What's your Favorite Automobile Engine?

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Originally Posted By: rjundi
My thing about engines and enjoying them is they have to be coupled by a manual transmission. Otherwise no fun.

I have a company car with a 2.3 BMW I6 and manual and loved it. Incredible little engine.

I love the 2.5L turbo flat four in my wife's Legacy wagon with a manual transmission. Apparently it is the civilized version of the motor they put into the Subaru STI. Sheer joy and pleasure to drive and love the sound too for a 4 cylinder.


I partially agree. Though you should try a large turbo engine coupled with a high stall convertor in auto form and you will enjoy it.
 
Chevy's LSX engines for the newer V8's.

350HP LS1 getting 28mpg highway. I think the new Z06's are rated at 505HP and can still do 25mpg highway. Granted this is with the 6-speed but still impressive none the less.
 
Best engine I ever owned? Easily my 1966 Chevrolet C-15 230 cu in. in-line six cylinder. It logged over 500,000 miles before someone actually stole it. It didn't start leaking oil until about 400k and then only a little. Oil consumption was a quart in 4000 miles. Always used 10w30 or 10w40 in the summer. It never failed to start once. The odometer crashed on it's 5th rollover and the truck still had the original 3 speed on the tree and original clutch. The body was unable to keep up with the drivetrain. Front fenders were replaced twice. I have often thought of getting an old one to restore. Perfect economical daily driver.
 
Originally Posted By: Anduril
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Toyota 1.8

Worst engine I've ever owned, in a 2002 Corolla.


why?
 
I am a MOPAR guy so my favorites are going to mainly be MOPARS. Not sure I actually have one favorite engine? It all depends on the use of the vehicle.

Loved the old muscle car engines = 426 HEMI, 440, 383, 340. To be honest my favorite was the 383. Not sure I can really say why because it was not the fastest/most powerful. Just was my favorite.

For new engines I have to say it is another MOPAR = 5.7L HEMI. I absolutely have loved my 2 HEMI powered Rams. Not a single problem, great performers, run like buttah, and fun to drive.

If I was going to pick my favorite leaving performance out of it, so we are talking just based on getting from point A to point B reliably and for the least amount of fuel, then the 3.5L V6 in my Sister's 06 Impala. That thing actually has plenty of get up and go, has been a very reliable engine, and it gets amazing MPG. Actually, my Parents had a 1990 Ford Taurus w/ 3.0L V6 and that was also a very good engine. Peppy and excellent MPG. No mechanical problems. My 2nd choice for a simple DD engine.
 
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Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: Anduril
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Toyota 1.8

Worst engine I've ever owned, in a 2002 Corolla.


why?


Some people have had issues with theirs, at least on the 1998-2002 models. Some of these issues include excessive oil burning, a "pinging" issue that seems incurable, can't think of anything else at the moment.

We have a 2000 that has 151K miles now. It has had a ping issue since 100K. Around the same time, it started burning oil. It burns about 1 qt per 1000-1500 miles. The ping is still there after multiple fuel treatments, seafoam, maf cleanings, pcv valve, etc.

Ours isn't a bad car. Items replaced include; two pullies, 1 seal, maf sensor, catalytic converter, o2 sensors and inside door handles.

Other than the ping and oil burning, the car runs good. It hasn't ever let us down (knock on wood).
 
Originally Posted By: Fester
Ford 302/5.0L one of the finest American motors ever, I had one and the mustang fell apart, the motor remained.

Jeep 4.0L I have one, and its sad that I cant buy a new jeep with it.
It's pure torque, mine is 16 years old, and its had a water pump and thermostat thats all, and I never replaced the antifreeze in the first 10 years, so it's my fault.


Man, I have a 1993 Ford f-150 With the 302/5.0L engine, it is great!!!

That is also my favorite engine also!

I guess the International Harvester 7.3L diesel engine that was in the Fords is #2! 7.3L
 
The GM 3800.The Ford Modular engines are not good engines.The 5.4 is a gas hog.The tune on them is not cheap,take 3 to 4 hours to change spark plugs in the trucks and the spark plugs are known for blowing out.You do not see any older Ford and Mercurys incluing street rods with a Ford engine,have a Chevy drive train in them since the small block Chevy is easier to work on than a small block Ford.Plus the parts are cheaper and much easier to get with a better interchage with a Small block Chevy.The Ford is a lot differant story,hard to get parts for,expensive and not lot of interchange since Ford does a 6 month change on parts .
 
Originally Posted By: wafrederick1
The GM 3800.The Ford Modular engines are not good engines.The 5.4 is a gas hog.The tune on them is not cheap,take 3 to 4 hours to change spark plugs in the trucks and the spark plugs are known for blowing out.You do not see any older Ford and Mercurys incluing street rods with a Ford engine,have a Chevy drive train in them since the small block Chevy is easier to work on than a small block Ford.Plus the parts are cheaper and much easier to get with a better interchage with a Small block Chevy.The Ford is a lot differant story,hard to get parts for,expensive and not lot of interchange since Ford does a 6 month change on parts .


That's an absolute crock.

The most common high mileage engine in existence is Ford's Modular.

Show me a FACTORY GM engine that will handle over 1,000RWHP like the 4.6L from the '03/'04 Cobra.

