50 Reasons Why We Love It

8. It's not afraid of snakebite
How many Cobra replicas were built with small-block Chevy engines rather than Fords? Most of them. An easier and cheaper engine (and often more powerful), the lightweight Chevy small-block was used in more Cobra replicas than any other engine. Sorry, Blue Oval purists, it's a fact. Have you priced a 427cid side-oiler lately?

9. Imagine Dale Earnhardt driving a Ford
Doesn't work, does it? Dale was a Chevy Man. His son is, too. Without the small-block, the Earnhardts might just have been a couple of hard-to-insure guys from the South.

10. It put Flint, Michigan, on the map
Flint isn't on anyone's list of great travel destinations. Home of Buick and fodder for Michael Moore's movies, Flint is also the home of the first Corvette assembly plant and the first small-block Chevy engines.

11. It made Ford and Chrysler build them, too
While the Ford engine used some of the Chevy design cues, the small-block Chrysler was a direct copy in many ways. They both owe their hollow, oil-feeding pushrods and lightweight casting designs to the small-block.

12. The coolest race series ever owes it
The SCCA Trans Am series hit full stride only after those small-block-powered Camaros took to the track to challenge the Mustangs.

13. It revoluionized engine block Casting
Using a new green sand casting process, the Chevrolet small- block was the first of a generation of lighter yet stronger powerplants--casting the mold for all engines to follow.

14. Its success cast the die for the big-block Chevrolet
Evolution. What a concept.

15. The ponycar wars wouldn't have been as much fun
Ford versus Chevy. No small-block. No rivalry--it's that simple.

16. Making horsepower is so easy
Even today, there's no engine easier to make hotter than the small-block Chevrolet. Via mail order, local speed shop, or GM dealer, parts are cheap and plentiful.