Best and worst engines ever made
#1
03-01-2013, 03:31 PM
Best and worst engines ever made
This has no place in our beloved I figured just for the fun of it I would propose this question, I know most of us Ford truck guys have some range when it comes to engines/wrenching. I left out our trusty 7.3 because I think it's obvious most all of us are fans... I selected from some of our more famous and infamous engines.
From my experiences, here are my...
TOP 5 ( in no particular order)
*Ford straight six ALL (200/250/240/300/223)... You name it! - bulletproof beast that will keep on running with a blown head gasket and so much piston slap it sounds like a 12v cummins
*Ford FE 332-428 - these engines transformed the horsepower wars (often coming out on top) and served as workhorses in F-series trucks and passenger cars for nearly two decades.
*Ford small block windsor (260-351) - these mighty little screamers have served so many purposes it's unbelievable from your grandma's fairlane wagon to the AC Cobra, from your F150 to a 6 second outlaw Mustang.
*Ford 385 series big blocks - I've pulled huge weight without complaint, and I've raced these with dead reliability - i've over-revved the pi$$ out of 429's before and never hurt a thing - remarkable power and strength.
* Ford Y-block 272-312 - These bad boys are what put a lot of Corvette's on the trailer in the mid 50's, these engines served in dump trucks to drag racers and did so with relentless power and were as reliable as a sledgehammer. Over-rev your heart away, these solid lifter beast will take the beating and ask for more.
BOTTOM 5 - there will be controversy...
* International 6.0 Powerstroke - No need to delve into the reasons, everyone already knows...
* GM 5.7 Vortec - My experience is these are a time bomb from 90K-135K leaking head gaskets, poor distributor design is plagued with issues, leaky intake gaskets, leaky fuel "spider" and the list goes on. When they run, they run strong but they will make you a pedestrian at some point.
* Cummins 6.7/Dodge HD pickup 07-> - A friend of mine bought two of these brand new(different years) and between the two they have left him stranded six times, neither have 100k on them yet. bad u-joints, bad speed sensor, bad turbo, bad axle joints, computer melted 3 days ago... Powerful, but unreliable = pos in my book.
* GM AM General 6.2 Diesel - This is an underpowered pig, how they ever figured a 190HP 380LBFT engine would motivate a 8000-14000lb Humvee boggles me, not to mention said Humvee will be taking fire and need to move out in a hurry! If you cannot make enough power with 6.2 liters something is wrong with your engineers.
* Chrysler 426 Hemi - definite powerhouse, however I have yet to see one put two passes together down the 1320 that were even recognizable as the same engine, reliability issues galore - the aftermarket has offered up solutions to all of the ailments but I think this engine is way overblown for its past performance - most cases these were trailered by Ford 427's and Boss 429's. Ask Jack Chrisman how many times a 426 pilot was looking at his Comet's taillights by the 600' mark.
Let the banter begin!
From my experiences, here are my...
TOP 5 ( in no particular order)
*Ford straight six ALL (200/250/240/300/223)... You name it! - bulletproof beast that will keep on running with a blown head gasket and so much piston slap it sounds like a 12v cummins
*Ford FE 332-428 - these engines transformed the horsepower wars (often coming out on top) and served as workhorses in F-series trucks and passenger cars for nearly two decades.
*Ford small block windsor (260-351) - these mighty little screamers have served so many purposes it's unbelievable from your grandma's fairlane wagon to the AC Cobra, from your F150 to a 6 second outlaw Mustang.
*Ford 385 series big blocks - I've pulled huge weight without complaint, and I've raced these with dead reliability - i've over-revved the pi$$ out of 429's before and never hurt a thing - remarkable power and strength.
* Ford Y-block 272-312 - These bad boys are what put a lot of Corvette's on the trailer in the mid 50's, these engines served in dump trucks to drag racers and did so with relentless power and were as reliable as a sledgehammer. Over-rev your heart away, these solid lifter beast will take the beating and ask for more.
BOTTOM 5 - there will be controversy...
* International 6.0 Powerstroke - No need to delve into the reasons, everyone already knows...
* GM 5.7 Vortec - My experience is these are a time bomb from 90K-135K leaking head gaskets, poor distributor design is plagued with issues, leaky intake gaskets, leaky fuel "spider" and the list goes on. When they run, they run strong but they will make you a pedestrian at some point.
* Cummins 6.7/Dodge HD pickup 07-> - A friend of mine bought two of these brand new(different years) and between the two they have left him stranded six times, neither have 100k on them yet. bad u-joints, bad speed sensor, bad turbo, bad axle joints, computer melted 3 days ago... Powerful, but unreliable = pos in my book.
