Last weekend’s attempt at pinning down the Ten Worst Engines ever was lively, educational, and stayed very civil. So let’s take on the opposite end of the spectrum: the ten best engines ever.
Obviously, it’s a bit harder given the lack of criteria. Bad is…obviously bad. But what makes an engine exceptionally good? Performance? Efficiency? Durability? Running quality? Looks? Affordability? Well, I’m going to let you mostly sort that out, but I’ll suggest one or two things: First, any engine needs to be considered in its place in history; meaning its qualities should (obviously) be compared to its contemporaries. Second, realistically, it should to be the overall balance of qualities that makes a engine superior, and without any significant shortcomings. Yes, some engines might have excelled in one or two categories, but unless an engine was well rounded, it’s not really going to deserve to be one of the very best, in terms of passenger car use.
I regret putting a 1965 cut-off on the last debate, so the whole of passenger car enginedom is up for consideration, but realistically, it’s a bit harder for most of us to really debate the merits of the 1903 Lanchester, despite its many superlatives.
I’ve had a few I’d nominate, not having tried every engine… Mopar Slant-six, Toyota 2-TC, Volvo 2.3, Honda K-block…all worked well for me.
For a 4 cylinder, I’d say Fiat’s 1298cc SOHC motor used in the 128 and pre-1979 X1/9s. Over-square in design and nearly indestructible, as long as you changed the timing belt as recommended.
Having driven almost 350,000 in Yugos with same engine, I do have completely opposite view…
Distributor is so badly mounted that most deeper puddles should be taken with extreme caution. I have been stranded in the pouring rain several times….
Engines have no torque (due to oversquare design…), gaskets do fail without reason, as do auxilary belts (bad design).
Fuel pumps are not durable (membrane should be changed with belts…), they tend to burn oil ( and crankcase breather pipe is unplugged from the carb, usually around 50-60,000km, or carb gets chocked by vapours…) and there are at least 15-20 desing errors/improvements that should have been dealt with long time ago…
Granted, engine was never supposed to be produce worldwide well into 1990’s, but anyway….
Enthusiasts sing praises about these 1.1 and 1.3l, until they try small Honda, Mazda or Toyota engine….
Mercedes-Benz should not be excluded from this list, I only personally have experience with their more modern engines but they all seem to be exceptionally durable and smooth running.. All BMW straight sixes are exceptional engines as well
A few good ones come to mind for various reasons. In no particular order:
Chrysler slant six. Tough, durable, relatively efficient for the times. Oil in the crankcase was optional.
Ford 302. What did it not power at some point between 1968 and 1995? Not the most powerful, but could be. Quite efficient for what it was when fuel injected. Updated: Let’s say the Windsor series V8 family. The 289 and 351 were used in many applications and were the next populous next to the 302.
Chevrolet small block, particularly the 350. Going a step beyond the 302, what has it not powered?
The Ford 4.6 liter V8. An often misunderstood engine, it’s as stout as anything ever built.
Lastly, I’m going to include a drivetrain system, the hybrid system in the Prius, Camry, etc. efficient and able to take a beating in all types of uses.
Addition: The Ford FE series V8.
Good call on the Prius drivetrain
Yes indeed, certainly the most efficient of all time.
Yes to the Ford 302 (really all of the small-block Fords, especially the 289), once they had electronics to keep the emissions controls working while having a usable engine. The mid-70s 302 was horrid, but then what mid-70s Detroit engine wasn’t?
Also yes to the small-block Chevy.
Present-generation Mazda four-cylinder engines. Dead reliable, smooth running, good power, good mileage.
Late 80s-mid 90s Mazda-Ford 2.5 V-6. I had a couple of those up against the rev limiter a few times because they were so smooth and quiet I forgot to shift!
+I on the Mazda four.
I have to agree Don. Mid ’70s car engines could not pull the skin off a rotten banana. But they were old school designs, and reliable, maybe even more so given the timid power numbers.
I would go back 5 years earlier Jason and include the 289 with the 302. The 289 was winning races before most people had ever even seen one. Being on Fords, I also nominate the FE big block. Heavy, yes, but as reliable as an anvil. Not to mention the 427s that terrorized NASCAR in the 1960’s. Enough torque to tow a D9 Cat. on a trailer. Which is exactly what the 360FE in my brothers ’71 F-250 4X4 did for years before my brother bought it in ’79. Any engine with a 100+lb crankshaft like a FE is ok in my book…then there was mom’s ’68 Country Squire wagon with the 390… 🙂
Very good point about the 289 and the FE. I’m updating my statement!