The 350 was the 'rod swap because it takes one wire to run one and parts were CHEAP. I've worked on BOTH ALOT, and one is no easier than the other. Though Ford offered a VASTLY superior MAF SEFI setup with the A9x series ECM's in EEC-IV.

There are now numerous guys swapping in SBF's into 'rods because of HEI conversion kits and aftermarket ignition systems that make the swaps cleaner, and there are MORE aftermarket performance parts available for the SBF than the SBC now because of the Mustang crowd. The largest automotive enthusiast base in the world.
 
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It is true,the 5.4 is a gas hog.The 4.6s do not hold up in the cop cars,blown up and are gutless.I know a retired constable cop that did talk with another cop with a Crown Victoria that stays out police chases.This retired constable cop had a Chevy Caprice with the LT1 which will out run the 4.6.Looks like the future of the Crown Victoria for a cop car is nearing when the contract ends,most are switching to the Dodge Charger which runs 150 MPH with the Hemi.I see lot of SBCs in Ford street rods.I was at the RM auction in Novi,Most of the Ford street rods had SBCs in them including one 1950 Mercury called Ford tough with Chevy stuff.Nascar driver Clint Bowyer has a 1948 or 1949 Mercury and no it does not have a Ford engine under the hood,has a 454 BBC Chevy which he said it on tv
 
Originally Posted By: wafrederick1
It is true,the 5.4 is a gas hog.


We've owned three. They are not gas "hogs". The 5.7L HEMI pre-cylinder deactivation is a HOG, getting HALF the gas mileage of the 5.4L.

Quote:
The 4.6s do not hold up in the cop cars,blown up and are gutless.


They hold up just fine. There are a number of fleet maintenance guys ON THIS BOARD who have commented on the issue.

Quote:
I know a retired constable cop that did talk with another cop with a Crown Victoria that stays out police chases.This retired constable cop had a Chevy Caprice with the LT1 which will out run the 4.6.


I would hope a 5.7L 300HP 350ci engine would be faster than a 250HP 281ci engine in cars that are approximately the same weight....

Quote:
Looks like the future of the Crown Victoria for a cop car is nearing when the contract ends,most are switching to the Dodge Charger which runs 150 MPH with the Hemi.


And is about as reliable as a Caravan transmission. Many forces have STOPPED buying the Dodge cars due to the cost of maintaining and fixing them.

Quote:
I see lot of SBCs in Ford street rods.I was at the RM auction in Novi,Most of the Ford street rods had SBCs in them including one 1950 Mercury called Ford tough with Chevy stuff.


Because most of those cars were likely built during an era, or by people who lived during an era when that was commonplace.

There is nothing I hate more than some moron slapping some GM abortion under the hood of a Ford because he's too stupid to wire up a Windsor or just plain loves to get the Ford guys going.

Quote:
Nascar driver Clint Bowyer has a 1948 or 1949 Mercury and no it does not have a Ford engine under the hood,has a 454 BBC Chevy which he said it on tv


And Richard Petty has driven for both Ford AND Dodge over the years, but what does that have to do with the cost of tea in China?

Because some Nascar driver put a BBC in a Ford it makes it "OK" or "better"? It means he enjoys the same blasphemous rape of Ford vehicles as his fellow yokle Chevy lovers who enjoy nothing more than violating a Ford vehicle with a GM powerplant.

At least when GM goes [censored]-up it might at least start to put the brakes on some of this cross-breading garbage.

And to clarify: I have nothing against GM engines or vehicles, but I DO have something against those who get a kick out of buying another brand of car just to slap some stock 200HP 350 in it and start bragging about how fast it is.

Those yahoos don't get a warm reception in the Mustang community.

There are PLENTY of GM vehicles these guys can shoehorn their 350 into. There is no real excuse to do it to another brand other than the reaction.

What would the reaction from a GM nutter be if I slapped a 427SOHC under the hood of a '67 Camaro? Do you think I would get a warm reception? I don't.

This thread is titled "What's your Favourite Automobile Engine?" Not "why you think buddy's favourite choice is WRONG" or "Spout off your opinion about engines YOU think are garbage!".
 
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Originally Posted By: fordboy
Originally Posted By: Fester
Ford 302/5.0L one of the finest American motors ever, I had one and the mustang fell apart, the motor remained.

Jeep 4.0L I have one, and its sad that I cant buy a new jeep with it.
It's pure torque, mine is 16 years old, and its had a water pump and thermostat thats all, and I never replaced the antifreeze in the first 10 years, so it's my fault.


Man, I have a 1993 Ford f-150 With the 302/5.0L engine, it is great!!!

That is also my favorite engine also!

I guess the International Harvester 7.3L diesel engine that was in the Fords is #2! 7.3L


Every pre powerstoke 7.3L (IDI) and (IDIT) I have had has had cavitation issues in the cylinder bores around 220,000 miles even with the most insane cooling system maintenance possible.

The 6.9L is a better number 2 to the DI 7.3L if your going that route
 
No way in heck could I narrow it down to ONE engine.

My short list, in no particular order:

Chrysler 440 (duh- my screen name doesn't refer to guns)
Olds 455
Chrysler slant-6
Jeep 4.0
Ford 289 and 302
Ford 429/460
Chrysler 318/340
Chrysler 383 (short stroke B-block version)
Duesenberg straight-8 ;-)
 
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