Classic 1965 60s sixties silver Chevrolet Big Block 396 Turbo Jet en-route to Capesthorne Hall classic August car show, Cheshire, UK
The Chevrolet "Big Block" is a term for a series of large displacement V8 engines that were developed in the United States during the 1950s to the early 1970s. As American automobiles grew in size and weight following the Second World War, the engines powering them had to keep pace. Chevrolet had introduced its popular small block V8 in 1955, but needed something larger to power its medium duty trucks and the heavier cars that were on the drawing board. Generation 1: W-series The first version of the "Big Block" V8 Chevrolet engine, known as the W-series, was introduced in 1958. Chevrolet designed this engine for use in passenger cars and light trucks. This engine had an overhead valve design with offset valves and uniquely scalloped rocker covers, giving it a distinctive appearance. The W-series was produced from 1958 to 1965, and had three displacement options: 348 cubic inches ( L), available from 1958 to 1961 in cars, and in light trucks through 1964; 409 cubic inches ( L), available from 1961 to 1965; and 427 cubic inches ( L), available in 1962 and 1963. The W-series engine was made of cast iron. The engine block had (123 mm) bore centers, two-bolt main bearing caps, a "side oiling" lubrication system (the main oil gallery located low on the driver's side of the crankcase), with full-flow oil filter, and interchangeable cylinder heads. Heads used on the high performance 409 and 427 engines had larger ports and valves than those used on the 348 and the base 409 passenger car and truck engines, but externally were identical to the standard units. One minor difference between the 348 and 409/427 was the location of the engine oil dipstick: it was on the driver's side on the former and the passenger's side on the latter. No satisfactory explanation was ever offered for why this change was made. However, it did provide a fairly reliable way to differentiate between the smaller and larger versions of the engine.
Size: 4255px × 2837px
Location: Coingelton, UK
Photo credit: © ZarkePix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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