And as a side note, if there was any gasoline engine that should have been converted to a diesel, the FE would get my vote.
“Chrysler slant six. Tough, durable, relatively efficient for the times. Oil in the crankcase was optional.”
Coolant was also optional. My buddy drove our work van about 20 miles with a smoked radiator core; NO coolant. It ticked for about 45 minutes while we went next door to the dealer and got a new rad. Filled it up and it was fine. They were still using it long after the body should have been scrapped.
Also:
-AMC 232/199/258/4.0 I6- indestructible.
-Mazda 12A and 13B Rotaries, after the seal updates for ’74. Ignore the redline.
-VW EA827 4 cyl. engines- often far better than the cars they were in.
-Mazda 2.3 4 cyl. Wow- chain-driven cams!
The Toyota UZ V8 engine family namely the 1 and 2UZ-FE’s. Very smooth, powerful and reliable. In everything from LS cars to Land Cruisers to Gen 1 Tundras.
I second the nomination. Derived from their ’80s CART/IRL racing engine, the UZ and successor UR are powerful, smooth, and seem just about indestructible.
In addition to the /6, I’d have to nominate the 3.3/3.8s. Decent power and pretty darn reliable. Our ’98 Grand Caravan made 279K before the transmission finally killed it. Engine was smoking a little but still reliable as a rock.
Chevy small block- self explanatory but imagine if it didn’t work and was quickly dropped
Porsche 2.0 flat 6- probably planned for VW 412 but instead had enough capacity for 911 to reach for the stars
Buick 3.8- shows the power of continued development
Mercedes TD 5-showed MB knew better in a newly austere world
Alfa twin cam four even in todays lemons races, a legend
Cadillac V8 368-500 big block, torque, still a real Caddy with that under hood. If the V864 version had just worked America could have kept a legendary big block.
Chrysler Slant 6 to give such durability in such cheap cars, what were they thinking?
Chrysler 360 so at the height of malaise a Duster is the fastest car in America, and 20 years later the fastest SUV in Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jaguar DOHC 6 sweeping up the dust of war Rule Britainnia
Lexus 4.0 V8 The LS400 showed a V8 that emphasized luxury without pushrods.
open chamber chevy 1963 427 -425hp race version 600hp
it was a street and track terror
/6… if the sheet metal were half as tough as their engines, old mopars would be still be everywhere.
I remember the GTX with a hemi or 440 with six pack scary fun cars
1970 gto 455 4 speed another take your breath away under hard acceleration
also 66 chevy 11 str 6 cylinder 3 speed on the column could barely hear it run great on fuel
justy 3 cylinder 5 speed awesome fuel mileage great in down town traffic like a go cart fun my friend called it clown car use to take to gym with buddys the weigh a least 250lbs had most leg room of any car i owned
Ford’s Modular 4.6 V8. Despite it coming up in the worst list, they’re absolutely bulletproof, 400K mile+ reliability, have adequate power in 2V form and plenty in 3V and 4V form, consistently get high 20s highway in car duty, in any configuration, are deceivingly simple to do major work on, and had bones good enough to serve as the foundation for arguably Ford’s best V8 ever…
Ford’s Coyote 5.0 V8. 400+ horsepower N/A with 5L. It wasn’t long ago the GM’s LSx series engines were top dogs on the street for making that kind of power in a smallblock package, and in LS6 form it a full liter to hit 400 horsepower. And Like the modular 4.6s it also gets great mileage, unlike the LSx engines(comparitively).
I’ve got an 09 F150 XLT 4X4 as my main driver and tow a 5500 LB camper with it. The 4.6 3V has plenty of power, gets 11-12 MPG towing, and with a light foot, gets 22 MPG on the highway. I love it. It works so smooth, and with the 6R80 it’s always got a gear to make power in.
Amen to the 4.6 mileage comment. My daughter has a tired 2000 Grand Marquis and gets 26-27 mpg on the flat highways of south Texas. And that is at 75-80 MPH.
You guys are lucky. Any of our 4.6 single exhaust Panther V8’s with the std 2.73 rear end are lucky to see 23-24 on straight highway trips with the crap ethanol gas in Upstate, NY.
I second this. I’ve owned four of them now in crown vics and F150s. At first I was loathe to work on them (spark plug wires and plug changes kind of suck), but other than routine maintenance, I’ve literally never had to complete a major repair. They just keep going. I can’t really agree on the mileage comments though. I’ve owned several lsx powered Tahoes that have equaled or bettered the mod motors mileage.
