Best overall around engine
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
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I think one of the best engine that I own is a 250 4.1 in a 84 Caddy Eldorado it has 106 thousand miles and pures like a kitten dosent use any oil when its running and also it gets between 23-27 mpg and I rack up about 40 miles a day on it
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: House Springs, MO
Jeez, do these threads ever die?
That being said, I think props have to go to the 5.9 Cummins, the 12ers. We've got one in a farm truck that has taken a beating on an annual basis and has yet to miss a beat. The 5.9 can go from a stationary pump with 20000 hours to a tractor baling 1000 squarebales a day, then on to a 99 F250 with an NV4500 tranny battling stoplights with any given racer. These things switch owners at 250k miles from an 85 year old farm boy hauling 30 head of cattle to a 17 year old punk who triples the horsepower and quadruples the torque, and the dang thing STILL goes another 300k miles and gets 20 miles to the gallon. Aside from the weight (there's always a con, isn't there?), the desicion in my book is hands down.
Flame suit on...
That being said, I think props have to go to the 5.9 Cummins, the 12ers. We've got one in a farm truck that has taken a beating on an annual basis and has yet to miss a beat. The 5.9 can go from a stationary pump with 20000 hours to a tractor baling 1000 squarebales a day, then on to a 99 F250 with an NV4500 tranny battling stoplights with any given racer. These things switch owners at 250k miles from an 85 year old farm boy hauling 30 head of cattle to a 17 year old punk who triples the horsepower and quadruples the torque, and the dang thing STILL goes another 300k miles and gets 20 miles to the gallon. Aside from the weight (there's always a con, isn't there?), the desicion in my book is hands down.
Flame suit on...
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Michigan
I gotta agree with you on that Cummins there, momudder...Got 2 farm trucks with Cummins in them and my guys beat the crap out of them...and they just keep right on going.
But, as far as the best all-around Ford engine I ever had, and I've had every dang one there ever was, would be 2: the old flathead and the CobraJet 429. The flathead was as reliable as the sun coming up and the CobraJet 429 would take a beating like no other factory engine around.
Norb
But, as far as the best all-around Ford engine I ever had, and I've had every dang one there ever was, would be 2: the old flathead and the CobraJet 429. The flathead was as reliable as the sun coming up and the CobraJet 429 would take a beating like no other factory engine around.
Norb
New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Chevy 350, Ford/Mazda 4.0
the 4.0 has been a good engine so far. i am extremly hard on my engines. i have had to rebuild just about every engine have ever had in a vehical. but that mean little 4.0 has taken a beating and never had to do any major repairs. its a damn shame i have to sell it. but from growing up in a gm family the 350 is hands down the best engine ever made. If they ever break down it dosent take long to fix. but i suppose anything made in the 60's-90 before EFI, coil over plugs, emission restrictions, wires and sensors. that stuff is the devil.
Postmaster
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From: Honkytonkville
In my honest opinion, the two most reliable engines ford ever made was the 300, and the 2.3L inline 4. Nothing could outlast the I4, but they aren't what I'd call powerful either....So overall best goes to- 300/4.9L I6
Scott
Scott
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Indianapolis, IN
In no particular order:
1. 3.0 Litre Taurus engines - both 12 valve and Duratec versions. My 1994 Bull had a 12 valve and I put 182K miles on it before trading. My 1998 Bull with the Duratec has 152K on the clock and still going.
2. 2.0 Litre Mazda/Ford diesel engine - found in mid-80's Escorts. Bugger got 55 MPG and ran like a champ - clutch in the Escort finally gave out and it was traded off rather than drop the engine for a clutch change.
3. Never owned one but drove it - 7.3 Litre Power Stroke. Smooth power when you need it.
I'll comment on some of the others mentioned - the only 302 I ever drove was a late 70's LTD with that damned venturi carburetor. That motor ran OK when the carb didn't act up. 327 Chebbies are quite the durable little motor, for a chebbie. Stepdad has a 1986 Pontiac Bonneville with a 305 4BBL - the odo quit working at the third turnover and it's still going.
