Hey motor heads...Is the 429 a big block or small block?

[GRADS]

So my 66 Cadillac has a 429 in it and I get asked all the time "does it have a big block?". Depending on where you look some people call it a small block and others a big block. Does anyone know for a fact what it is considered? Some people say neither. Huh?

 

[Backlash]

Yes.

 

[GRADS]

Yes.

How did I know that was coming.

 

[CLdrinker]

Tell them it’s a small cock no need to lie

 

[GRADS]

Tell them it’s a small cock no need to lie

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

All Caddy motors are "big blocks". Actually, they are not big blocks or small blocks. They are all the same.

 

[HCP3]

Small is my guess. Smaller block bored and stroked.

 

[SoCalDave]

Big

 

[GRADS]

From Google....Don't know if this is even true???

 

[SKIDMARC]

medium?

 

[Heylam]

Big man in a little suit. [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[was thatguy]

Please stop.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

From Google....Don't know if this is even true???

View attachment 884017

The first sentence refers to Chevy motors. Chevy's had many different displacement engine options. In 1966 the only Cadillac engine available was the 429 so there was no small/big block options.

 

[4Waters]

It's a Cadillac motor.

 

[RaceTec]

The way that we define Small Block VS Big Block is based on engine family. Basic rule is greater than a 9.500" deck height, and typically greater than 4.250" bore. Rules are very flexible based on all of the new configurations available. You can build over 470" Small Block LS engines now...

 

[GRADS]

Please stop.

With what?

 

[was thatguy]

With what?

Misgendering.

 

[4Waters]

Misgendering.

That's some funny shit!!

 

[92 cole]

chevy is small block (265-350) big block from 348-502. Ford is small block 221-351, big block is 302-460. NOW with the Ford series there is windsor,midland,cleveland and the ausie blocks. To really mess with your;e head there is the F.E, 385 series. Ford had a real way to make a small big block IE" the boss 302 which was a big block block de-strocked to a 302 inch engine.

 

[jetboatperformance]

Worked for Olds/ Cadilac mid 70's , Olds have big vs small , Cad for years had really only one motor , nothing fancy just a big old "grunt motor" in stock form would make decent power and torque , your 429 as I recall is a smaller cubic inches but basically the same as the 472
The 472 in 1968 and 1969 was rated at 375 HP @ 4400, which is likely above valve float on those stock springs. And the listed torque is 525 ft lb @ 3000 RPM

 

[77charger]

Not sure on caddys but if it were a 429 ford it would be a big block

 

[was thatguy]

chevy is small block (265-350) big block from 348-502. Ford is small block 221-351, big block is 302-460. NOW with the Ford series there is windsor,midland,cleveland and the ausie blocks. To really mess with your;e head there is the F.E, 385 series. Ford had a real way to make a small big block IE" the boss 302 which was a big block block de-strocked to a 302 inch engine.

You left out High low medium risers!!

 

[Bigbore500r]

chevy is small block (265-350) big block from 348-502. Ford is small block 221-351, big block is 302-460. NOW with the Ford series there is windsor,midland,cleveland and the ausie blocks. To really mess with your;e head there is the F.E, 385 series. Ford had a real way to make a small big block IE" the boss 302 which was a big block block de-strocked to a 302 inch engine.

You forgot the 366 Big Block, the 400 Small block, and the 402 big block Factory offerings lol
Who's on first?

 

[92 cole]

To answer the original question the 429 is a 385 series BIG BLOCK.

 

[cofooter]

To answer the original question the 429 is a 385 series BIG BLOCK.

Caddy used a Ford engine?

 

[92 cole]

You forgot the 366 Big Block, the 400 Small block, and the 402 big block Factory offerings lol
Who's on first?

Yes I did miss the 400 small block. the 366 was covered in the 348-502.

 

[ElAzul]

Why don't you take some pics with yore iPhone and share with the class??

 

[92 cole]

I could also go into the Y-block series Ford. Also the chevy 400 was an enlarged 350 that was a pile of crap.

 

[92 cole]

Why don't you take some pics with yore iPhone and share with the class??

This is from memory not me racing to google for answers. I have done this for to long to play games.

 

[SBMech]

I have always thought personally that all Caddy engines were big blocks, for the most part they have always been the largest displacement motors built by GM at the time.

As far as I know, they were proprietary, never offered in anything else until recently, like the LSA etc.

 

[ElAzul]

This is from memory not me racing to google for answers. I have done this for to long to play games.

Nice but I was talking to Grads lol

 

[92562]

Ford had a real way to make a small big block IE" the boss 302 which was a big block block de-strocked to a 302 inch engine.

Not true, the Boss 302 block is most definitely a small block. The original ones are part number D1ZE6015BA and I have built one for a restoration project. You can still buy the replacement blocks through Summit/Jegs etc.

 

[Nordie]

Big man in a little suit. [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fat guy in a little coat? Made me think of that movie

 

[The Prisoner]

How about a Wankel engine. Big or small?

