[SRT Engineers]

"Les Quam asks: My question is of the utmost importance (LOL) since it is a hotly disputed issue on the forums for quite some time.(at least a few months) Perhaps the engineers at Dodge can put this issue to rest once and for all.

Is the Viper V-10 motor considered a "big block"???

The term was coined in the 60s when Chevy needed to use it for parts interchangeability. The Chevy blocks are externally different as are the Mopar LA family (318-360) and B/RB(383/400-413/426/440 raised block) so Mopar also has historically built both small and big blocks...... However Pontiac does not the 326-455 are essentially the same externally as are Oldsmobile blocks 350 being the same as 455.

So is the Viper V-10 a small block?? Not if externally different blocks are the critieria? However in a world with 500 cubic inch small block Chevy's a dispute among the Viper faithful has arisen.

I say the Viper is the only production big block performance car built since the late 60s early 70s? And the only big block sports car built since the 1974 454 Vettes and the second hand built big block sports car ever built since the Shelby 3000 series Cobra.What sayeth you??????????"


The term big block first appeared when Chevrolet came out with their second generation V-8 in the late 50's. Since then, other manufacturers have used the same methodology - If they had a "first generation" V-8 engine and they came out with a new engine with a larger (either displacement or physical size) engine it was called their "big block". This happened with Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, Olds and Buick. With the Viper, the V-10 was originally based off the small block "A" engine but it was certainly lager in displacement and physical size than the "big block" "B" engine. I would have to say that we do not consider the V-10 either a small or big block, but rather a generation of its own. Until the time (if ever) we make a larger engine dimensionally, the terms small block or big block do not apply.