Speaking of, I have to throw the lsx for consideration in the top 10 list. What mine have lacked in trouble free-ness against their mod motored rivals, they’ve made up for in modability. I have jumped deep into a 5.3 for a cam swap, and it was a breeze. In fact, with the cam, an intake, full tube headers, and an exhaust, that little 5.3 made 420 hp on a dyno after tuning.
I was going to include the LSx engines as well, I was kind of hurried by the time I posted so I left it out. I may have touted the Coyote over them but they really set the bar high, in fact pretty much the only reason the 4.6 modulars gained an “underpowered” reputation was because of those concurrent LS engines, plus with the compact lightweight packaging they managed to even top the original Small Block Chevy for engine swap candidates.
As for the Modular mileage, I mainly meant car applications (Mustangs, MN12/FN10s, Panthers) The trucks and SUVs with them seem better suited to something bigger like the LS engines would offer.
The Mercedes OM617.950 Turbodiesel engine. And on a less three-pointed star note. The Toyota 22RE. Both are simple rugged powertrains that produce reasonable amounts of power.
I’d also like to nominate Ford’s 1.0-liter Ecoboost and the Honda C32B that powered the Honda NSX. Same reliability, amazing engineering to boot.
In no particular order –
*Chrysler slant six – Tough as nails.
*Chrysler flathead six – perhaps even toughter, and still built through 1968 for the Power Wagon, but certainly a niche choice.
*Chrysler 3.3 (I have no experience with the 3.8) – may go down as the toughest of anything built of its era.
*Ford 385 family (429/460) – durable as anything since the Model A
*Oldsmobile V8 – one of the allaround best tradeoffs between power, economy and durability.
*Jeep 4.0 inline six – a great engine
*Ford 4.6 – an engine that should have been used in more than it was.
Two other things – can we pleeze, pleeze go back to 1964 so I can nominate the Studebaker V8? What bad can you say about an engine that still used timing gears yet could set a record at Bonneville.
And I have not nominated the small block Chevrolet. I am going to be the curmudgeon here and say that it did not become ubiquitous because it was a great engine, but because it was not a bad engine in the best selling car for eons. I will acknowledge that it outperformed the Ford Y block and the Plymouth wide block, but it is nowhere near as durable as any of those listed above. The flipside was that they were so common that they could be rebuilt quickly and cheaply. So, Chevy should get the nomination for best all around tradeoff for the price.
I specifically said there was no age cut-off. Go back as far as you like. 1886 Benz? 🙂
The first engine that actually ran was automatically the best, since it was the only one. So if were talking the first 4 stroke gas engine, it would be the Otto cycle engine in 1864, if I can trust wiki’s info.
I will second the Ford 385 series. The 460 I had in my 1975 Thunderbird was smoother than butter and could get deceptively good fuel mileage if you kept your foot out of it. I squeezed 17 mpg out of mine a few times. Otherwise it was 12 to 13 mpg.
Chrysler’s 3.8 is essentially the 3.3 with a longer stroke crank. We’ve had 2 minivans with a 3.8. Seem to have a nice growl and a bit more low end torque than the 3.3. Been an awesome engine. I think someone here said the 3.3/3.8 were designed by the same engineer who did the /6.
Bob
I am with you JPC…I spent 28 years as a marine mechanic. Lot of small block Chevy’s in use as marine engines, where the loads are about the highest an engine sees. The Chevy’s are simply not as durable as other engines, and I attribute that to detonation from a combo of combustion chamber shape, and stupid owners running their boat on 3 or more year old fuel. And late SBC’s castings are so thin they will freeze crack from a cold stare… The SBC has put a lot of food on my table, as have OMC sterndrives…
1984 Camaro Z28 with the L-69 305 SBC motor and 5-speed tranny.
240,000+ miles without an engine rebuild in 15 years of daily driving.
I’d say that was pretty durable.
American manufacturers: GM 350 V-8, preferably Oldsmobile’s Rocket
Buick’s 3.8 SFI V-6
Chrysler Slant Six
Foreign manufacturers: Nissan 3.0 V-6
Honda 2.4 4-cylinder
From America: MoPar Slant 6 and Chevy Stovebolt 6.
From Sweden: any Volvo redblock, OHC or OHV.
From Germany: Mercedes OM616/617 Diesels.
2CV flat twin. Sounds fantastic, can be removed and rebuilt easily and cheaply. Fit for purpose. And they sound fantastic.
