I can explain the 360. Ford didn't want to make a decent piston for it, so they used 390 4V pistons. This gave them the .104" deck clearance and rediculously low compression they are famous for. They'd be a good motor if good zero deck pistons were made for 'em. Interestingly, back in the '80's when my brother put headers, dual exhaust, a 4 barrel intake and a Holley 600cfm on his 360, it actually did really good! But anyway, that's the reason that most 360's end up converted into 390's.

 

Nissan pickups ran a 3.0L V6 or the KA24DE 4cyl, which was used in alot of cars, among them is the 240SX the difference was the single cam head in the cars(KA24D) and the cars were de tuned from a supposed 220 Hp in the trucks to arond 150Hp in the 240. But the KA24 is an awesome engine with a little work and really reliable.

 

GM has won hands down for worst engines:

1) 350 converted diesel
2) Cadillac 8-6-4
3) Chevy Vega all aluminum 4
4) The 305
Yeah I have to agree with that. But with GM all the Diesels they made in the 80's from gas blocks including the V-6 diesel!
Another junk engine was the 3.8 V-6, now the Buick 3.8 turbo was really a stroker. And now the 3800 is a good motor. But Buick was using the V-6 in the mid 70's as a future alternative.

 

My mom had a 3.8l V6 in her old Holden Commodore...
That vehicle really copped a trashing (from someone )

It got to the stage by 200,000 miles that almost everything had been replaced BUT the engine.
It used to be, stop to change the tires and check the fuel.

 

Holden Eh? Yeah well I used to live in the Northern territory and we had a Holden Ute with a 327 4 speed it was a real go getter even passed a few petrol stations but not many, I would go easy except when going to Barry Springs, I'd let her roll! I'd bury the needle easy!

 

Worst engine I've ever seen was a 3 cylinder in a friends 90 something Pontiac, Lemans. I think it was made by Suzuki. In the shop more then on the road. They really must have seen a sucker when my friend bought it for his girl. She broke up with him shortly after (wonder why?)
There's many engines that can be called the best in the world, so I'll just pick one out of my "best" list. The Lightning 5.4 is amazing. Just as at home in traffic as on the strip, with zero ill manners. Never skips a beat, whether making a high speed 151 mph (so far) run, or towing a nearly 4 ton boat when my Bronco is hooked up to my camper. Only prob is the "high octane fuel only" thing. Oh well. Ya gotta pay if you wanna play.

 

The 22R is good, but tends to warp its head when it gets too hot. I prefer the Jeep 4.0L I-6, the Ford 4.9L I-6, and the MOPAR slant six. I-6 engines are particularly good, they are better balanced than I-4s and V-8, they have less tendency to shake themselves to death.

 

By experience, the Rambler/AMC 250,287,327 is one if the best engine iv had. Everything is forged in it. The newer Amc engines (360-401) are also very well built.

 

Ya forgot the little 243 V8 that AMC made, what a sneaky little screamer they were. The iron 196 six at 138 hp ran into the 250 K mile range easily, intake was an after thought.
.....=o&o>.....

 

This is...of course...biased.

The Buick 3.8 liter, developed and made by Buick, is one of the strongest engines I believe ever to be produced. Whether it be the Turbo or the n/a. I still see cutlasses and regals all over. Buick took an engine developed for industrial apps (like Ford) and put it into a production vehicle.

You can scream all day that it is still a GM motor, but the Buick community still knows that it is a Buick motor.

As far as a V8 goes, you cant count out the 455 Stage II.
I still say the 2.3 liter Ford is one tough engine.
Unfortunately the rep of the Chebby 350 is pretty good too.
Never ever had a problem with the 302 or 351.

The Wartzila still gets my vote for most interesting and most powerfull. 1-1/2 million ft/lbs of torque aint bad. Need to figure out how to get one in a Powerstroke.

 

The Turbo 3.8 (LC2) is the same motor as the n/a 3.8. The crank has split throw, the block has a different cam, and the pistons were dish. Other than that, the 109 block is still being used today in the Gen3 cars. The Stage 2 109 block n/a is capable of imense hp/tq. The 3.8 liter was not junk, but i realize these are opinions. Do a search, look up some facts, and I think you will come to see things differently.

The 109 was introduced by Buick in 72' - to be used in a 1 ton dump truck.

 

I agree, the 3.8 is the best engine GM has right now. I still lust after a GNX or an 89 turbo trans am.

 

Best: Toyota's 2jz-gte that went into the 1993.5-1998 Supra Twin Turbo and Nissan's RB26DETT that was in their Skyline GT-R's from 1989-2001.

Worst: I think Dodge's Viper V10 engines. They have huge capacities (8.0 and 8.3L) but their power outputs are pretty sad for something that large.

 

Amen to that.

 

best engine ever was the 2.2liter 4 cyl. in the 1990-93 honda accord. if half way taken care of those cars will runs forever. I have a friend who has one from new in absoultely prestine condition. has 400,000 miles on it and it runs and drives like new.