shortblock, longblock? blockhead?
 

what's the difference?

Longblock is block and head(s) with all valvetrain intact.
Shortblock is just the block with crank and pistons.

For a rotary these terms really dont apply.Though some people will reffer to a rotary with all the manifolds and front cover as a longblock and a rotary with just the 5 housings as a shortblock.

ahhh, i get it now...thanks

i was just bein' a dork by throwing "blockhead" in there, till i realised besides me,
there actually is a block"head"

it all makes sense to me now