Engine Block

The engine block is the main structural component of an engine. It supports and helps
maintain alignment of internal and external components. The engine block consists of a
cylinder block and a crankcase. An engine block can be produced as a one-piece or
two-piece unit. The cylinder block is the engine component that consists of the cylinder
bore, cooling fins on air-cooled engines, and valve train components, depending on the
engine design. The cylinder bore is a hole in an engine block that aligns and directs the
piston during movement. The bore of an engine is the diameter of the cylinder bore.
The stroke of an engine is the linear distance that a piston travels in the cylinder bore
from top dead center (TDC) to bottom dead center (BDC).
Top Dead Center (TDC) is the point at which the piston is closest to the cylinder
head. Bottom Dead Center (BDC) is the point at which the piston is farthest from the
cylinder head. Displacement (swept volume) is the volume that a piston displaces in an
engine when it travels from TDC to BDC during the same piston stroke. Generally, the
larger the displacement of the engine, the more power it can produce.
An air-cooled cylinder block has cooling fins on the exterior. A cooling fin is an integral
thin cast strip designed to provide efficient air circulation and dissipation of heat away
from the engine cylinder block into the air stream. Fins or vanes increase the surface
area of the cylinder block contacting ambient air for cooling efficiency. Cooling fins cast
into or bolted onto the flywheel act as fan blades to provide air circulation around the
cylinder block and head. Air circulation dissipates heat generated during combustion to
maintain optimum engine temperatures. A crankcase is an engine component that
houses and supports the crankshaft. In a four-stroke cycle engine, the crankcase also
acts as an oil reservoir for lubrication of engine components. The crankcase may be a
part of the engine block or a separate component.

Parts and Functions of an Engine Block

Cylinder Bore

The Bore or cylinder bore is a part of a piston engine. The bore also represents
the size, in terms of diameter, of the cylinder in which a piston travels. The value
of a cylinders bore, and stroke, is used to establish the displacement of an
engine.

Coolant Passages

This is where the coolant travels through the cylinder head from the engine block.
Often a source of corrosion and leakage.

Main Bearing

The bearings on which the crankshaft rotates, usually plain or journal bearings.
The bearings hold the crankshaft in place and prevent the forces created by
the piston and transmitted to the crankshaft by the connecting rods from
dislodging the crankshaft, instead forcing the crank to convert the reciprocating
movement into rotation.
Most modern automotive engines have one main bearing at each end of the
crankshaft and another in between each adjacent pair of connecting rod journals,
but not all engines conform to this generalization. Notable exceptions include
the Ford flathead V-8, which had only three main bearings, and Chevrolet's
inline-six-cylinder engine, which had in various iterations, three, four or seven
main bearings.

Camshaft bearing

It supports the camshaft and provide its rotation.

Other Parts of an Engine Block

Threaded Stud Hole
Holes for pushrods
Mounting for water pump
Mounting for fuel pump
Mounting for distributor
Mounting for oil filter
Mounting for water pump

References:
Engine Bearings and How They Work pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_bearing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_bearing#Design
http://images.slideplayer.com/18/5671179/slides/slide_12.jpg
http://www.jcwhitney.com/engine-blocks-and-cylinder-heads/c7635j1s17.jcwx
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2012/01/cylinder-bores-machining-to-sleeving/