+1. Brilliantly simple to maintain (few mechanics I know usually take them out, put them on the bench, if for a change of plugs – save a lot of money on kyropractors:) ). Very frugal, charismatic, loves to be trashed (well, for any reasonable progres, it needs to be…) and sound is enchanting…:)
Nissan VQ in its many variants over the years. Have owned two versions, in the 99 Maxima and the current 2010 G37. Smooth, powerful, reliable. The VG in my 85 300ZX Turbo was terrific as well.
The Ford 460. Smooth as silk. And we’ll have to pretend gas mileage doesn’t matter.
There are several engines that check a few of the boxes but the GM 3800 V6 checks them all. Even though it was produced past it’s scheduled cancellation date due to popular outcry, it’s a shame GM didn’t just keep on building it. Did they really figure they would top it somehow?
The 3.0 Ford Vulcan is in my opinion a close second. Unlike the SBC, the block is made of quality material; I once saw one nearly 20 years old with the cylinder head off at 160,000 miles and the bores- complete with crosshatching- looked like they just left the factory. That engine will be in fine shape even when the rest of the car has rotted away around it.
One engine series that I wish was still around, being continually refined and developed for many decades like the SBC, is the 1.0 3 cylinder found in Metros. Light, durable, economical… it could have been a good powerplant for many, many more applications than it was used for.
I’ve always like the little 1.0 engines too, got to love 50+mpg. As an added benefit I think you could pull out the engine with your bare hands, minus the transaxle of course.
If I ran the world that 1.0 would be the SBC of this millenium.
Those were pretty good motors. I can’t wait to see if the ford 3cylinder ecoboost engine lasts as well.
I was hoping someone else knew and loved the Suzuki one-litre triple! 130+km/h at the hands of my daughter (that’s what she owned up to), and 60-65mpg when I’m at the wheel. Here’s my ’84 Swift, which my insurance company insists on calling an ’85. Been in the family since new! Currently doing duty as a farm to town runabout for my wife’s brother, and also a learner’s car for the grandchildren.
My bias is showing but I have to nominate the AMC straight 6. In production from 1964-2006, powered all kinds of different vehicles, super durable, decent mileage and power. Still cheap to work on. Carried the torch for straight sixes in North America when most others had abandoned them and improved dramatically when modernized in 1987. I’ve somehow never owned a /6 so I can’t say they’re definitely superior but they were both super durable .
I concur also on the small block Chev, and Ford, I don’t have much to add there.
Agree also on the Toyota R series. In production forever, super durable for an interference motor, cheap to work on. Never very powerful or got the best mileage but they were truck motors. These little motors (and Datsun’s 4cyl) got the whole mini-truck thing rolling.
Ford Model T 4 cylinder 1908 – simple design that put the world on wheels.
Packard Twin-Six – first production 12 cylinder in 1916.
Duesenberg Model J – DOHC-32 valve, 265 HP in 1929.
Marmon V-16 – all aluminum and the world’s best V-16.
VW aircooled flat-four – second most produced engine ever?
Offy 4 Cylinder – Indy champ for decades.
Chevrolet small block V-8 – 1955 – most produced engine ever.
Ford Cosworth V-8 – Indy and F1 champ for decades.
BMW M-30 inline 6 – world’s best 6 for over 20 years.
BMW N-20 inline 4 – currently the world’s best turbo-4 – most power with best economy.
Ford Model T 4 cyl. The engine that put America on wheels. Top notch technology for the times yet inexpensive. Anyone could work on them. Without this engine, as well as the entire Model T, automobile development would have been vastly different.
Also, Ford flathead V-8 deserves a mention. The hot rodders friend!
1. Porsche air-cooled flat-6
2. VW “Audi Fox” inline-4
3. Chevrolet “small-block” V8 (pre-LS)
4. Chevrolet “small-block” V8 (LS)
5. Ford “Cologne” V6
6. Mercedes-Benz “OM617” 5-cylinder Turbodiesel
7. BMW “M30” 6-cylinder
8. Ford “Kent” 4-cylinder
9. Nissan “VQ” V6
10. Chrysler “Hemi” V8
In no particular order. Criteria was a combination of performance, reliability and a long production run.
I’m going to take my time and come up with some single nominations over the weekend. My first is the Toyota A series four, specifically the 4A-GE and the later 4A-FE.
The DOHC 16 valve 1600cc 4A-GE arrived in 1983, at the tail end of the malaise era, making 112hp (US version), or more than some of the down-sized Big Three V8s. It’s power output was superlative for the times, but it wasn’t a finicky race-type engine. It turned out to be one of the most durable and reliable engines ever, and powered millions of Corollas and Prizms and other variants. Later versions made 12hp, and JDM versions went to 165 hp (5 valve heads). It was also supercharged, as used in the MR2. I can’t think of a small four that had such superlative balance of power, smoothness, efficiency,durability and reliability. And it looked good too! It instantly made every four cylinder made in the US obsolete, by a large margin.
