What is the best engine, and why?

Ok, this is the type of question that gets us all stirred up. So which engine did you choose and why is it the best for you??

I think the new LS1 engine is the best thing around. It is light, high tech, all aluminum, cheap, simple, plentiful, and powerful in stock form. It winds up fast in what GM refers to as "race to redline".

327 chevy is undoubtedly the best engine ever built
light weight high reving power and reliability
what more can u ask for?
ps that is a retorical question!!
lol ha ha ha

AH, the age old question. Heres my opinion [and of course, just an opinion :) ]

The small block chevys are common, reliable, cheap [sorry, I don't consider an all aluminium LS1 'cheap', its an exotic] and decent performers. You usually can't go wrong with them.

Small block fords cost more to do, but there are some amazing performers out there that are still plentiful and can help keep a ford rod all ford.

Big blocks on the other hand are heavy and hard to fit into a rod, but I do love the torque! even a fairly stock engine [read reliable] can give 500+ ft-lb, more than enough for a strong launch. These is the ones I like. There is NO substitue for cubic inches.

But still, who can resist a slight smile when they tell people thay have a hemi under the hood or see the puzzled look when people spot the tri carbed offenhauser on top of a flat head. Exotics have a certain appeal that make the added expense worth it.

I don't think there is any 'one' right engine, it depends on what you want out of it.

I definately love the sound of a big block, and the torque without going too crazy on the build, is outta this world. I like the idea of a hemi myself, but the 427 Ford is a great engine. Throw a 428 crank in there and you're over 454 cubes....

For sheer nostalgia, nothing beats a built flathead V8. Nothing looks like it, sounds like it or dresses up quite so purdy. You'll always turn heads at the cruise nights with a flattie loping through dual steel packs. Basic machine work and bolt-ons yield huge HP gains (although you still won't have gobs of it by today's standards because they didn't have a lot in the first place). Parts are readily available and building one costs about the same as doing a modern small block Ford.

chevy BB. i like the torque.
plus i got lucky the other day buying three aluminum blocks for USD 3000.

otherwise i like the look of these "exotic" engines, like flatheads.

dom

MY FAVORITE ENGINE OF ALL TIMES IS THE CHEVROLET 400 SMALL BLOCK. IT HAS BIG BLOCK TORQUE, POWER DOWN LOW(CUASE CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, YOUR WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AND POWER STEERING WERE NOT MADE FOR GOBS OF RPM'S),AND CUBIC INCHES. PLENTIFUL, 350 ACCESSORIES FIT, CHEAP TO BUY PARTS FOR , AND GREAT TO LEAVE THE START LINE WITH.:D

Has everyone forgotten the older stuff? I'm an early hemi fan myself. Buick nailheads and early Olds motors are really cool also. The best engine is up to the opinion of the individual. I believe that the more unique it is, the better it is. A hot rodder builds an engine to be seen. A 241 Dodge hemi doesn't have the power potential of a 350 Chev but it will sure as shoot get more attention!

Chevy 283 bored .125. What a sweet sounding engine. Man those engines can get the r's up. I also like the early corvette 327's, 340 365 & 375 HP engines that's what a engine should sound like. And of course the 426 hemi there is no equal. Unless you consider the 500 inch funny car motor (John the main man Force) When those cars go by you can feel the power go right threw your body. Rich

Hi- I am listing some of my favorites............301 chevy 302 chevy 400 sm block chevy- 390-427 ford[solid lifter] 403 Olds is also a good one. and last but not least an engine I will use in an upcoming project-a series 1 3800 GM v6 with supercharger and a pulley/chip swap[315HP]goes up in front-traditional rear wheel drive[ with an S-10 trans from a 2.8 v6]....these are hot little engines and are vitrually INDESTRUCTIBLE...hey we gotta face reality -some of our dream engines are just out of reach price-wise and in unavailability for most of us!!

my absolute favorite of all time is a 427 cobra but the 390 460 429 440 455 502 were also very nice I know an engine that pulls quite a bit of torque for it's size is a 4.3 ltr chevy v-6 (I know because my brother has an astro with one in it and Iv'e felt it do 120 and it wasn't that hard because it had a little more to give even with that much weight.)And they are everywhere you can pick them up cheap at junk yards and play with them for what ever you want wether its work or play.

My favorite engine is a Dusenburg. If you drive one you will never forget how powerfull & fast a 70 + yr car can be. Since I can not afford one I have put SBC in all 5 of my cars including a Rolls RoyC:\Program Files\America Online 7.0\download\Shadow 011.jpgce

The buick turbo V-6 does a pretty good job of maintaining a high HP to engine size ratio. It makes me want to turbo, intercool, and fuel inject my big chevy and go really fast.

Everyone overlooks the old Studebaker 289 V-8's. They came from the factory with forged steel cranks, timing gears, and high nichol blocks. They where healthy engines that stood up to the supercharging. They also dress up very nicely with offy covers and 3 duce setups. I know the Studebaker has gone by the way, but my next one will be all Studebaker. Not the 350 chevy roller engine I now have.

So it looks like rare and different is winning out.

Not rare...just different:

34 Ford Roadster - 392 Hemi
51 Mercury - Lincoln Mark VIII 4.6L "Modular"
96 Excalibur Cobra - 351 Cleveland
33 American Austin - 302

The 302's out of the Camaro Z28's and the high performance 289's from Ford are probably two of the best engines ever made considering the cubic engines and horsepower generated. Overall, you really can't beat the chevy small block 350. The version that came out in 1965 with 350 horsepower was one of the best. Today's 350 horse crate motors cannot compare. They may have the rated horse, but don't have the compression and torque as the older ones.

