- 4
What is the best engine evr designed or your fav. and why?
Best engine
- Thread starter lazyjoe247
- 98 comments
- 3,349 views
- 5,178
- Worcester, MA
- skip0110
By far the 500 cid Cadillac big-block. The largest passenger-car engine ever sold in the US.
It was a stroked version of the 472, introduced in 1968. Although initially rated at about 360 hp and 525 ft-lbs torque, compression dropped over the years and it was finally rated at only 190 SAE hp. However, freed from the numerous accessories, even the late engines make serious torque and power. For dirt cheap a Caddy 500 can be assembled to put out an easy 400 hp/500 lb-ft of torque. (Put the small early heads on a later engine for evil ~12.5:1 compression, a ticking time bomb basically
) Truly an epic engine.
It was a stroked version of the 472, introduced in 1968. Although initially rated at about 360 hp and 525 ft-lbs torque, compression dropped over the years and it was finally rated at only 190 SAE hp. However, freed from the numerous accessories, even the late engines make serious torque and power. For dirt cheap a Caddy 500 can be assembled to put out an easy 400 hp/500 lb-ft of torque. (Put the small early heads on a later engine for evil ~12.5:1 compression, a ticking time bomb basically
) Truly an epic engine.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
The easiest answer would be the Chevrolet small-block V8, and all of it's variants. Everying from the 1955 265ci to the 2006 LS7 427ci has been a great engine not only for the production cars that they went into, but also for the aftermarket.
Of all the Chevrolet small-blocks, the classic 327 and 350 engines are in a dead heat for me. On the one hand, the 327 had nearly as much power as a 396, yet was better suited to racing because of it's higher revs and the ease at which it could do so. But at the same time, the 350 made great power, and was readily adaptable in almost every situation. They are both two of the most widely used powerplants in all of racing (along with the Ford 289 and 302), and similar designs are still used today in the GM SUVs, trucks, and cars.
Of all the Chevrolet small-blocks, the classic 327 and 350 engines are in a dead heat for me. On the one hand, the 327 had nearly as much power as a 396, yet was better suited to racing because of it's higher revs and the ease at which it could do so. But at the same time, the 350 made great power, and was readily adaptable in almost every situation. They are both two of the most widely used powerplants in all of racing (along with the Ford 289 and 302), and similar designs are still used today in the GM SUVs, trucks, and cars.
- 7,965
RB26DETT: (Nissan Skyline R-34 in particular)
2.6L Inline-6 Dual overhead cam Twin Turbo. 'nuff said.
EDIT: Well, I thought about it, and I came up with another engine. CA18DET.
Nissan's smaller 4 cylinder for the 180SX. 1.8L Inline-4 DOHC Turbo. It came with an Iron block, unlock it's bigger brother the SR20DET. It also had better port spacing, as well as, a much better fuel system. It was a very capable engine, with some cars out there producing over 700hp. Not too shabby.
2.6L Inline-6 Dual overhead cam Twin Turbo. 'nuff said.
EDIT: Well, I thought about it, and I came up with another engine. CA18DET.
Nissan's smaller 4 cylinder for the 180SX. 1.8L Inline-4 DOHC Turbo. It came with an Iron block, unlock it's bigger brother the SR20DET. It also had better port spacing, as well as, a much better fuel system. It was a very capable engine, with some cars out there producing over 700hp. Not too shabby.
- 745
- Columbus
I'll throw out something different and say the 13B (3rd gen rx7 rotary). I know it has a bad reputation for being unreliable, but that's just because too many people were too lazy to take care of it properly.
- 804
Way to many to pick an absolute favourite but my top choices are the BMW 5.0 V10, Rover 3.5 V8, Honda 2.0 Inline-4 from the S2000 and the 2.6 Inline-6 Skyline motor come to mind. Thinking about it the best engine I've experienced was the BMW 3.2 litre straight 6 in my old M Roadster.
There are several engines that in my mind are the best, but I'm going to be predictably loyal to my favorite marque and vote for the BMW M10, a SOHC inline-4. It was first designed in the late '50s, but could be found in production BMWs all the way up until the mid/late '80s.
