Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
I think the cleveland ford might be the shortest.
Flat heads ran for a long time - but not as long as the SBC. That's going to be tough to beat. But the diesel idea is a good one - I think the DEEETroits ran for a long long time relatively unchanged.
Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
I'm just guessing out loud here, but I'm wondering is it's some kind of commercial engine like Continental, Wakesha, Hercules - you know, that kind. I'll wager Briggs & Stratton has some long-in-the-tooth designs as well. Wisconsin made some engines forever, too.
Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
Using the most liberal interpretation for revisions, it still beat the Buick V6, the only engine I could come up with that could give it a run for it's money.
Small Block Chevy 1955-2003 (as installed in vehicles, because it's actually still being made by GM for marine and aftermarket)
And the Buick V6 1962-2008 (as installed in vehicles.)
Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
My thought for gasoline burning engine would be small block Chevy, but there could be some diesel.
Although, they were still making Flathead V8s up until at least the 70s, and I believe maybe into the 90s for the French military stuff. If it was 1990 let's say, that would be almost 60 years. But since the French flathead isn't quite the same as the Ford, I don't know if it counts.
How about Briggs and Stratton engines?
"A cross thread is better than a lock washer." Earl Lanning...My Grandpa
Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
the 4.3 is a direct descendant of the 265...missing 2 cylinders....still being built. Like the current buick V6, pretty much nothing from a new one fits an early one, although I think you can bolt a 265 water pump onto a 262, probably can't do that with the buicks? maybe you can? but the buicks all FWD now?
Re: Question: What domestic engine lasted the longest with it's original design?
Is the distributor located dead nuts in the middle of the engine, right into the head?
I'd bet that it is. Zillions of fork trucks had those engines in them and they were used to run the generators for the big truck mounted Lincoln welders for many years as well.
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