* GM AM General 6.2 Diesel - This is an underpowered pig, how they ever figured a 190HP 380LBFT engine would motivate a 8000-14000lb Humvee boggles me, not to mention said Humvee will be taking fire and need to move out in a hurry! If you cannot make enough power with 6.2 liters something is wrong with your engineers.
* Chrysler 426 Hemi - definite powerhouse, however I have yet to see one put two passes together down the 1320 that were even recognizable as the same engine, reliability issues galore - the aftermarket has offered up solutions to all of the ailments but I think this engine is way overblown for its past performance - most cases these were trailered by Ford 427's and Boss 429's. Ask Jack Chrisman how many times a 426 pilot was looking at his Comet's taillights by the 600' mark.
Let the banter begin!
#2
03-01-2013, 03:56 PM
Top 5
Dodge 225 slant 6
Ford straight 6 like above
T444E
Chevy small block 267 up to 427 cubic inches Including Strokers
Ford 385 series
Bottom 5
Any AMC from the 70's EXCEPT the Javelin Big Block Engine ....
Merkur XR4 engine ...Pinto Block with German Aluminum Heads... Major Leauge POS
Ford 351 M
Chevy 350 "Diesel"..the re-sleeved gasoline block....
Early Mazda Cosmos Wankel.....burned more oil than fuel .....
Dodge 225 slant 6
Ford straight 6 like above
T444E
Chevy small block 267 up to 427 cubic inches Including Strokers
Ford 385 series
Bottom 5
Any AMC from the 70's EXCEPT the Javelin Big Block Engine ....
Merkur XR4 engine ...Pinto Block with German Aluminum Heads... Major Leauge POS
Ford 351 M
Chevy 350 "Diesel"..the re-sleeved gasoline block....
Early Mazda Cosmos Wankel.....burned more oil than fuel .....
#4
03-01-2013, 10:58 PM
best...
7.3 obviously!
ford 5.0(for all the boost,nitrous,boost&nitrous...on a stock bottom end)
and never came apart!!
sho 3.0 &3.2 (yamaha I know) but them dudes were so good!
worst
ht4100 alluminum caddilac
quad 4...
3.8 ford &4.2 (head gaskets,timing cover gaskets)
anything EVER made by mitsubishi...THEY should stick to tv's!!!!
toyota 22r (timing chain/cover issues)
6.0 navistar
7.3 obviously!
ford 5.0(for all the boost,nitrous,boost&nitrous...on a stock bottom end)
and never came apart!!
sho 3.0 &3.2 (yamaha I know) but them dudes were so good!
worst
ht4100 alluminum caddilac
quad 4...
3.8 ford &4.2 (head gaskets,timing cover gaskets)
anything EVER made by mitsubishi...THEY should stick to tv's!!!!
toyota 22r (timing chain/cover issues)
6.0 navistar
#5
03-02-2013, 01:25 AM
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Best
1) Dodge 12 valve 2 gen. I'm a ford guy through and through, but it's hard not to admit the rugged simplicity that makes this a true tractor engine
2)Ford 300 (4.9). Nuff said.
3)Ford 4.6
4)Chevy small block 350.. How many are still going.. Just an iconic engine
5)jeep 4.0 i6
Worst
1)Northstar series caddy engines-great until they start leaking, which occurs anywhere from 10k miles on up ( I know I work in service for GM-Honda)
2)GM 5.7 block diesel
3) Ford 360-should have just made it a 390
4)Chevy 2.8 v6--- I hate them from personal bitter experience. And they just are gutless gas sucking suckwad engines.
5) Tough deciding this one... hmm.. I'll go with for 6.0 PS. unless it's had EGR delete and head studs
1) Dodge 12 valve 2 gen. I'm a ford guy through and through, but it's hard not to admit the rugged simplicity that makes this a true tractor engine
2)Ford 300 (4.9). Nuff said.
3)Ford 4.6
4)Chevy small block 350.. How many are still going.. Just an iconic engine
5)jeep 4.0 i6
Worst
1)Northstar series caddy engines-great until they start leaking, which occurs anywhere from 10k miles on up ( I know I work in service for GM-Honda)
2)GM 5.7 block diesel
3) Ford 360-should have just made it a 390
4)Chevy 2.8 v6--- I hate them from personal bitter experience. And they just are gutless gas sucking suckwad engines.
5) Tough deciding this one... hmm.. I'll go with for 6.0 PS. unless it's had EGR delete and head studs
#6
03-02-2013, 02:11 AM
Are you talking about a 12V 6BT Cummins engine, or some Dodge engine? I'm pretty sure you mean a Cummins, which is NOT a Dodge engine.
#7
03-02-2013, 09:37 AM
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