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NYT: The Little Engine That Could (Small Block V8 tribute)
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:54 pm
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:54 pm
quote:
For six decades, a small-block Chevy has powered the dreams of hot-rodders and Corvettes, and plenty of other cars, even a Ford Mustang.
New York Times
In the great rivalry between Chevrolet and Ford, Jason Carlisle, a former mechanic and current hobbyist racer, took sides decades ago. “Cut me: I bleed Ford blue,” he said. But when it came time to replace the engine in his Mustang racecar, he did the unthinkable. He installed a small-block Chevy engine.
Called the SBC by aficionados, it proved lighter and more reliable than the Ford engine, and just as powerful, at a quarter of the price. “It hurt,” Mr. Carlisle said. “It’s heartbreaking. I’ve ate a lot of crow over this one.”
For six-plus decades, speed freaks like Mr. Carlisle have been seduced by the strategy of an adventuresome World War II émigré and engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. At midcentury, Ford performance left Chevy in the dust. Working at Chevrolet in 1953, Arkus-Duntov wrote a memo, “Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet,” that mapped out the path for Chevy to overtake Ford.
Today the Chevy V-8 that powers Mr. Carlisle’s Mustang is the direct descendant of the SBC from Arkus-Duntov and the iconoclastic chief engineer Ed Cole, whose motto was “Kick the hell out of the status quo.” The engine saved the Corvette from near oblivion and made Chevrolet the source of automotive history’s dominant domestic engine.
Subsequent SBC versions would sustain the legacy. The mid-1990s version would inspire not one but two annual festivals, which continue today. It can be found transplanted in everything from modern behemoth trucks to vintage English sports cars. And now, 65 years after its debut, it is still being produced, it is still the dominant domestic engine — with more than 109 million sold — and its current factory version (producing up to 495 horses) still powers the Corvette.
quote:
When Cole became Chevy’s chief engineer in 1952, a V-8 was already in development. “It was too big, too conventional,” said Christo Datini, an archivist with the General Motors Heritage Center. “He wanted something that was more lightweight and compact.”
The small block V8 has been in continuous production in some form since the 1950s.
It's a shame but I think we'll see an end to the American V8 in our lifetimes. It may not be possible to continue mass production of a compact, low costs V8 engine when modern cars are more often equipped with smaller displacement ICE's with the inevitable switch to electric motors.
17
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:56 pm to goofball
quote:
It's a shame but I think we'll see an end to the American V8 in our lifetimes. It may not be possible to continue mass production of a compact, low costs V8 engine when modern cars are more often equipped with smaller displacement ICE's with the inevitable switch to electric motors.
Careful, you are going to make a lot of people mad about this.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 2:57 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
Careful, you are going to make a lot of people mad about this.
It's true.
The company that manufacturers the small block V8 today (and still installs in high performance vehicles and pickup trucks) has committed itself to electric vehicles.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:07 pm to goofball
quote:
. And now, 65 years after its debut, it is still being produced, it is still the dominant domestic engine — with more than 109 million sold — and its current factory version (producing up to 495 horses) still powers the Corvette.
This sums up knowledge of articles author. the SBC is not an LS
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:10 pm to goofball
The best vehicles I've ever owned had a small block V8 under the hood.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:12 pm to goofball
quote:
It's true.
I completely agree it is true. The V8 is going away except in a few select ultra high-end cars. The packaging of turbos and battery assist is the future.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:17 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:
This sums up knowledge of articles author. the SBC is not an LS
Hmmm. Point of fact the C8 doesn't have an LS either, it has an LT.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:22 pm to goofball
Can't argue with him. My little 265 has been humming along for 64 years.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:23 pm to dewster
i have always planned to buy an old small block and completely rebuild it. then put it into a jeep..... still will do that in my life time.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:32 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
Careful, you are going to make a lot of people mad about this.
I just puncrd my screen now i have to gt anew montor. excuse my spelling
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:46 pm to goofball
quote:
Jason Carlisle, a former mechanic and current hobbyist racer, took sides decades ago. “Cut me: I bleed Ford blue,” he said
quote:
But when it came time to replace the engine in his Mustang racecar, he did the unthinkable. He installed a small-block Chevy engine.
Smh. He’s a “put an LS in there” guy.
This post was edited on 9/14/20 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 9/14/20 at 3:51 pm to goofball
I would rather kiss Rosie O Donnell butthole than put a small block chevy in a Ford
Posted on 9/14/20 at 4:08 pm to goofball
‘55 was the first year and pretty sure ‘02 was the last year the SBC was installed in a production vehicle. It is still being produced in crate versions. Hellava run!
Posted on 9/14/20 at 4:48 pm to Pfft
quote:
I would rather kiss Rosie O Donnell butthole than put a small block chevy in a Ford
If you are building a Fox-body drag car it makes sense to put a mouse or rat under the hood. The price and availability of parts if you are looking at 1000hp+ on motor and 2000hp+ with power adders just makes it a no brainer. Building a streetcar and dropping in an alien motor is just sacrilege.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 4:59 pm to goofball
I guess he never heard of the 351 4V Cleveland
Posted on 9/14/20 at 5:06 pm to fightin tigers
I don’t want any part of that future 
Posted on 9/14/20 at 7:34 pm to Lima Whiskey
quote:
I don’t want any part of that future
I completely understand the pre-nostalgia around V8 engines. But there are good reasons to be excited about the future of hybrids from a performance standpoint.
There are massive torque benefits to electric motors, plus the ability to store energy when slowing down. We could conceivably see hybrid trucks or sports cars with the torque/horsepower of a pure electric, the range of a conventional internal combustion, better fuel efficiency than today’s turbocharged 4- and 6-cylinders, while maintaining the convenience of being able to fill up at a gas station rather than plugging in to charge.
The exception being long range towing, which may drain the battery faster than the engine can charge it depending on the size of the engine.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 8:01 pm to 200MPHCOBRA
quote:
I guess he never heard of the 351 4V Cleveland
Who? The Mustang owner?
Cleveland is a big block. 351 Windsor is the small block.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 8:09 pm to goofball
that dude LS swapped a mustang.
shame
shame
Posted on 9/14/20 at 8:16 pm to TheFlyingTiger
Agreed
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