Chevrolet’s big-block V8s have never been subtle, and few pairings spark more debate than the 396 and the 454. Both are Mark IV “Rat Motor” legends, yet they deliver power, character, and practicality ...

This slammed 1959 Chevy two-door station wagon is well-known around the beach communities of Southern California. Marc Magid, also known as Squid, keeps his pistachio-hued big-block Chevy street ...

The Chevy 454 Big Block V8 is one of the most legendary powerplants in American automotive history. Known for its massive displacement and stump-pulling torque, it powered everything from muscle cars ...

Big blocks are fun, and we freely admit to being addicted to their easy torque and big horsepower numbers. Two months ago, we assembled a dirt-cheap 454 big block that made 408 hp and 511 lb-ft of ...

The old saying goes, "There is no replacement for displacement." While modern engine technology proves that logic is fundamentally flawed, it's still fun to remember the inexpensive gasoline and ...

Trying to piece together an engine can be a sobering experience, especially when you're on a shoestring budget. We wanted to build a new powerplant for our project Elco (which we still don't have a ...

This custom Chevrolet Corvette combines classic American styling with the unmistakable presence of a 454 cubic-inch big-block ...

While they reached their performance zenith during the golden age of muscle, these legendary big-block V8s managed to thrive in different guises long before that exciting era was over. Combining a ...

“There’s no replacement for displacement” is the catchphrase used as a forced-induction-curse-fending mantra by segregationist gearheads convinced the Earth is a four-barrel-carbureted V8. Agreed, ...

Oooh, two General Motors V8s within a cubic inch of each other! They have to be nearly the same engine, right? After all, the Chevrolet 454 and Pontiac 455 come from the same corporate parent, and ...

We can remember the days when a 454 big-block was considered, well, big. But today you can hit that displacement number with a small-block and save a ton of weight. So, if you’re going to go with a ...