The later 4A-FE version, although tuned a bit more for efficiency, still made similar power, and was even more frugal with fuel and had a thicker torque curve. It’s what is keeping untold numbers of Corollas still on the street. Almost impossible to kill, and fun to drive, with a stick.
Beat me to it! I absolutely love my 4A-LC. Scoots my little FX like a puppy.
There had been lusty DOHC multivalve fours before. There had been tough-as-old-boots engines in cheap cars before.
The 4A-GE was the first cheap, lusty, tough-as-old-boots DOHC multivalve four.
I think that’s a great choice. Did these power the AE86 Corollas of the early 80s, which were and are popular with the drift crowd and IIRC, were the last RWD Corollas?
Yes. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classic-1985-toyota-corolla-gt-s-the-legendary-ea86/
Just what I need to hear, when I am looking at the ad for probably only Geo Prizm i eastern Europe, in rather good condition…thanks for the input, Paul!:)
Ford Windsor 302;
Ford 4.6 Modular V8;
Ford 1.0 Ecoboost;
GM 3800 V6;
Chrysler Slant Six;
AMC/Jeep Inline Six;
Toyota 4.0 Lexus V8;
Volkswagen/Audi EA827, particularly the 1.8;
BMW M-30 Inline six;
Jaguar XK6; particularly the 4.2.
PSA XUD engine family turbo or NA they are virtually bullet proof, Toyota A series, Chrysler 215,245,265, 6 cylinder tribe, Chevrolet small block, Nissan LD and RB engine whanau.
BMC 950 I4 (as used in the Mini)
Buick 3800 Series II
Chevrolet Small Block
Chevrolet Vortec V6 (especially those in use in the late Chevrolet and GMC vans)
Chrysler Slant Six (particularly in dual-carb form with short cam)
Ford 289 V8
Ford Flathead V8
Nissan L-Series I6 (A bit finicky, but amazingly strong and durable)
Toyota R-series
Volkswagen W12 (run in everything from the Volkswagen Phaeton to Bentleys to the venerable Bugatti Veyron)
Most of these engines either created an archetype or a new branch on the family tree of the automotive combustion engine. Others refined what were once considered beasts fit only for pulling stumps. Yet others solved problems everyone thought were ever persistant. All of them have a place in history.
Veyron is W16,though, but your point is valid…
3800 Series II/III
Slant 6
Chrysler 3.3L V6
Chrysler 2.5L
Chrysler 2.2L
This is tough, there are many good ones. It really depends on criteria (its hard to leave BMW off the list, and just the number of VW flat fours and Ford Model T fours built make them hard to ignore). Considering it all, I’ll go for some variety, but with a bias towards performance. In no particular order:
1. Small block Chevy (pretty much any generation; has to be on the list)
2. Small block Ford (key to Ford’s racing renaissance in the ’60’s; other Fords could be on the list too)
3. Chrysler Hemi (any generation could be on the list; 2nd generation is still the basic architecture for all of the amazingly powerful top fuel dragsters)
4. Toyota 2JZ six (where would the Fast & Furious crowd be without it? Nissan SR20 and RB25 get honorable mentions)
5. Porsche 911 flat 6 (many good variations to choose from… the 911 GT3RS might be best)
6. Jaguar XK six (prefer the 4.2 liter, but they’re all good… won LeMans 5 times)
7. Alfa-Romeo Twin-Cam four 1955-1998 (the Alfa V6- there are several versions- gets an honorable mention)
8. Ferrari “Colombo” V12 (like Alfa, Ferrari understands the engine is the heart of a car, so many good ones to choose from)
9. BMC “A” Series four (sometimes affordable and simple are best, used in many different cars for nearly 50 years, a ’60’s/’70’s influence on Datsun/Nissan)
10. Rolls-Royce V8 (one of Britain’s best… and more than “adequate”)
Buick 3800 (The later, EFI ones).
Nissan 3.0L V6
Small Block Chevrolet (Especially the Vortec ones)
Ford 300 (Carbureted ones ONLY)
American Motors 4.0L I6
Toyota 22RE
Toyota 4.0L
Dodge 318 (And the 3.9L V6 that was spawned from it)
4bbl Dodge 360 (In my mind, the best carb’d small block for towing/hauling)
American Motors 232 I6
Amen to the 318, that’s the best engine I’ve had with the possible exception of what ever was in my 2 1980 210’s (1.4?)
