is getting me. I do want to take care of one thing in my truck and that is the amount of space in the engine compartment. Most of all, I want to do it right and if that means throwing down 10k for a 427 in the longrun that's fine. I was actually looking at a 396 or a fuel injected 454. Something a little modern.

Thanks for the help though, it's very appreciated.

I have always heard that the big blocks are nice for low end power but they are pooch when they are rapped out......just what i've heard