Thread: Rat Motor

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IVE GOT A QUESTION AND ITS PROBABLY A STUPID ONE. WHY DO THEY CALL THE 454 A RAT MOTOR

its not neccisarily called a rat motor, some people do call it that though because a lot of rat rod guys use 454s because they make a great powerhouse

I've heard the small block called a "mouse" motor since the mid-sixties, calling the big block a "rat" seems to be a natural extension.

This leads to "Where and why did the small block pick up the "mouse" moniker"?

Regards, Mark

maybe cause mice are quick and rats are fast??? i dunno

From what I have read it's because of the splayed valves, that looked like a porcupine. Now is a procupine a rat I don't know. The smallblock was called a mouse because it's smaller than the rat. Is this all true not sure.

i dunno, i'm not an older timer, i dont know all of these old timer terms

lol Rat motor because rat rodders use em? I'm sorry but your wrong on that one. Mouse motor are small blocks because they are smaller Rat motors are big blocks because they are bigger and rats are bigger than mice. Look at a engine (people say motor but really motor is something like an ELECTRIC motor, in reality there is no such thing as GAS motor, learned this from my old auto tech teacher) from the front and looks like a mouse with the valve covers the ears, etc. So of course the big blocks are going to be bigger with bigger heads, etc, etc.

I big block chevy has been a "rat" since I can remember. And actually the "mouse" monicker is an extension of that. At one point I knew why they were called rats but thats been many beers, I mean years ago. So rat came before mouse and I'll try to remember where the nick name came from.

Hi ! I'm new to this forum. I race a 1974 Cheyenne Super 1/2 ton in NHRA Sportsman and Pro classes at the Medicine Hat Dragstrip in Alberta, Canada. The name er"RAT"ic is a play on words, that RAT is for the big block engine and the erratic is because it is the opposite of consistent which you must be to win in drag racing. In essence "RAT" describes the truck's engine and the erratic describes the truck's driver.

As a "RAT" owner I remembered from long ago that RAT is short for RETICULATED VALVE which noone understands or wants to pronounce. (Means the valves are arranged in a reticulated pattern ^^^^
as opposed to the small block ---- . Since the big block was a "RAT" motor of course the small block (being smaller) became the "MOUSE".

They are called Rat because they are mean and will bite your ass if you mess with one.

because a lot of rat rod guys use 454s because they make a great powerhouse

Not even close.
The term "rat motor" is at least 40 years old. "Rat rod" is what . . . 10 minutes ago?

Yup I guess my thing with the looks of the motor was completely wrong. But hell, if you look at a motor it does look like a mouse. from the front with the valve covers and heads being the ears, ect. That is what I always though. But the thing with the valves make sense so I guess that's it.

Lol heh well at least I made ya smile that's all that counts in my book. <--- That is Denny!

Nooooooo wait... A small block is smaller... so it's a mouse, a big block is bigger. It's a RAT! Rat's are bigger than mice or mouse or.... mouses? hehe

Heh. Oh Denny real quick to get off subject... Did I tell you what I got on my scores on my placement test at the college? I think I did but if not then let me know and I will tell you on MSN messanger tonight if your on or something.