Yes, beginning in 1977.
No. The 327, is a small block.
In my experience, Chevy blue blocks (or sort of an aqua color) meant they were the all metric versions
bore and stroke a chevy 400 smallblock.
No, the Chevy 454 has a long stoke and requires a big block. However, it is possible to build a 454 small block using aftermarket parts. You'll need some high flowing heads to make it work.
No, they did not. The smallest big block Chevy is the 396. They also made a small block and big block 400.
Chevy used to make a 427 big block, but the 427 small blocks are made from aftermarket parts.
355.
When building a small block chevy engine, you need to decide what exactly you want to do. Restoration or performance enhancement. Normally, the small block chevy engines are harder to build if you want to conserve your cost. Most people try to use aftermarket parts to make it cheaper. Many people have found the book "How to hot rod your small block chevy" to be very helpful. Also, parts suppliers such as Summit and Jeg's have a wealth of information in their catalogs.
A small block Chevy has a 4inch bore. When you bore one 30 what you are doing is removing .30 thousandths from the cylinder. That would make the bore 4.030 or turn a 350cid into a 355cid.
Sounds like an exhaust leak.
No the 350 has always been a small block. The smallest big block made by Chevrolet was the 366 truck engine and the 396 car engine.
The make and model would help because Ford, Chevy and Mopar made small blocks.