Thread: What is the best engine, and why?

Tweet

Being the Blue Oval guy that I am, I would have to go with Mr. Shelby's new aluminum 427 block, a set of Dove aluminum heads, and the Dove aluminum 2X4 intake. Any aluminum block aluminum head Hemi would be a close second. Heck, I guess anything but JAC!!! (Just Another Chebbie)

425 olds BB
BULLIT PROOF High revving Under estimated
WHat could you get better from the factory?
350 olds Diesel SB


Both of these motors were strong enough to handle what you could throw at them.
Screw Peak tq and hp numbers,
its about broad bands of Tq and Hp

DO you know anyone that is dipping into the high 6's With a PRODUCTION block availible to the public in vast amounts???
No aftermarket aluminum or iron blocks here, all olds all the way.

For a while now, Oldsmobile has been the underdog with no aftermarket backing, People have been using parts from the junkyards to make there Olds fast, and theyve done it, Now there is a new revolution for Oldsmobile, the brand name is dead, But there is a new aftermarket flooded with Aluminum cylinder heads and ideas of a new block.

For years the Oldsmobile 350 cid diesel block has been used for drag racing and is the strongest factory block they had to offer. People are still using these to run into the low 7 second range Naturally aspirated with one carb and 'obsolete' technology of the Batten heads of the 80s. What more is there, 10,000 different kinds of aftermarket heads and blocks for your chevy or ford? Do it, like everyone else.

But Oldsmobile will always be the one that revolutionized power. OHV high compression motors. All otheres just imitated the inginuity of Oldsmobiles technology,

Look out, Oldsmobile is back in a big way.

regards,
Joe

Sorry,

460 super cobra jet, 500Hp and 495ft lbs o torque With no aftermarket parts except headers and a holly carb!!!

Nuff Said

Otto

I'm a Ford guy, and I thought I would be unique and put a Ford engine in my Ford street rod. I went with a 351W.

I know the Chevys are proven, but every time I go to a car show and see 350 after 350 after 350, it's just so boring and unimaginative.

I don't understand how so many builders spend so much time and money on their cars trying to be unique and on the cutting edge, and they end up sticking a plain ol 350 under the hood.

Originally posted by Streets
Iz dat why they are outta business NOW??
CHEVY RULES.... OLDSMOBUBBLE'S DROOL!!!

Note to self: get a Big stick and find streets.... Seriously though, the reason that Oldsmobile is out of buisness is they were forced to share parts with chevy/pontiac/buick ect. Thats why buick sales are slipping(bad) and if GM does the same numbers game, they'll be the next to go. If Oldsmobile were allowed to make their own cars with their own engines, they would have had a calling. But the last V8 rocket(not counting the aurora, which was iffy to call a rocket) was the 307 in 1990. And It Wasnt In An Oldsmobile! Basically what im saying is Why buy and Oldsmobile Alero for 20K when you can get a lumina or cavilear for 15k with the same options? All it was was a rebadge. A sad way for the first 100Yr american car company to go.

Oh, and BTW, my favorte engine is either the 455 Olds rocket or the AMC 4.2L I6 for waaaaaay different reasons. the 455 puts out 500ft-lbs of torque-stock. Sweet. And the 4.2L will run on varnish, run forever and pull trees. just dont expect to go anywhere fast.

2 motors from 2 different eras

Small block chevs plentifull, heaps of parts, cheap , a huge aftermarket parts following,plenty of tech articles. And of course good power to weight ratio.

Ford sidevalve 24 stud V8 in a steel 32 roadster with aftermarket heads for us nostalgia freaks.

I like the bb chev,ford and mopar with the famous hemi being a favorite. The Small 273 mopar with the little known d package would also be a favorite with the 273 ci/275 hp from a stock engine, these little engines in light bodies and the 489 sure srip could be awesome....

SBC 350 because I got one sitting in my shed LOL
seriously I like the 318, its Mopars answer to the 350 in my opinion, Very common and many numerous parts available. and not too many people have them in their rods so they are rare to this sport.

I can't believe that one of the reasons for selecting an engine isn't longevity. I would have to choose any International engine. My trucks include 152's, 345's and 392 IH motors. They last! The AVERAGE lifespan of an International motor is over 250,000 miles. As for strength, I am running 10 pounds of boost from a 4-71 BDS blower on my 392 with stock pistons, rods and crank. I have put over 30,000 miles on the motor. Before bolting on the blower, I did a stock rebuild. The motor runs great. I have 33 x 12.50 off road tires and weigh over 6,000 pounds, but haven't had an engine problem yet. (Knock, Knock)

Just my two cents worth.

Its gatta be the brigss and stratton it powers ur lawnmower airplanes and go carts and I have been thinkin of puttin a big twin in my next rod just for shockers sake and they also power junoir dragster.

