I always see people describing the engine blocks as "short block" or "Long block". What does this mean?

 

longblock is minus tranny, shift linkage and depending on dealer possibly even ecu. short block is everything required to switch

 

YOU sir are wrong.

short block = everything under the headgasket

long block means valve cover down, NOT including the tranny.

these are not terms to describe a swap. its up to the dealer as to what you get for how much $

 

omg. So very wrong.......listen to gimpy.

 

Why those terminology? It is so weird. Anyway, thanks to all the help folks!

 

long - head = short

 

The terms are carried over from the Domestic market. A shortblock is basicly the block with the rotating assembly, not even an oil pump or oil pan. A longblock would include everything from oil pans to cylinder heads, and sometimes an intake too.

In the import world, a shortblock is from deck of the block down to the oil pan, with the longblock adding the complete cylinder head.