It powered many of BMWs models, including the 1961 1500, the 2002 series (including the tii and Turbo), and the E21 and E30 3-series. It also saw action in motorsports -- M10s from ordinary used BMW roadcars were plucked from their vehicles, modified and turbocharged to 1100+hp, and powered the Brabham-BMW F1's of the 80's.
In the mid-'80s, the M10 block was combined with the DOHC 4-valve-per-cylinder head of BMW's 6-cylinder engines to create the S14, which powered the E30 M3. The S14 could be found in either 2.3L or 2.5L form, producing 200-240hp in street-spec and producing as much as 360hp in race-spec (that's 144 naturally-aspirated horses per Liter).
When the E30 M3 ended production in the early '90s, the M10's design had seen 30 years of service, and was finally retired.
It powered many of BMWs models, including the 1961 1500, the 2002 series (including the tii and Turbo), and the E21 and E30 3-series. It also saw action in motorsports -- M10s from ordinary used BMW roadcars were plucked from their vehicles, modified and turbocharged to 1100+hp, and powered the Brabham-BMW F1's of the 80's.
In the mid-'80s, the M10 block was combined with the DOHC 4-valve-per-cylinder head of BMW's 6-cylinder engines to create the S14, which powered the E30 M3. The S14 could be found in either 2.3L or 2.5L form, producing 200-240hp in street-spec and producing as much as 360hp in race-spec (that's 144 naturally-aspirated horses per Liter).
When the E30 M3 ended production in the early '90s, the M10's design had seen 30 years of service, and was finally retired.
- 711
- Sacramento, CA
- DeuceRazr
Nissan's VQ-Series of V6s, Ford 5.0HO, the 351 Cleaveland with Aussie 2V heads and factory 4 barrel intake, and the S2000's VTEC beast.
Poverty
(Banned)
- 3,567
Audi RS4's V8. 4.2 liter Fuel Stratified Injection making 420bhp, Engine will soon be upgraded to 450bhp for the R8.
Developing a maximum output of 420 bhp, the V8 revs up to a speed of 8250 rpm. With its displacement of 4163 cc, this engine exceeds the magical barrier of 100 bhp per litre - truly outstanding in a production saloon. Maximum torque of 317 lb-ft comes at 5500 rpm in this very compact engine, with 90 per cent of the engine’s torque consistently available between 2250 and 7600 rpm
Developing a maximum output of 420 bhp, the V8 revs up to a speed of 8250 rpm. With its displacement of 4163 cc, this engine exceeds the magical barrier of 100 bhp per litre - truly outstanding in a production saloon. Maximum torque of 317 lb-ft comes at 5500 rpm in this very compact engine, with 90 per cent of the engine’s torque consistently available between 2250 and 7600 rpm
- 15,856
- QLD, Australia
- Small_Fryz
would have to be the M5 V10, or the GSXR 1000
As for aftermarket, cant stike out the RB26DETT or the supra engine.
Honda S2000 is also a very good engine.
As for aftermarket, cant stike out the RB26DETT or the supra engine.
Honda S2000 is also a very good engine.
- 5,833
- Right behind you
- SRV2NV
Easy question, with an easy answer...The Elephant...The one engine that can add 3 zero's to the price tag of whatever car its name is on.
426 HEMI
With an under rated 425 hp, and 450 ft.lb of torque, its one of the most desired and in my opinion, the greatest engine to roar out of Detroit. When it wasn't twisting frames and peeling ashphalt, its racing cousin was owning the race track. 👍
426 HEMI
With an under rated 425 hp, and 450 ft.lb of torque, its one of the most desired and in my opinion, the greatest engine to roar out of Detroit. When it wasn't twisting frames and peeling ashphalt, its racing cousin was owning the race track. 👍
- 4,767
- Kansas City, KS
- FlyingAGasoline
I'm in a 3 way tie...
Either A.) The Ford Cosworth DFV. A small, V8 F1 motor that had a 20+ year reign of dominance in F1.