Originally posted by Streets
I iz roight 'ere Dave... Want me ta bring a stick fer ya so's ya don 'ave ta 'ave duh extree weight in duh car when ya come ta visit?? 'ow 'bout a Hickr'y stick?? Mebbe ya kin come up 'n help me wif duh pail wirin'?

Git off 390 at 63 and "Come on down"...

I think you have senility or grammar problems streets. Seriously though, i think my 3200 lb car can handle 10 more pounds. As for the weight of towing your pail after you slam it into a tree/truck/Me! i dont know. it might just barely struggle and have to shift at 3500Rs instead of 3000. It'll be a while before im out of cutlasses, and itll be even longer before im out of oldsmobiles. With any luck, they'll outlive me :P

I ran across this forum and thought I'd Put in my 3 cents (that is a penny more than 2 cents) I really like my bored .030 over mild cammer 355 c.i.d. SBC. Try and grab that 50 dollar bill on the dash rail as I smash down on the accelerator. When you have an engine that is pushing 420 h.p. to a Ford 9" on a 2500 lb. car, that didn't break the bank to build..........so be it. If I had my druthers, and had a money tree in my back yard I would like to build and have in the old 1930 Coupe one of 3 chioces.

1. Early 50's 270 c.i. Dodge Red Ram Hemi
2. 1962 413 Super Stock Dodge "Max Wedge" Dual 4 BBl cross ram
3. Mickey Thompson's 1964 FORD 427 HEMI THUNDERBOLT.......yes this was a true ford engine ........"T-Bolts" are rare, but Mickey Thompson's Hemi-powered version is the rarest version of them all!!!"
This car is extremely RARE and is one of the most sought after "Muscle Cars" in the world! The car has been fully restored and is in showroom condition. The car was appraised at $500,000 in 1999 and has photo / other documentation included.
In 1964, Ford Company built only 100 factory light weight Thunderbolts. The first 11 were painted Vintage Burgundy, the remaining 89 were painted Wimbledon White. Today 40 years later, less than 60 originals are known to exist. This car number 10, is even rarer. It was Ford's first experiment with a Hemispherical head engine. Car number 10 was the second "Thunderbolt" sold to Mickey Thompson for $1.00. He also purchased car #7 which was driven By Butch Leal as an unaltered factory original. It was the car #10 that Mickey entered into a contract with Ford to design and engineer a hemispherical head version of the Ford 427 Center oiler engine. The heads were cast from Chrysler hemi heads and machined to fit the Ford block. The intake manifold was designed with the carburetors side by side. The name "Thompson" was cast directly into the valve covers.
THIS IS THE ENGINE I REALLY WANT...................Oh well can't hurt to dream.

There are so many answers to this poll ( Just look at al the responses / opinions)
All replies posted are valid.

The big 3 have made in the past and as of the last 4 years are making some of the best engines:

GM
Reliability - the 250 straight 6
Big Block : Power & Reliability The Pontiac/ Buick / Olds 400 , Chevy 402 and LS5-454 -
Big Block:Pure power - Pontiac/Buick /Olds - 455 Chevy 427 & LS6-454 ( You could also include the ZLII 427 - and Optional LS7 from GM High Performance )
Best Small Block - the 283 - 400
BEST ALLAROUND - Small Block Chevy ( Almost 50 years old and still going strong )

Ford
Reliability - the 200 straight 6
Big Block : Power & Reliability 390
Big Block :Pure power - 427 & 429 Super CobraJet
Best Small Block 302 & 351 Cleveland
BEST ALLAROUND - 302 & 351 Cleveland


Mopar

Reliability - the 225 Slant 6
Big Block : Power & Reliability 383 & 440
Big Block :Pure power - 426 Hemi ( Nuff Said)
Small Block : 340
BEST ALLAROUND - 383

All 3 have great Crate engines today and combine both power and reliability
GM - ZZ4 and ZZ4 + the 502 & 572 big Blocks
Ford - 302 and the new 5.4 crate plus a 516 ( Not sure about the actual size)
Mopar - the new 360 and 5.7 Hemi - there is also a 528 Hemi available

small block chevrolet=simple answer....my buddys got a flying 434 inch small block,now guys building em over 454 inches .like wow......when i saw a 434 inch small block run a 5 28 against a 600 ci inch fiberglass/full caged beretta =5 31,framed vehicle vs race car,hell i was hooked.i was always a big block dude but man i did get a wake up call.......imo

Being I bleed ford blue the 427 Cammer is my favorite. Second is the Ford 406 with the tripower induction. I'm hanging on to my old 406 for a while. It's pretty rare and I love the old Ford FE's. G.