Perhaps It’s Time to Reclaim the “Feel” of Big-Blocks

hose of us fortunate enough to grow up during the era of Detroit hot rods with large displacement V-8s remember the sound, performance, neck-snapping acceleration, the rush of adrenaline, and, of course, the look of those magnificent “big-blocks.” When was the first time you saw a Chrysler 426 Hemi or the 440 under the hood? How about the Ford Boss 429 or the endless list of GM “400-series” engines, starting with the Chevy 454, the Pontiac 455, the Buick 455, and the Olds 455?

If you’re seeking the ultimate in thrilling and hair-raising, seat-of-the-pants excitement, then consider the Ford R-Code, a midyear addition in 1966. Like all other FE 427s, the R-Code was a V-8 built on a cast-iron block, then equipped with an aluminum intake, dual Holley four-barrel carburetors, solid lifters, and a true “thumper” of a cam. Arguably, the legendary Ford V-8 is the “Cammer.” It’s estimated that about 500 Cammers were built from 1964-67. As far as we can tell, not a single one was squeezed between the fenders of a production Ford. It was a race motor of genuine legendary status, reported to have produced 610 hp with a single four-barrel and 655 with dual fours.

We can never forget that Chevrolet was heavily involved in their high-performance big-block projects. The extremely powerful Chevy 427 L72, from 1966-69, was a 450hp V-8 that first appeared in the Corvette and was also used in some fullsize cars, as well as in Camaros and Chevelles in 1969. Although this fact wasn’t widely publicized, the actual power output was significantly higher.

Then came the Chevy 427 ZL1, an all-aluminum version of the 427 Mark IV big-block. While its reported horsepower was 430, the reality was that over 500 hp was more accurate. This V-8, originally designed for road racing, saw 50 of these engines end up in racers’ hands. An additional 19 ZL1 engines were installed in production 1969 Camaros, along with two Corvettes (only one with “bulletproof” provenance). Our research indicates that the Tonawanda engine plant produced 94 ZL1 engines earmarked for Corvettes—80 for manual-transmission and 14 for automatic-transmission Vettes. Instead, we know most of these engines were sold to racers. This V-8 was intended to replace another limited-run powerplant in the L88, my personal favorite. I’ve been gathering parts and pieces to build my own “L88,” hoping to have it sit on an engine stand in my garage so I can look at it, drool, and imagine what could have been. But, hey, I admit that I’m a bit strange.

What causes my longing for the big-block engine that’s gone and not coming back? It turns out that automakers have chosen smaller engines with power adders to provide the performance owners want, all while improving emissions and fuel efficiency. So far, so good. So, what’s the problem?

The GM L87 6.2L V-8 engine, used in every fullsize truck the company produces, is under close scrutiny. About 721,000 units are being pulled in for testing to see if they are likely to fail prematurely due to various manufacturing issues. Industry-wide, roughly 4.3 million engines installed from 2015 to now are currently under recall for potentially catastrophic failures.

There are any number of issues best left for a story later, but suffice to say, we Americans like to drive “hard” (i.e., fast), want larger vehicles, and have a fascination with towing—recreational trailers, living quarters, or our projects—to one car event after another. Simply stated, it’s “high-performance pressure.” These engines, designed for higher horsepower, put additional stress on internal components, potentially leading to earlier failures than in traditional, larger engines. That’s where we are today—looking at the possibility of Chevrolet introducing the venerable old small-block of yesteryear for the purpose of handling the chores of building larger displacement motors with “grunt”: the ability to provide reliable daily performance, meet emission and gas mileage requirements, and lots of towing.

Now, while the following doesn’t send the message that the big-block Chevy is making a comeback, it possibly sends the message that the venerable small-block is. The first 5.7L (350-inch) V-8 was introduced in the inaugural Chevy Camaro in 1967 and the Corvette in 1969. It became the staple powerplant across all car and truck lines offered in many different horsepower versions for decades. This report indicates that the 350-Chevy might be making a comeback.

By now, you all should have heard or read about GM’s $888 million investment in the GM Tonawanda plant. That’s where they produce engines. So, something’s happening? GM is committed to an engine upgrade that will fix several nuisance issues, including the AFM/DFM (Active Fuel Management/Dynamic Fuel Management) problems, a fix for cylinder deactivation, and a solution for lifter failures. The new small-block is initially planned for the new Silverado pickup. The goal is to improve Silverado’s towing capabilities and engine durability—read that reliability.

Can the big-block, or some modern-day form, be on the horizon? We shall see.