Questions about Big Block Chevy Tall Deck Engines

[Scot Sealander]

Gwyn Reedy wrote:

>  1. What was the bore and stroke of the 366 engine?

  Bore is 3.935".  Stroke is 3.76", same as 396, 427.

 
>  2. What is the purpose of the tall deck engines used in trucks?

  From "How to Rebuild your Big Block Chevy" by Tom Wilson:

 "The big difference between truck and passenger-car blocks results from
 differences in their piston compression height--distance from center of 
 the piston to the top of the piston.  Both the 366- and 427-truck blocks
 use four-ring pistons rather than the standard passenger-car three-ring
 pistons.  To make room for the fourth piston ring, the compression 
 height was increased on truck blocks.  This required a 0.4-in. increase 
 in block deck height......"


>  Bore and stroke are the same as passenger engines (standard deck
>  height)so is it for better water circulation?

 See above.

 
>  3. Apparently they have the same bore and stroke as standard deck
>  height engines, so can standard cranks and rods be used? Are the
>  heads the same?

The cranks and rods are the same.  Both the 396 and 427 truck engines
use the same rods as the 396.


>  4. Known differences: pushrods are longer, intake manifolds and
>  water pumps are different to allow for better cooling.

Pushrods, pistons, manifolds, and distributor housings....

 
>  Hope there is some engine historian out there who can help me out
>  on this. I'm trying to put together a 1970 C-50 truck with a 427
>  engine. The block and crank may be bad on this one (I haven't
>  taken it apart yet) but I know where to get several 366 engines.
>  Want to figure out if I can put a longer stroke crank in a 366
>  (and what displacement will it give) 

I don't know if you could get pistons for the 454 crank in a 366.
Unusual combination, 4 rings and all...


> or if I can slip a 454 block  under the 427 truck heads and manifold.

The heads will fit the 454, but the truck intake won't fit the 454.


Scot Sealander   Sealand at clarityconnect.com