Additionally, the canister/sock style oil filter was now converted to use spin on filters. The rod bolts were changed from 11/32 in. This allowed the use of cast iron crankshafts as the previous parts were made of forged steel. Previously, only certain years of the 283 engine (1958-1962) could be bored safely to four inches.ДЎ968 - The main journal diameter was increased to 2.45 in from 2.30 in and the connecting rod journal diameter was increased to 2.10 in from 2.00 in. As was fairly common for the time, no provision for an oil filter was included in the engine design.ДЎ956 - Oil filtration was introduced, using a sock style filter in a canister.ДЎ957 - The engine came with only front mounts, the side mount bosses were present but not drilled and tapped leaving its retrofitting problematic.ДЎ962 - The block's cylinder wall casting was revised to allow four inch bores. There were, however many minor changes made to the engine over the years these changes are listed below.ДЎ955 - The first year of introduction in 265 cu in (4.3 L) only. The engine is still being built today for many aftermarket applications, both to replace worn-out older engines and also by many builders as high-performance applications. The original design of the small block remained remarkably unchanged for its production run, which began in 1955 and ended, in passenger vehicles, in 2003.

The first time it lasted an hour and 15 minutes and the second time it lasted two hours. The small-block was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines of the 20th Century list.Д¬hevrolet tested the small-block twice with no water and no oil at wide-open throttle. Over the years, every American General Motors division except Saturn used the Chevrolet small-block, and its descendants (see GM LT engine and GM LS engine) continue as the company's mainstream V8 design today. It has been produced in carbureted, mechanical fuel injection, and electronic fuel injection forms.ДЇrom 1955-74, the small-block engine was known as the 'Turbo-Fire V8'.ДЄlthough Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac also designed V8 engines (see list of GM engines), it was Chevrolet's 350 cu in (5.7 L) small-block that became the GM corporate standard. Its production numbers were impressive, with more than 90,000,000 built. This engine is still in production today at General Motors Toluca, Mexico plant (primarily for the GM over-the-counter Goodwrench powerplants), but is no longer offered in current model year vehicles since the year 2004. The displacement changed over the years, eventually reaching 400 cu in (6.6 L), but none caught on like the 350 cu in (5.7 L) small-block. It would later be extended to other vehicles as well, and replace the old style 265 V8s. This engine was used to power the Corvette, and the Bel Air at that time. By 1957 it had grown to 283 cu in (4.6 L), and with the optional Rochester mechanical fuel injection, it became one of the first production engines ever to make one horsepower per cubic inch. Production of the small-block began in 1955 with the 265 ci. This was often shortened to the 'mouse motor' for its compact dimensions and lighter weight, compared to other V8 engines of the time (Chevrolet would later introduce the larger big block engine, which gained the nickname 'rat motor'). Soon after being introduced, it quickly gained popularity among stock car racers, becoming known as the 'Mighty Mouse' motor, after the popular cartoon character of the time. Chevrolet's small-block V8 is a famous automobile engine.

Early small block chevy stamped numbers