The original 265 V-8 was built as a low cost engine for the least expensive car GM offered.It's lightweight casting and cheapo stamped rocker arms on ball studs were cost saving measures.The fact that 50 years and 100 million small blocks later, it's still a viable racing piece is amazing.Smokey Yunick did a lot of work for Chevy on the early small blocks.Engineers found it easier to deal with an outside contractor than the eccentic ladies man that Duntov was.But Duntov did get Chevy to make in house changes eventually.Duntov wanted overhead cams,Yunick wanted a taller block and longer rods, neither guy got what he wanted.
Boo, the 64 Chevelle originaly had a 220 hp 283 as the top engine option,later in the year, the 250 and 300hp 327 became available.
