We calculated compression...
We calculated compression heights for all our hypothetical engines using the good old 5.7-inch connecting rod. You can take advantage of the de-strokers, in particular, by building them with longer aftermarket connecting rods for more power.
Small-Block TimelineWe found quite a few tidbits of information that might apply to your selection of parts. It can also help when searching the junkyards for spare parts.
All small-block deck heights are 9.025 inchesThe 283 cid was never offered with a 2.45/2.100 journal crank.The 400-cid small-block never came with a steel crank.The '67 302 and 350 only came with 11/32-inch rod bolts.The '68-69 302 and the '70 350 LT1 all came with floating wrist pins.1986-first one-piece rear main seal small-blocks.1997-first LS1 offered in Vette (Gen 3).1998-first LS1 offered in Camaro (Gen 3).The original "Gen 1" small-block is still available in some commercial vans and trucks.Cranks and rods remained the same in '92 LT1 (Gen 2), but changed in LS1 (Gen 3).First small-block introduced in 1955 (265) had no provision for an oil filter.The '56 blocks had an oil filter boss cast into the block.The '57 blocks had slightly thicker cylinder walls and can be identified by a "C" at the end of the serial number stamped into the front of the block, if it's still there.The 283, introduced in 1957, came from the same, basic external block casting as the '56 265.None of the 265 or the '57 283 blocks had engine-mount bosses cast in.
Almost all 265 blocks can be safely overbored 0.125 to match 283-bore diameter.
The '62-and-later 283 blocks can be bored 0.125 over and have enough crank clearance to run an early 3.25-stroke crank making them 327 cid. Pre-'62 283 blocks CANNOT be ground for 327-crank clearance due to the water jackets.An early 327 crank swapped into a standard-bore post-'62 283 block yields 307 cid. The late 327 and early 350 used the same block.Stock rods with 3/8-bolts were never available to fit the 2.00-inch diameter journals of the 265/283/302 and early 327s. The aftermarket has both 2.00 and 2.100-inch rods with much stronger bolts to fit everything.