B.) The Buick/Oldsmobile/Rover 215 V8. One of the Best smallblocks GM ever made, the 215 made good power and got good gas mileage. GM didn't see a use for a very small V8 motor at the time, so they sold the design to Rover. Rover dropped this engine and several variants of it into cars almost 30 years later.
C.) The Ford Flathead series of engines. In one fell swoop Henry Ford outclassed his detroit competition in the 1930s. He decided to cast the valvetrain into the block, reducing on machining time. While it only had around 85 horsepower in 1932, it got a little stronger over the years and was replaced in (was it 1954?) with an OHV design called the Y Block. The Flathead was a winner at the races, and was way ahead of everything else at the time, to the point that Clyde Barrow, the famous gunman, wrote a letter to Henry Ford telling him that "the Ford V8 has everyone else skinned."
Either A.) The Ford Cosworth DFV. A small, V8 F1 motor that had a 20+ year reign of dominance in F1.
B.) The Buick/Oldsmobile/Rover 215 V8. One of the Best smallblocks GM ever made, the 215 made good power and got good gas mileage. GM didn't see a use for a very small V8 motor at the time, so they sold the design to Rover. Rover dropped this engine and several variants of it into cars almost 30 years later.
C.) The Ford Flathead series of engines. In one fell swoop Henry Ford outclassed his detroit competition in the 1930s. He decided to cast the valvetrain into the block, reducing on machining time. While it only had around 85 horsepower in 1932, it got a little stronger over the years and was replaced in (was it 1954?) with an OHV design called the Y Block. The Flathead was a winner at the races, and was way ahead of everything else at the time, to the point that Clyde Barrow, the famous gunman, wrote a letter to Henry Ford telling him that "the Ford V8 has everyone else skinned."
- 745
- Columbus
YSSMAN
Being that I actually HAVE a 1600cc aircooled flat four ('79 super beetle). I'm pretty sure it's not the best engine. Famous, sure. Reliable, why not. But best... that's a stretch
- 24,216
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
They've all been mentioned so far...
Buick/Rover V8 - for service to british performance cars
Cosworth DFV and its 4cyl varients the FVA/FVC - for service to motorsport
Columbo V12 - powers some of the most beautiful cars ever, and sounds fantastic.
Porsche flat 6 - situated in the wrong place for 40 years, and still going strong.
Ford 289 V8 & varients - for service to American performance cars
Chevy 350 V8 & varients - Overall winner - has powered everything successfully on the road and track forever.
Buick/Rover V8 - for service to british performance cars
Cosworth DFV and its 4cyl varients the FVA/FVC - for service to motorsport
Columbo V12 - powers some of the most beautiful cars ever, and sounds fantastic.
Porsche flat 6 - situated in the wrong place for 40 years, and still going strong.
Ford 289 V8 & varients - for service to American performance cars
Chevy 350 V8 & varients - Overall winner - has powered everything successfully on the road and track forever.
- 1,397
Wolfe2x7
not quite. all correct until the last 2nd paragraph.
the M10 engine was the genesis of the "big six" 6 cylinder models that BMW put out in the mid sixties. all they did was add two cylinders. the M10 last saw service in the E23 3 series which ended production in 1983.
but the M10 based six cylinder engines continued production until the 1989 735i
the S14 motor used in the E30 M3 was based on the 3.5 liter engines running in the M1, M5 and M6 cars of that period. it just had two cylinders less.
technically you are incorrect, but since the engine was based on the M10 you arent. its hair splitting i know, but i thouht id throw it in there.
you know your BMW stuff it seems.
my choice for best engine as well.
closely followed by toyotas durable 20R and 22R engines used in their trucks from the early 80s until the 90s.
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
I completely agree. Expecialy the 350 block itself. They are easily affordable and can be built in sooo many ways and installed into almost any car with ease. Just look at all the Ford, RX7, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Jeep owners that install a 350 chevy just because its instant, affordable power.ls2_297
However, Ford made a indestructible straight 6 engine. Not sure of the size but it takes a lot of abuse to destroy them. Even the Chevy straight 6 engine is quite durable. Not powerful but durable.
I wonder if there are more 350 chevy engines than any other engines out there.
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