Mike Mavrigian - How to Build Killer Chevy Small-Block Engines

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2019 by Mike Mavrigian

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to the following for their participation and input: Zac Kimball and Chris Raschke, ARP; Bill McKnight, Mahle; Ron Rotunno, Fel-Pro; Sean Crawford, JE Pistons; Tom Lieb, Scat Enterprises; Don Meziere, Meziere Enterprises; Mike Osterhaus, Melling Select; Cody Smith, Cloyes; Jodi Holtrey, Medina Mountain Motors; Scott Gressman, Gressman Powersports; Tony Lombardi, Ross Racing Engines; Bill Tichenor and Jeff Teel, Holley and MSD Performance; Silver Gomez, MSD Performance; John Callies, John Callies Inc./Morel Lifters; Richard Maskin, Dart; Jack McKinnis, World Products; Dick Boyer, World Products/Erson-PBM; Trent Goodwin, Comp Cams and RHS; Duane Boes, Callies Crankshafts; Air Flow Research; Al Rebescher, Trick Flow Specialties; Bob Fall, Fall Automotive Machine; Glen Schierholt, UEM/Icon Pistons; Swain Tech Coatings; Thor Schroeder, Moroso Performance; Lynn Livermore, Fluidampr; Bullet Cams; Permatex; Dave Monyhan, Goodson Shop Supplies; Ryan Kilpatrick, Oliver Rods; Tom Lieb and Alex Gonzalez, Scat Crankshafts; Jennifer Woods, Brodix; Randy Becker, Harland Sharp, CJ Jones, Jones Racing; Rob Remesi and Mike Mullen, Jesel; Robin Manton, Manton Pushrods; Wilson Intake Manifolds; Jim Smaaladen, Bryant Crankshafts; Kathy Donovan, Donovan.

CHAPTER 1

THE SMALL-BLOCK CHEVY

Hot dogs, baseball, apple pie, the flag, Mom, and the small-block Chevy engine. Collectively, were talking about all things America. Shortly after the birth of the performance industry to the present day, the beloved SBC (small-block Chevy) continues to be one of the most, if not the most, prolific and intensely-developed, go-to engine platform in the performance and racing communities.

The first small-block Chevy engine was introduced in 1955 and was available in the Bel Air and Corvette in 265 cubic inches of displacement. Small-block engines, featuring a cylinder bore spacing of 4.40 inches, produced from 1955 to 1974 were referred to as Turbo-Fire or High Torque engines. The 350-ci engine, one of many iterations of the platform, was introduced in 1967 and helped the small-block Chevy become one of the most popular platforms for performance use. The 350 is widely considered as the standard platform for the small-block family.

The 265-ci engine debuted in 1955 and was the foundation for decades of performance that followed. (Photo Courtesy GM Media Archives)

The 1965 327-ci engine with fuel injection is shown. The Rochester Ramjet fuel injection system was first offered as a high-performance option on the Corvette and GM passenger cars in 1957. It was discontinued partway through 1965 in favor of the Chevrolet big-block as a performance option. This is a purely mechanical system, unlike modern electric systems today. (Photo Courtesy GM Media Archives)

Shortly after the debut of the small-block engine, the aftermarket began introducing components that were primarily designed to work with the OEM factory blocks to improve performance. Beginning with upgrades to camshafts, intake manifolds, carburetors, and tubular exhaust headers, hot rodders and racers began to experience and enjoy substantial performance improvements. This continued with upgraded cylinder heads in both cast iron and aluminum, forged pistons of various dome configurations, superior ignition components, stronger valvetrain components, stronger connecting rods, stronger crankshafts, stronger main caps, different crank strokes and connecting rod lengths, etc.

As racers continued to stretch the engine speed and load parameters, weak links that became apparent were quickly addressed, resulting in increasingly stronger parts in addition to components and systems that offered power enhancements. Since those early days, the small-block Chevy engine became firmly established as the standard of performance engines for street rodders, drag racers, oval track racers, and road racing competition. Aftermarket manufacturers also began producing stronger engine blocks that offered superior strength, rigidity, and cooling, in addition to providing the ability to increase cylinder bore diameters and to accept longer crankshaft strokes. In the effort to reduce weight and to improve cooling, aluminum blocks became available for specific racing applications.