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In 1955, Chevrolet unveiled the companys first overhead valve small block V-8 engine. Initially, the small block Chevrolet engine featured 265 cubic inches of displacement. During the 1968 model year, Chevrolet began production of a larger displacement, 350 cubic inch small block engine. The higher performance small block Chevy came about in 1970, which required changes to the internal design in order to accommodate the larger cylinder bores. Identifying whether or not your particular vehicle has a 350 or 400 small block Chevy engine is an easy task, provided you have the correct information.

Instructions

1

Open your vehicles hood and allow the engine to cool, if applicable.

2

Examine the rear of the engine block, on the drivers side, below the cylinder head to locate the manufacturers casting numbers. The casting numbers for your engine will be located below the "GM" stamp at the rear of the block. Utilize a flashlight if you have issues reading the casting numbers on the engine block.

3

Write down the engine block casting numbers on a piece of paper.

4

Cross-erence the engine block numbers using a suitable chart guide to find out your engines displacement.

Chevrolets 454 Big Block engine has been through several phases over its production span. The engine began as a major player in the muscle car wars of the 1970s, gaining notoriety for its ability to generate serious horsepower and torque. Displacing 7.4 liters, this V8 was never intended to be fuel efficient, but rather was paired with a four barrel carburetor for maximum output.

Background

In the height of the muscle car era, as car manufacturers focused on designing engines that were larger and faster, Chevrolet introduced the 454. This throaty powerplant was reserved for high performance upgrades on Camaros, Chevelles and Corvettes. The 454 especially enhanced the reputation of the Chevelle as a muscle car.

Shortly after its introduction, climbing gas prices and increased regulation on auto emissions influenced auto makers to focus on smaller engines. The 454 was transferred to Chevys truck line and used in its heavy-duty half and three-quarter ton pickups. In the mid-1990s the engine was redesigned and renamed the Vortec 7400, before being phased phased out of production in 2000.

Performance Specifications

The 454 was available as an LS5, LS6 and LS7 in the 1970s. The most powerful version available to the public was the 1970 LS6. When installed in the Chevelle or Camaro, this engine could deliver 450 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. In the Chevelle, the LS6 had a maximum torque of 500 ft-lbs at 3,200 rpm. Camaros could also achieve this torque at 3,600 rpm. The horsepower was decreased when the 454 was transferred to pickup trucks. When the 454 was first introduced as the Vortec 7400 in 1996, it was rated at 290 horsepower.

Engine Specifications

This 7.4 liter engine is one of the larger engines made by Chevrolet. The 1970 to 1974 high performance versions had a 4.00-inch stroke and 4.251-inch bore. The timing order is 18436572, with a distributor cap that spins clockwise. Engine oil is the primary lube or sealer, and is used on the main caps, connecting rod bolts, cylinder heads, oil pump and pan, timing cover, valve cover, centerbolt and on the bellhousing between the transmission and the engine block.

A remanufactured long block is an automobile engine that was used, then removed from an old vehicle and refurbished, then sold to a customer who needs a new engine. The term "long block" refers to what components are included in the final product -- a long block includes cylinder heads and some related parts while a short block does not. If your car is in otherwise good shape, replacing a worn engine with a long block is an economical alternative to buying a new car.

Remanufacturing an Engine

A remanufactured engine starts as a used engine. A mechanic or a technician at a remanufacturing facility will inspect the engine, looking it over for cracks and other conditions that determine whether it is rebuildable or not. If so, the facility fully takes apart the entire engine and cleans and inspects all the parts. Then the parts that are reusable, such as the block, the heads and the crankshaft, are resurfaced and put back into service. The rest of the parts are replaced with new parts, and the engine is reassembled.

Types of Remanufactured Engines

Remanufactured engines come in three general configurations. The short block consists of the engine block, crank shaft, pistons, connecting rods and sometimes the camshaft. The long block is nothing more than a short block with the cylinder heads added, as well as a camshaft and rocker arms. A complete engine adds in things like an oil pump, valve covers, an oil pan and an intake system.

Things to Consider

It has become more economical to replace an entire engine assembly instead of removing the old components from your existing engine and putting them on a new short block. It also takes less labor. Additionally, it makes sense to have all new or refurbished parts by using a long block rather than putting old parts on a new engine as is required with a short block. Check with a remanufacturing facility about what its long block engines contain. Different facilities sometimes have different ideas on what a long block contains.