The Ford Flathead 8
The Ford 302
The Chrysler Slant Six
The Chrysler Hemi
The Chevy “Stovebolt”6
The Chevy Small Block V8
The Packard “Twin 6”
“Best” doesn’t necessarily equate to “greatest” so while the small-block Chevrolet would undoubtedly be on the “greatest” list for its versatilty, adaptability and longevity in production, it lacks on the durability end.
My experience is also very much with American engines, among the ones with I’ve had more than a passing acquaintance, the only standouts (other than the small-block Chevrolet which excels in sheer numbers):
Chrysler Slant Six
Chrysler 3.3L-3.8L V6
Cadillac 390 (1963)-429 V8
I wanted to include the Chrysler LA (273-318-340-360) in the list but having had to rebuild two of them at under 100,000 miles, I’d say their durability doesn’t match the other MoPars in the rather short list above.
I don’t know if the Dodge 3.9L V6 counts as an LA engine (It was 6/8ths of a 318), but we had one. It was a very good engine. I also have a 4bbl Dodge 360 in a D250- it’s a very strong, capable engine for a truck. I can’t speak to how they were in cars.
I’ve also owned two SBC’s- they were both very, very good engines. I much prefer the Vortec 350 to the 5.4L Triton, and am also happy with my TBI 305 for what it is (A small V8). Again, I’ve never had one in a car, only trucks.
While Cadillac’s modern engines have some shortcomings I would like to nominate the V16’s (both of them).
Just knowing it existed is reason enough to nominate it. Not to mention having the whatever-you-call-it to produce it through the Depression.
As far as engines I’ve owned, the most durable by far has been the 1.8 SOHC 4 cyl gas engine in my ’86 Jetta. 305k miles, still runs well uses 1/2 quart in 3k miles. The manual 5 speed trans has been trouble free as well. 161k miles on small block (307) Chevy in ’70 C10, still running well when sold but using oil about 1 qt every 500 miles. Heads were done at 100k, but only because of leaded fuel going away requiring hardened valve seat replacements. That engine was worked hard towing a lot of weight over long distances from time to time. 79k on ’85 Yamaha 700 CC inline air cooled 4 cylinder, still run well uses no oil. As far as other engines I know about, a friends Dad got 260k miles without problems on his ’77 Rabbit Diesel, still running well when traded in on a ’79 Diesel Rabbit. We had a ’95 DOHC Saturn that lasted until 264k miles, but it always used a lot of oil and was smokey in it’s later years. I know there are a lot of engines with good reputations out there, but these I can speak for from experience. I wonder if the amount of comments will be as high as the 10 worse engine’s post. I briefly had a ’93 Dodge truck with 237k on it’s Cummins Diesel that was still original and running well. It was used 75 percent of the time to tow a 36 ft Airstream trailer. The Nissan 5.6 V8 as in my Titan goes over 300k no problem according to forum’s. I only have 14k on mine, so no personal experience.
The durable, smooth Packard straight 8 needs some love. Given more time in development, their short-lived V8 could have become formidable too.
The Saab 2.3L 16V turbo was sweet and well ahead of its time. Everyone has an engine like that now, but who else had one in 1985?
Mazda’s Renesys rotary was a nice end-of-an-era effort.
Cadillac 472/500ci V8
Ford 390ci V8
Oldsmobile Rocket V8 (350, 455ci)
Ford 429ci V8
Buick 3800 V6
Nissan 3.0 Liter V6 (used in Nissan Maxima, Nissan 300ZX)
Toyota 3.0 Liter V6 (used in Toyota Camry, Avalon, Lexus ES)
Honda 2.2 VTEC 4
Chrysler 383ci V8
Chevrolet Small Block (327, 350ci V8)
Well it’s a fine kettle of fish you have us in now Ollie…. er Paul. I’ve owned a bunch of small blocks from the big three, sixes from two of the big three, and fours from more that that. I do not think you can have a clear cut winner by any set of reasonable standards. I have several that would come out tops in their category. Two truck engines stand out. The Ford 300 six in a long ford van and the Nissan pre-napsz engine in my 79 Datsun. A 350/350 combo in a cube van could not be killed although I think it was a 7 cylinder when I finally sold it.
I could go on and on but you get my drift. Easy to pick out a couple you don’t like. Very hard to get separation on those you do.
If that was a carbureted 300, they were very good. I don’t have much use for the re-cammed EFIs, but there are a lot of carb’d 300s out here. A lot were used in farm equipment- forty years later, they’re still working!
Any votes for the IHC V/8’s? They sure sound cool. Sound very durable with timing gears and no timing chain.
