Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best?

Lyn Smith · 01-07-2019, 06:23 PM

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 .

Coleydog · 01-07-2019, 07:19 PM

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

Lyn Smith · 01-07-2019, 07:32 PM

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.

FED 387 · 01-07-2019, 07:55 PM

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

jimmyparker · 01-07-2019, 08:43 PM

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

Painter · 01-07-2019, 08:48 PM

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!

Ed Wright · 01-07-2019, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painter

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!

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.

Lyn Smith · 01-07-2019, 11:02 PM

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.

Ed Wright · 01-08-2019, 08:06 AM

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

Coleydog · 01-08-2019, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

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

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

01-07-2019, 06:23 PM	#1
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,192 Likes: 272 Liked 950 Times in 189 Posts	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 . Last edited by Lyn Smith; 01-07-2019 at 07:33 PM.

01-07-2019, 07:19 PM	#2
Coleydog Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 569 Likes: 36 Liked 53 Times in 38 Posts	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

01-07-2019, 07:32 PM	#3
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,192 Likes: 272 Liked 950 Times in 189 Posts	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.

01-07-2019, 07:55 PM	#4
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,408 Likes: 501 Liked 328 Times in 176 Posts	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

01-07-2019, 08:43 PM	#5
jimmyparker Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: columbus, georgia Posts: 382 Likes: 65 Liked 302 Times in 86 Posts	Re: Attn. 265 Racers.What block is the best? "C" is correct for '57 265, a 57 283 block would end with an "F".

01-07-2019, 08:48 PM	#6
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	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!

01-07-2019, 11:02 PM	#8
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,192 Likes: 272 Liked 950 Times in 189 Posts	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.

01-08-2019, 08:06 AM	#9
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	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 __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA