[MacGyver]

Hi All,

I´m a new member here and a quite new owner of a 1959 Chevy Apache. Since I´m from Germany I´m not yet familiar with the technical details of the beautiful American V8 engines. But I´m willing to learn. Hope not to bore you with my really basic questions. But it could also be funny for you guys.

The preowner said the truck got a 400 SBC engine with 0.30 overbore. The only thing I know, it must be a Chevrolet engine with about 400 cubic inch. Could anybody tell me what SBC stands for and what 0.30 overbore means. I would be more than happy to get any information, specs or advices for that engine.

Thank You very much in advance!

Cheers,
MacGyver

[dawg]

SBC = small block chevy
400 with .030 overbore = 406 cubic inches

[curtis73]

SBC stands for small block chevy. Since the early 1960s, chevys have been either small blocks or big blocks. Common small block sizes include 265, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350, and 400. Common big block sizes include 396, 427, and 454.

Since we Americans haven't grasped the beautiful simplicity of the Metric system, we still measure things in inches. A 400 SBC came with a stock bore of 4.125 inches. You'll commonly see an engine referred to as "30-over" or .030" overbore. It simply means that its been bored .030 inches over the original size. In the case of your 400, it means that its now 4.155 inches, for a total displacement of 406.8 (commonly called a 406)

Congratulations on your purchase. That is a very nice truck. I have been looking for a nice Apache in California for almost a year, and you found one in Germany I'm jealous

[Jmark]

On a totally side note, i'm surprised the ACLU has not forced a name change on that truck since it could somehow be offensive to the native Americans! LOL

[ckucia]

I'm not a Chevy guy, so maybe I'm not correct, but isn't the 400 a bit of a different animal from the rest of the SBC family?

[MacGyver]

Thanks a lot for your replies and the information you have provided. It is very useful for me.

@curtis73: I haven´t found the truck in Germany (this is nearly impossible). I bought it in ebay and it came from Nevada. I got it shipped via LA to the Netherlands and from there to my place in Germany. From winning the auction in ebay until the truck´s arrival at my home it took me almost 3 months. Now I´m more than happy - it was worth the trouble.