Hy eightyeight, "short block and long block" are engine rebuilding industry terms, short block refers to an engine without cylinder head[s], long block is an engine with cylinder head[s]. If you buy a rebuilt engine the company will probably want a "core", that is a worn out engine to rebuild, or you can just pay the core charge, they may even wave the core charge on an old engine like a 283. You will have to supply a lot of parts to make this engine a runner, intake manifold and carb., distributer, oil pump, oil pan, water pump, exhaust manifolds, pulleys, brackets. So it might very well be worth it to buy a core, so you have all that stuff, hope that helps.