Overall, the small block chevy, 283-350 cu. is the best. Chevrolet made some very potent components from cylinder heads to solid lifter cams, steel cranks, etc. Just look back at Smokey Yunicks stuff. Now they have the Bowtie goodies. No aftermarket stuff needed to boost horsepower.

Meanest engine..........Chryslers Hemi's, 392 - 426 cubes.

In my opinion, the best engine is anything but a SBC. It amazes me how people can spend huge money and countless hours hand building a rod and then drop in a crate 350 and a turbo 400. Usually the reason given is "they're cheap" or "it will help resale because everybody wants a SBC". Neither of which seem to fit the hot rod mentality. Perhaps we should all agree on a paint color too!

Richard

PS. I don't hate small block Chev's; I think every company truck should have one!

:)

I personally like the old 283s, Had one in my dads 67 belair, car was 20 some years old had close to 200k miles on it and the only things that weren't original were the oil filter, air filter, battery and tires. And that car still smoke the tires and bottomed the needle.
But I have always worked on SBC so my taste is a little biased

The best engine for my '54 Chevy pickup is a 305 Chevy. This truck is supposed to be daily driver and the 305 will give plenty of power for cruising while being economical to operate.

The best engine for my '55 GMC Suburban is a Cadillac 500. Maybe a Pontiac or Buick 455. I haven't bought the motor yet. Since its a GMC a Chevy motor just doesn't seem like the right choice. Since I plan to use it to pull a trailer I want a big torquey motor. I'll probably choose the one of those I find first....

And then when I pull the 270 GMC six out I'm sure it will find a home in some future project where a big six will be the best motor. I'm thinking about building a g-machine based on a Nomad I've been trying to talk someone out of. The GMC 270 might find a home in it.

I look at it like OldSub it depends on what you want the vehicle to do when you get it done.

There are a lot of overlooked engines that if you have room under the hood for can really make a fun ride. In a lot of cases, you can buy the a donner car with one of these monsters for next to nothing.

455 Buick, Olds, Pontiac
440 Chrysler
460 Ford
472 and 500 Cadillac

Don't overlook there smaller brethern, the 400 CI GM motors,383/400 Mopars and 429 and FE Fords or even the 425 Caddy.

For Nostalgia, visually Hemi's and Flatheads are hard to beat. For looks on almost anything else, it's how it's dressed out (induction (I'm a sucker for lots of carburators), valve covers, paint etc).

I'm fortunate as I have storage space and have come across what I consider some very good deals over the years. I have a few favorites sitting in the shed right now waiting to either go into a project, or for the right project to come along (my wife calls it a disease :whacked: ).

2 early hemis (a 6 carb 331 for the 37 Dodge truck and a 354 with tri-power for the 57 Plymouth)

A 390 Ford with a 62 Thunderbird Tri-power intake (it's alraedy built, just waiting for the right project).

A 72 350 LT1 Corvette motor with an aftermarket tri power setup (it's a real Vette motor and waiting on a project).

500 and 472 Ci Caddy motors
440
283

That Donovano is a smart guy! The small block Chevy has proven itself, but, everyone has, or has had one. The old FE Ford was the most overlooked engine ever (check out the new Shelby versions), but HEMI is a magic word bub, they rule (check top fuel anything), the new HEMI is posed to take over, it is THE package for any kind of retro fit high tech, new power into anything old, or will be soon. No overhead cams, tight package (read short), overdrive trannies, same bore spacing as the 360, which was the same as the old 318 Poly motor, which was the same as the Hemi it replaced, anyone listening, and they started life at one horse per cube, it'll get better!
Just thinking out loud, Happy trails

I have never had one and do not remember ever seeing one hot rodded, but some of the old bread and butter mechanics used to argue that the Dodge slant 6 was one of the most rugged engines made. The vehicles they were in would fall apart around them and they would keep on running.

I AM LOVEING MY NEW DART.....
638 cubes...850 h.p.:D
it really rocks....only $20.000:eek:
10:1 comp.93 octain pump gas......
just installed a new speedo that goes upto 200 mph:D

Ah yes lets see? mmmmmmmmmm. Yep, stroker motors and yes I'm very partial. I like SBC, 383s cause of sound, rpms, preferbly blown. While strokers are good, Blairs Speed Shop had a destroked DeSoto that I liked cause it was in their altered and it smoked. Lots of rpms. I guess the only thing I don't like in hot rods is crate motors, too bland.

The old 455 Rocket. Lots of power bullit proof lower end what more could you want. Oh gas mileage yeah it has none.

I do not know what the best motor is but, I know what the best engine I've ever owned is....A Chev Zo6. 350 ci & 405 hp. In a lite weight car you need active handling to use the power.

I don't know what engine is the best, you can make HP with whatever you have, but I would like to see more variety based on a persons imagination. When was the last time you saw a Allison V12 or a 1.6 L 1000 HP formula one engine in a hot rod. I have seen a Flat head Ford engine in a chopper, so how about two 80 cu.in. Harleys in a 32 roadster. Crazy, maybe?

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.

Quote:

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

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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.:CRY:

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.