I'm not a towel - your a towel!  

Wow - It almost seems like the hijackers are just trying to push Gibs buttons!

And since E85 has less energy content than gas, you'll get less power from a switch unless you do something else (up the compression, increase fuel supply volume, etc).

I found a way to get my ride to run on LH2/LOX. Who needs E85.  

Regarding the original question, it's hard to deny the LS motor architecture dominates the normally aspirated small block world.  

i own a chevy 400 bone stock , so thats the best engine , cause its either the 400 or the 305 in my camaro , and i know the 400 already eats my camaro  

Hijackers hu?  There are about five million e85 flex fuel vehicles on the road right now and they all have better 0-60 times when on e85.  ALL studies done on fleets that use e85 show a much decline in problems with the fuel system and engine when e85 is used.  Did you know that there are cars being made in europe right now that get the same mileage using gas or e85.  It's not what you burn - it's how you burn it.  The use of turbos and high pressure fuel injection with computer control is simple technology.  You have never built an e85 (ethanol/alcohol) motor nor do you know anything about its production or distribution.  I will phone everyone from IRL to IHBA and tell them that the "expert" says they need to switch back to gasoline.  I would pay someone to watch them go grab some oil and refine it in there back yard into gasoline - that's a bad ass guy there.  I can go in my back yard right here in Missouri and make "fuel" from sugar, apples, corn, whatever.  You can't even imagine the amount of alcohol racers thier are out on the tracks right now.  It is a proven technology.  Let Gib speak for himself - don't worry he doesn't know anything about e85 either.  Big blocks are where the power is but using alcohol in a small block that you are trying to get the most out of anyway - makes the most sense.  Alot more power and runs cool all night at the street/strip.  If you want to run a turbo or roots blower without intercooler - e85 is your answer.  You had better go check out some of the e85 cars that are out there right now and see how far they blow the doors off the gas cars.

Check out e85carbs.com or racee85.com  

Im sorry that web site is:

e85carbs.com

raceone85.com

These guys will hook a small block up!  

Id take a 302 z block. Id really take anything but a 305.  

best sbc is easly the 307    

so what is the price of tea in china?  

THE BEST ENGINE WOULD BE A 406, THAT A 400 BORED OUT. WITH EAGLE INSIDES THAT'S THE BEST WITH DART HEADS NOTHING LIKE A 383 WILL STAND NEAR IT  

i have built mud trucks with 383 strokers and 400sbc's. i prefer a 383 any day. i took the 383, the .same motor and went from 10.1 comp to 12.1 and converted it over to liquid propane and i would have to say i have an honest 540 ft lb of torque and a knock free smooth running stump puller and im willing to bet it would out last e85 and gas if it were not for the inconvenience of finding lp. i know LP has a 110 octane rating and my oil is clean at 4000miles, no emissions, and it runs a real cool temp no matter how hot it is out and how hard i run it. since i converted it I have been more happy with LP than any gasser ive built in the past. it also revs a little more consistant than gas as far as detonation goes. and that is all i have to say about that... good day fellas!!!!!  

the best small block is definately the 406 i have one in a pull truck with sportsman 2 heads vic jr intake msd ignition and 750 holley it will out pull and small block out there the only thing to beat it is big block 454's that are beefed up its a real stump puller  

It's like asking "what's the best ice cream" 100 different answers from 100 different people.  The best is going to be the one you can afford to build and will suit your needs.  

Lots of discussion here...Fuel, displacement, etc. One thing we seem to agree on; the best is the small block Chevy. Dollar for horsepower it is hard to compete with by any design. All of my old Chevy’s have the 283. I have seen them built in many displacements, bored to 301's and so on. Not major players in the horsepower wars but did the job in their day. Today, I give the LS series the blue ribbon due to technology and innovation.
The argument continues. This site has a very good article on the history timeline of the small block.
See: Historical Articles: The Best Things Come In Small Packages -- The History Of -- Chevy High Performance Magazine
More Than 50 Years of Small-Block Chevy’s
By Bob Mehlhoff  

i agree with the 307 i havent ever seen one but i read about them 283 crank 327 block they was under rated at around 300 or so but actually it had around 400 hp so for cubic inch i would say it was one of the most powerful factory chevy engine but i doubt you will run across very many of those i am building me a mud truck and im gonna go with the 383 good tourqe engine  

Ummm....NO. the 307 had a3.25 stroke(same as 327) and a 3.875 bore...it is a dog!! now the 302 is one HOT engine with the 283 stroke..4 inch bore! the best SBC...hands down 350...use it as is or stroke it, what a great engine.