Best Engines ever and why - Discussion

[JoeDeJong]

This is something I have wanted to do for a while.

This thread is to discuss engine design and what made some of the great engines so good.

The Formula

longevity x (HP / CID) / engine size x 100 = Rating
and explain why including highlights and hindrances of the particular engine.

Engine sizes
Gy6 49cc scooter engine 10
Metro 1.0 I3 9
Volkswagen 2.0 I4 8
Volvo 2.4 I5 7
Honda 3.2 v6 6
Chevy 4.3 V6 5
Ford 302 V8 4
Mopar 360 V8 3
Chevy 454 V8 2
Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C 1

Longevity
10,000 miles for sure 1
100,000 miles 2
200,000 miles maybe 3
250,000 miles probably 4
300,000 miles perhaps 5

Lets see how this goes.

[JoeDeJong]

So lets try this and see what I get.. I'll do a 1968 Ford 302 4V
A strong engine that made decent power, especially for it's small overall size.

Ok... Longevity 2 x 350/302 (1.158) \ 4 x 100 = 57.9

The good power and sound were great, Front timing cover sucked, and it's hard to find decent heads for them. Almost all stock 302's came with wimpy heads.

[shorod]

I don't understand what your "formula" is trying to accomplish. The longevity variable is subjective and the engine sizes variable appears to be brand specific.

-Rod

[JoeDeJong]

Oh come on! Brand specific? No. Brands represent a company who hire people skilled at designing engines. People are people, brands be damned. Anyone can design a gem or a bomb. Which do you think is best, and why?

[Black Lotus]

Originally Posted by JoeDeJong

So lets try this and see what I get.. I'll do a 1968 Ford 302 4V
A strong engine that made decent power, especially for it's small overall size.

Ok... Longevity 2 x 350/302 (1.158) \ 4 x 100 = 57.9

The good power and sound were great, Front timing cover sucked, and it's hard to find decent heads for them. Almost all stock 302's came with wimpy heads.

Twisted Wedge or AFR heads--what's the problem?
The upper limit to the later stock roller cam 5.0 block is when the main bearing webs start to fall out at about 500 HP.
For small engine compartments the Ford is hard to beat. It's a bit long 'tho.

Have a bigger compartment and I'd go for an LS Chevy-- more cubes potential and you can get some of them in aluminum.
If I had a project that demanded a "high tech" engine, I'd probably pick one of the Ford 5.0 cammer motors.
Forget about European or japanese motors. Not enough value for the money.

[JoeDeJong]

I do like the LS's. And I concur with the SB ford being way too long, especially in the nose. What do you think about the GT-40 and GT-40p heads? They were stock heads at least. Aftermarket is kinda like cheating, you know?

[shorod]

Originally Posted by JoeDeJong

Oh come on! Brand specific? No. Brands represent a company who hire people skilled at designing engines. People are people, brands be damned. Anyone can design a gem or a bomb. Which do you think is best, and why?

Forgive the engineer in me for being hung up on the formula. But for the formula you list: Engine sizes Gy6 49cc scooter engine 10 Metro 1.0 I3 9 Volkswagen 2.0 I4 8 Volvo 2.4 I5 7 Honda 3.2 v6 6 Chevy 4.3 V6 5 Ford 302 V8 4 Mopar 360 V8 3 Chevy 454 V8 2 Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C 1 Each of those engines has a brand name in front of them, hence my comment regarding "brand specific." So if I wanted to chose a Ford 3.2L V6, your list of engines does not allow that. -Rod

[JoeDeJong]

Those are just examples for overall engine size.