How do you tell a BB from a SB car?

[LIRacer]

My '65 427 car is obviously not numbers matching. The car has no history. In looking at the engine comppartment, the battery is located behind the coolant expansion tank. That would (I believe) indicate it started life as a small block car. What else can I look for?

 

[magicv8]

This list works for 66-6 cars:
all 66big blocks used an 11" clutch with a 14" diameter 168 tooth flywheel, EXCEPT L-88 (which used a 10.4" clutch with a 12-1/2" , 153 tooth flywheel). '444' (cast at top) clutch housing designed for use with a 14" flywheel. It was used for 1966 and very early 1967 Corvette with 427 (except L-88).
Other BB-SB differences:
instruments (80# oil and possibly 5kredline tach)
steel line from high limit oil pressure gage to engine.
front springs (tagged)
front AND rear sway bar with 2 trailing arm holes drilled to mount the rear bar.
BB batter cables with riveted cable clip near RH (pass.) side of tunnel opening
BB and SB A-C cars have a LH battery holder and a washer bag
brass GM radiator in 66-67, plastic shroud
no aluminum expansion tank in 66-67, mount holes filled from bottom
hood with intake port(s) and LH support after 65
all engine accessories except A-C compressor and PSpump
power steering pump hose and fitting
clutch cross shaft
lower splash shields have different exhaust cut outs
2.5 inch exhausts
exhaust heat shields
.375 fuel line pointed forward for BB pump
at, au, az, fa, fb, fc code stamped on differential
tapped differential yokes with bolt on caps
BB throttle lever curves back from pivot toward rear of car, SB is straight
TI box bolted for L79 on LH wheel well and its wiring clip under the master cylinder
Registration weight shows BB added to the (327 with 3 speed) base car:
Convertible curb weight 3160
Coupe curb weight 3140
"add" weights:
a31 Power windows___ +5
co7 Hard top________+49
c48 less Heater______-20
c60 a-c____________+93
j50 power Brake_____ +12
L89 aluminum Heads__-73
m20 4speed _________-5
m35 powerglide ______+1
n40 power Steering__ +21
u69 radio __________ +21
l79 327/350 ________ -8
l36 427/390 ________+215
l68 427/400 ________+151
l71 427/435 ________+149

 

[LIRacer]

Any else? This is a 65.

 

[JohnZ]

Any else? This is a 65.

If the VIN is below 13,000, it didn't start life as a big-block car.

 

[LIRacer]

Chevy built all the small blocks at once?

 

[bossvette]

Chevy built all the small blocks at once?

no the big block was not introduced till later in the model year