 

[RaceTec]

If you guys really want to dig in, there are by displacement and even block height "Big Block" V6 engines for trucks too! He didn't say V8... lol

 

[92 cole]

Not true, the Boss 302 block is most definitely a small block. The original ones are part number D1ZE6015BA and I have built one for a restoration project. You can still buy the replacement blocks through Summit/Jegs etc.

Okay the boss 302 was a small block 302 with a cleveland 351 head. Now you race back to google and summit and check it out but I am talking about the original boss 302 in 1970

 

[RaceTec]

How about a Wankel engine. Big or small?

Tiny by all measures, displacement, stroke, and size...

 

[mash on it]

I could also go into the Y-block series Ford. Also the chevy 400 was an enlarged 350 that was a pile of crap.

A 400 was a stroked AND bored 350. (3.75 x 4.125" vs. 3.48 x 4.0"
They were never offered as a performance engine.

The popular 383 is based on the 400 stroke.

Piles of crap? No. Neglected cooling system that was barely adequate? Yes.

Google the 410 Sbc. A whole racing series because of it.

Never mind what I said. Send me yore junk 400's.

Dan'l

 

[92 cole]

If you guys really want to dig in, there are by displacement and even block height "Big Block" V6 engines for trucks too! He didn't say V8... lol

That was the 305 V-6 chevy truck engine. Which was a torquing Mo fo back in it's day

 

[92 cole]

A 400 was a stroked AND bored 350. (3.75 x 4.125" vs. 3.48 x 4.0"
They were never offered as a performance engine.

The popular 383 is based on the 400 stroke.

Piles of crap? No. Neglected cooling system that was barely adequate? Yes.

Google the 410 Sbc. A whole racing series because of it.

Never mind what I said. Send me yore junk 400's.

Dan'l

I don't and wont have a 400 block . If I wanted to build a small block it would be a 383 or 417 from a 350 block. The 400 block had to many issues Cooling oiling and so on! Back to google!!!!

 

[92562]

Okay the boss 302 was a small block 302 with a cleveland 351 head. Now you race back to google and summit and check it out but I am talking about the original boss 302 in 1970

No Google, just memory. The Boss 302 head is the same design as the 351 Cleveland but it has its own part number and bigger intake valves than the 351 Cleveland head. Bad ass little motor!

 

[GRADS]

Okay well it's safe to say if some asks me again I'll say Medium Block. Although I think the "Bigs" have it. I'm not sure a pic would help, it's bone stock and the original matching number motor.

 

[92 cole]

No Google, just memory. The Boss 302 head is the same design as the 351 Cleveland but it has its own part number and bigger intake valves than the 351 Cleveland head. Bad ass little motor!

Okay!!! the original boss 302 was kinda a half windsor and cleveland . And yes it was a kick ass and take names engine. I am glad that this is off memory and not google. I like the fact that somebody has been doing this and remembers the same shit I do. !!!!!!

 

[92 cole]

So my 66 Cadillac has a 429 in it and I get asked all the time "does it have a big block?". Depending on where you look some people call it a small block and others a big block. Does anyone know for a fact what it is considered? Some people say neither. Huh?

Depends on years. Back in the day Oldsmobile and Cadillac were "so to speak " in bed together building cars. BUT bottom line it is a big block.

 

[ElAzul]

Okay well it's safe to say if some asks me again I'll say Medium Block. Although I think the "Bigs" have it. I'm not sure a pic would help, it's bone stock and the original matching number motor.

Couple pics we would easily identify what it is ding dong.

 

[rrrr]

You left out High low medium risers!!

Rebuilding the 1963 427 FE Low Riser in my v-drive was some real mechanical fun. I did a bunch of research and learned a lot about that legendary engine.

 

[coolchange]

If someone asks you if it's a big or small block Caddy they don't know shit and will say " oh cool" regardless of what you tell them.
The Boss 302 head out flows a cathedral port ls head. Almost bought one when I was 19 for 2grand. Bought a 4x instead.
And, a 351c head is not the same as a Boss 302. Same Type, but not interchangeable.

 

[was thatguy]

If someone asks you if it's a big or small block Caddy they don't know shit and will say " oh cool" regardless of what you tell them.
The Boss 302 head out flows a cathedral port ls head. Almost bought one when I was 19 for 2grand. Bought a 4x instead.
And, a 351c head is not the same as a Boss 302. Same Type, but not interchangeable.

Don't leave out the 351M.

 

[Uncle Dave]

If someone asks you if it's a big or small block Caddy they don't know shit and will say " oh cool" regardless of what you tell them.

Pretty much.

Small block 400 made into a 406, 410, 417, 0r 434 is a mushroom cloud laying mutherfucker- especially for a boat when you can feed it unlimited cool water. My 406 put out 500hp and 500ft lb - put big blocks on the tracker for decades.
You have a decent SBC 400 block laying around Ill take it.

UD

 

[coolchange]

Don't leave out the 351M.

The M stands for Mistake