GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

[MOPARS RULE]

Ford Flathead V8, Chev Small Block, Chrysler Slant Six, 426 Hemi.

That is the top four IMO.

[Schtauffer]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

Depends how you define great...

I'm going to say LSX for $$ value

R08 and NHRA Pro Stock for hp/cid

DieselGeek is gonna say some offshore 4-cyl

[min301]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

The Hemi, for sure.

[MOPARS RULE]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I spose I should have qualified it as "greatest American automotive engines" but then again I didn't think we had any import guys on here.

[DanStokes]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

For Diesels, it's a toss-up between the Cummins ISB and the Navistar (or whatever their name is this week) DT466.

Gas engines - as much as I hate to say it, the SBC has to be at the top of the list. I'm not a fan, but what other engine has done what that engine has done? The Ford flathead series (remember, there were several iterations of the flathead) is right up there, as is the Chrysler Hemi and it's derivatives. The Slant Six is a good choice, with the Ford 300 and the Chevy 250/292 all in the great engine category. The BB Buick deserves more respect than it gets - most don't know that the 5/8 base sparkplug was developed for that engine - they designed the heads for best flow and it left little room for the plug.

I, of course, love the weird-o's. Buick straight eights, Nailheads with the backward rocker arms, the Mighty Hudson Twin Six - the list goes on. But as far as the Greatest of All Time - maybe not.

Dan

[Falcon67]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

My votes from the Ford camp would be the Flathead, Fairlane 260, 427 SOHC, 351C and 429 Cammer.

[OldUsedParts]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

altho, I'm a chevy guy, that "Flattie" sure did make it's mark in History and of course Hemi's and SBC's have kept the world moving in style for many years.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I spose I should have qualified it as "greatest American automotive engines" but then again I didn't think we had any import guys on here.

Read enough of the threads, we got guys from just about everywhere.

I'm going to go with the Buick V6, the unsung hero.

[min301]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I would have said the Cammer, but with what the Hemi has
done in the fuel and alky ranks, I felt the Hemi deserved it.

[TC]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

The small block Chevy has won the most races in history, so I would have to say it's the greatest.

And in 20 years it'll be the LSx series motors that will be the greatest.

Basically you just can't beat a small block chevy. :P

Just look at the F-bomb, 1500hp, do I say more.

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I'm going with the old workaday 20 something hp flattie 4 that was in the model T.
Put the world on wheels, launched the speed industry, etc.

This is a pretty good exercise in futility trying to name the "greatest" but it's fun.

Brian

[MOPARS RULE]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

Greatest "engines" of all time, plural.

[STINEY]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I'm going to catch some flak for this one, but what the hey...

Volkswagens air-cooled flat four. Awesome little buggers, and will take a lot of wick turning.

[VTJUNK]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I'd have to say these rate somewhere in the top 10.

Ford Flathead V-8
SBF
SBC
Ford 427 SOHC
426 Hemi
Buick 231 Turbo
The LSX engines

[Scott Liggett]

Re: GREATEST ENGINES OF ALL TIME

I'm going to catch some flak for this one, but what the hey...

Volkswagens air-cooled flat four. Awesome little buggers, and will take a lot of wick turning.

Don't forget they made millions, even more the sbc and also they are still the cheapest engine to buy repair and replace. Brian's choice of the model T engine comes close. 15 million went into cars built plus millions more as replacement parts and industrial use.