1. 3.0 Litre Taurus engines - both 12 valve and Duratec versions. My 1994 Bull had a 12 valve and I put 182K miles on it before trading. My 1998 Bull with the Duratec has 152K on the clock and still going.
2. 2.0 Litre Mazda/Ford diesel engine - found in mid-80's Escorts. Bugger got 55 MPG and ran like a champ - clutch in the Escort finally gave out and it was traded off rather than drop the engine for a clutch change.
3. Never owned one but drove it - 7.3 Litre Power Stroke. Smooth power when you need it.
I'll comment on some of the others mentioned - the only 302 I ever drove was a late 70's LTD with that damned venturi carburetor. That motor ran OK when the carb didn't act up. 327 Chebbies are quite the durable little motor, for a chebbie. Stepdad has a 1986 Pontiac Bonneville with a 305 4BBL - the odo quit working at the third turnover and it's still going.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Honkytonkville
dang I forgot 305's.......My gpa gave me his 84 parisienne, had 374,000 miles original motor(but new 700r4)for derby. It wasn't running right when I got it, but with the help of a timing chain and a 2bbl off of a 351m it rev's out faster and stronger than the fresh 327 my buddy runs. Boy, does it make him mad too!!! 
Scott
Scott
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Orange County, So. Calif
Diff to answer, Si? Grew up w/ flatheads. Great motors. If more power was needed then add a Mercury crank for an automatic 1/4" stroker, then bore to 3.375 and end up w/ 285 cu in.... Howard or Isky cam for more HP, and away we go... Not to mention alum heads and a 2 or 3 carb manifold, an easy motor to modify for just about any kind of racing... Then that darned 265/283 GM thing came along. Yep, stock or modified, the flathead is/was a very dependable motor.
Have owned a '57 Fairlane w/ the 300HP supercharged 312" Y block, and also a '69 Boss 429 Mustang. The 57 surprised many 55/56/57 Chev freaks. And the Boss 429 w/ a mild Isky cam and the intake ports matched to the manifold flat tore up the 270 Corvettes. The FI Corvettes,?, well I gave 'em a run for their money.
So my money/vote goes to the 429 Boss motor for dependable POWER... It was docile enough to take a Lady to dinner in. And hot enough so when going for a cruise after din din, when ya hit the trottle, it would SCARE the pants off 'em...
Have owned a '57 Fairlane w/ the 300HP supercharged 312" Y block, and also a '69 Boss 429 Mustang. The 57 surprised many 55/56/57 Chev freaks. And the Boss 429 w/ a mild Isky cam and the intake ports matched to the manifold flat tore up the 270 Corvettes. The FI Corvettes,?, well I gave 'em a run for their money.
So my money/vote goes to the 429 Boss motor for dependable POWER... It was docile enough to take a Lady to dinner in. And hot enough so when going for a cruise after din din, when ya hit the trottle, it would SCARE the pants off 'em...
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The Great Plains
2.3 ford, would go forever, I had one that was well over the 200k mark with nothing but a timing belt. The turbo went out later on and I built it, forged it, ect. With about 25lbs of boost its a monster.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 348
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From: Northern Michigan
I hate to even bring this up because Chrysler had so many other things I didn't like...but they made good engines. Any slant six and the 318 V8 and its little brother the 3.3 V6 outlasted almost any vehicle they were/are put in.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 510
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All I've ever owned is Fords.I had a 2.9 V6 in a 89 Ranger truck that I bought new and never done anything but change oil and filter.I went well over 100k and the last time I saw it the guy who owned it said it was at 255k and running strong.He hadn't done a thing to the eng.,only a brake job on the truck.The 300 inline is maybe the toughest eng Ford ever built though.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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Originally Posted by dono
For me, a tie between a '64 Tempus 6, '64 Valient slant 6, '50 Chebby 6 .... all took a lickin ang kept on tickin.
Dono
Dono
Ha ha Donno, the kids on this site are WAY too young to remember those engines!
However, I agree....... and they were easy to work on!