+1 Produced from the 50’s to the 80’s, significantly understressed, highly developed cooling and lubrication systems, high quality materials and construction with few trouble spots, able to run at rated load and speed for hundreds of thousands of miles with rudementary maintenance.
I wouldn’t say they have highly developed cooling systems, unless you are talking about the 392 IC. Now the bottom blocking bypass style thermostat was way ahead of its time, but the coolant flow is poor in the original form. Which of course is why the Improved Cooling 392 was developed.
One of my favourites too. Torquey, tough. If the starter would turn it over, it owuld go.
Definitely one of the best, it is a MD truck engine through and through so in light duty use they are virtually indestructible.
I remember these back in the 70s
In Australia our Readymix concrete trucks used them.
The noise they made going up the hills was just glorious.
V8s:
–Mopar 318 and 360. Common as dirt, strong runners near indestructible. Every bit the equal of what Ford and GM have been peddling alongside the LA motors.
–Modern Hemi. With its pentroof combustion chambers, argue the legitimacy of its ‘Hemi-ness’ all you want. But examples with 200 and 300K are emerging. And considering the power and effieciency these things are capable of while utilizing oldschool pushrod and 2 valve per cyl tech….nothing short of amazing.
–340 gets a mention. While other muscleheads ramble on about the 426 hemi, and the Max Wedge…Ive always felt that in smaller musclecars (which are more true to the formula anyway) the 340 makes for the best balanced car.
V6:
–Buick 225 and 3800. The longevity of this motor is testament to its being a solid design. Over the years its had its ups and downs, but in Kaiser era Jeeps its a minor legend. In newer fwd applications its a solid motor, and of course we all know what it did for the Grand National.
–GM 4.3. S-10 pickups and blazers equipped with this little motor were like a resurgence of the muscle car.
I-6:
–AMC 258 and 4.0 Jeep. Theyre heavily related, but no news here. One of the greatest motors ever put in a Jeep.
–Mopar /6. You know it. You love it.
–Datsun I-6. Made the Z car a legend.
4cyl:
–Willys Go-Devil: Picked over Ford or Bantam designs for the WWII MB. Nearly indestructible.
–Mopar 2.2/2.5: Initial headgasket woes solved, these are some solid little 4 bangers. In turbo guise, they had up to 225 hp and powered the fastest fwd cars in the world at one point, and the performance holds up even now.
–Toyota 20R: Found its way into many products but legendary in the solid axle pickups.
–Air cooled VW: Very durable and infinitely rebuildable. Still infesting the roadways even today. Gave rise to one of the greatest sports car marques on the planet.
Ok that’s 12. But there are a LOT of good engines out there.
Ditto the Willys Go-Devil. I had a ’50 pickup with the F-head version. Lively and durable.
Also I’d add Buick’s straight 8s. I never owned one, but Grandpa always had Roadmasters. He hated cars and did everything wrong, including often driving full speed in 2nd because he didn’t notice. The quiet straight 8 ALLOWED him to not notice, and didn’t punish him later.
1. AMC/Jeep 4.0L inline six
2. Ford 240/300 inline six
3. Volvo 4 cylinders from the 1960s and 1970s
4. VAM 282 inline six
5. AMC/International 258 inline six
6. Toyota 3.9L F series engine from toyota J40 Landcruiser(copy of a GMC 235 inline six)
7. Mopar slant six
8. Mercedes Benz diesel engines from the 1970s and 1980s
9. Dodge Cummins 5.9L 12valve inline six
10. Buick 3800 V6
11. GMC 305 60degree V6
12 Offenhauser 4 cylinders
13. Ford 427 cammer
14. Chrysler 426 Hemi
15. Chevy 302 small block
This is too hard. I can’t limit it to only 10. As I look at my post I am angry at myself for leaving off some engines that I like very much.
Continental fours and sixes
Hercules sixes
The Iron Duke
Honda 4cylinders built after they quit using rubber timing belts.
John Deere 2 cylinder engines
I don’t know if tractor engines count, but I think there was better than the Johnny Poppers. I’d rather have a Perkins 6-354, an Allis-Chalmers 433I, a Deere 404, or a Cummins 5.9L.
The two cylinder was outdated by it’s end. I’d much rather have the Power Crater out of the WD-45 or even the International engines if we’re limited to that era of machinery.
There was no better engine than the johnny popper in terms of cost per plant planted/harvested.
My father owned a 730. To this day, he still hates that engine. He traded it for a used International H. The only good thing he has to say about that tractor was “At least it wasn’t the Deere”.
