Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

Looking for a block for my next 265 build.Which one was the best to use back in the day? Yes I know a Bow Tie would be the one to use,but the lottery hasn't paid me off yet.LOL. I've heard stories about the 57 block being a lot thicker in the deck area, so i'm looking around for one of those.I think it has a casting that number ends in 548 .

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

I got a 55 (265 3 speed) under 140 tons of dirt if you like digging. Of course it's been there 45 years

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

Thanks for the offer on the 55 block, but it is least desirable of the 265s.No oil filter that year. If it has a 4 bl intake I would be interested in that though.Casting number ends in 348.

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

1957 only ---265 block had thicker deck surfaces. Some say that if the engine serial number is still on the block then look for a letterC at the end that is "supposed" to signify a thicker deck surface

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

"C" is correct for '57 265, a 57 283 block would end with an "F".

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

In 1959 there were some replacement 265 motors built for trucks. They were truly 283 blocks not bored all the way, reat thick walls and a neoprene rear seal. We found one. Good luck!

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

That is what I used in my old '56 Chevy. Had side mount bolt bosses. I got protested once over that. Some tech guys that did not know me & the car would feel for side mount bolt bosses. Then question me about it. At an out of div race, was protested. Told me "I know that is a 283" block! I had just learned about thick cylinder walls from Jere Stahl. That gentleman taught me a lot. Even located a guy locally Sonic Testing. Sure enough, the cylinder walls tested close to a tenth of an inch thicker than a '56 265" block I had in my garage. The deck was very thick as well.

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

I would love to have a picture of one of those blocks.I had a Corvette guy( He claims to have thousands of sbc blocks) in Detroit tell me that there was" never a 265 block made with side mounts".He wants thousands for some of the 265 blocks he has,and they are not even dated for an early Vette.

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

That was about 50 years ago. I didn't take pictures of everything like many do now. Would have to screwed with having them developed too. LOL

Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?
 

You sure got that rite, pictures where a luxury back then till the disposable camera and 1 hour developing huts came along. Anyone under 40 wouldn't understand LOL