Value for money, the best engine in my mind from the era was the Allis Power Crater.
I’m afraid I was not clear. the 2cylinder Deere was king in terms of fuel economy.
I’ll mention the Aussie Chrysler Hemi Six – a proposed /6 replacement which was made in the land of Oz for the Chrysler A-bodies. More ‘grunt’ than a yard full of pigs!
My daily driver is a 2002 Ford Mustang GT ‘vert with the 4.6
I also have a 1966 Impala 4 door hardtop with the 283/powerglide.
In my opinion, both are unkillable & rock-solid reliable.
I think there needs to be at least an honorable mention for the Buick aluminum V-8. As troublesome as it was when it first appeared, it spawned three long-running derivatives, two of which have lasted into this century.
Is this the Rover V8? That’s going on my list?
Jeep inline six 4.0, great engine, makes you forget the rest of the Jeep parts. (I love my XJ even if the mechanic and me are friends now, after he has had to replace several parts from the Daimler era).
My personal favorites are all Toyota engines that I have owned over the years.
R-series. I’ve owned numerous cars and trucks with the R series with hundreds of thousands on the clock and never had one engine issue ever.
The Lexus 4.0 in my 90 LS400 was superb. More than adequate power, rugged, and I once managed 29 mpg on a road trip.
And my current favorite: the 4A-LC in my 87 Corolla FX. Sips gas and yet boots this little rig around in a hurry.
Im basing my list strictly on 1960s and later gas engines that I know routinely go 200K+ miles with only routine maintenance and few repairs:
Chrysler LA small block
Chrysler B/RB big block
Chrysler /6
Chrysler 5.7 Hemi
Jeep 4.0L inline 6
Ford Windsor V8
Ford 300 inline 6
Ford 4.6 2V
Chevy Stovebolt 6
Chevy small block
Chevy big block
Oldsmobile Rocket V8
GM 3800 V6
Toyota R-series 4 cyls
Honda B-Series 4 cyls
BMW inline 6
OK that’s 16 but whatever, theres a lot of good engines out there!
Oh and honorable mention: the Chevy Vega 4 cylinder (I kid, I kid)
I haven’t seen it on anyone’s list so I’ll add the Hudson straight 6. Anvil tough.
Ford 300
Ford 302
Ford 351c
Chrysler slant 6
Amc 4.0
Cadillac 472
Ford 200
Ford 351w
Ford 460-429
3.3 Chrysler
Toyota 20r
I liked the ’67era Ford 200. Plenty of torque, for those times when the column shift left you unable to change down.
I am a huge fan of the Ford 4.6 liter V8. Good power, decent fuel mileage, and virtually bulletproof.
One I forgot to mention is the 153/181 Chevy II engines. (please do not call them Iron Duke, they are not the same and I do own a firearm). Great marine engines, used in small trailer boats. Gear drive cam. Rarely freeze crack. The 181 (3.0L) was only available as a marine/industrial engine here in the States.
Buick 3.8l V6 ( this engine’s story alone makes it one of the best(brought out by GM to be used in base model cars, sold to AMC after the big V8 wars, bought back by GM to help the company weather the post gas crisis fall out of the 1970’s) )
Ford 3.0l Vulcan V6- came in with the 1986 Taurus but was used in many cars until 2008.
Buick 3300 V6 (basically a Buick 3.8l with smaller bore and no balance shaft). While a bit harsher in the NVH department then the 3.8l (due to lack of a balance shaft) it was a very reliable engine)
Ford Duratec V6
Ford Modular 4.6l (a few issues with bad intake manifolds but once replaced the engine was golden)
Volvo Red Block engine(B21)
Cadillac 4.5l V8 and 4.9l V8
Chevy 350
AMC inline 6
Ford 300
Ford 289-302 Windsor
Ford 390-428 FE
Ford 4.6
Ford Vulcan
GM3800
Mopar slant six
Mopar 2.2/2.5L
Toyota 20R
Mazda 2.2L (mine went 375,000mi)
Currently have six of these engines now running 9 cars. Judgement on my 2.3L/4 Focus pending.
Pretty hard to beat the Chevy 6.0. We run them in our service trucks, and they just seem to go 300,000 KM plus with very minimal maintenance.
While looking at cheap VW’s for a winter car last fall, there seemed to be an awful lot of 99-05 Jetta/Golf with well over 200,000 KM on them. I ended up with a Beetle with the 2.0/5 speed…lots of fun…pull to red line, OK power, made a good noise.
4.6 3 Valve – Plenty of power in a F150 and decent mileage as well.