Seems like to be "best" it has to have been in use for a very long time, reliable, and has been upgraded in its basic form for many years . The small block chevy and all its derivatives have met that definition for longer than just about any engine IMO. There have been a lot of great engines named on this thread but none have had the longevity of the small block chevy.
yep, seen a show once talkin' bout how many (100 million?) or some such were made... got the original 265 in my 55 Bel Air sport coupe, still runs good... like to build an L79 327 (350 HP) for it... cant bring myself to rip that old mouse outta' there......
I learned some good stuff about other engines in this thread - and thanks for that - but my thinking runs with these above posts. Have run every production version of the SBs (and the BBs as well) and the 327 seems to have been the best overall. The L79 327/350 that 7mm Loco would like was what came in the 1967 Corvette. I do seem to like it best.
You prefer 327 large or small journal?
I preferred the large journal, but the 327 wasn't available with 4 bolt mains except for a few race engines. Pretty sure that didn't happen until the 350 came along and even then only in the HP versions, the DZ engines, and some prototypes.
Not to diss the small block Ford engines- they were great engines also, but not quite as popular in racing , weren't around as long, and for a long time didn't have nearly the aftermarket the SB Chevy engine had.
My second choice would have been the LS engine family- I think that in time it will be recognized as one of the great engine families every designed- if nothing else just for the incredible modularity of the interchangeable parts available for them and the hot rod aftermarket that has grown up around them.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
Hope you're right Jim. Sure could make a case for it given how many are still going, even if it is on their 5th-10th overhaul.
My votes in order. Maybe this isn't "best", but favorite. P-pump 5.9 Cummins. Or ve pump for that matter. Common rail 5.9 Cummins just to group them together. The current 6.7s smoke them for power, but the simplicity and fuel efficiency are gone 20/22r/re Toyota. 3.4 v6 Toyota (5vzfe?) Ford 300 straight 6. Ford (international) 7.3 idi. A good engine, that put out enough power, at the time. As long as you didn't have to ever start it in the cold. Honestly, I just love the sound of them.
Seems like to be "best" it has to have been in use for a very long time, reliable, and has been upgraded in its basic form for many years . The small block chevy and all its derivatives have met that definition for longer than just about any engine IMO. There have been a lot of great engines named on this thread but none have had the longevity of the small block chevy.
yep, seen a show once talkin' bout how many (100 million?) or some such were made... got the original 265 in my 55 Bel Air sport coupe, still runs good... like to build an L79 327 (350 HP) for it... cant bring myself to rip that old mouse outta' there......
I learned some good stuff about other engines in this thread - and thanks for that - but my thinking runs with these above posts. Have run every production version of the SBs (and the BBs as well) and the 327 seems to have been the best overall. The L79 327/350 that 7mm Loco would like was what came in the 1967 Corvette. I do seem to like it best.
You prefer 327 large or small journal?
Question of the ages... some say the small journal (67 & earlier) revs better/easier?, and it's more period correct for my old 55, so i was leaning that way... others say the large journal 68/69 is stronger/more durable and there's a better selection of Hi-Perf parts like bearings & Rods, ect... maybe Cee Cee will weigh in on this?...
Automotive? best for what purpose?... my favorites are the L88 427 Chevrolet, L72 427 & ZL1 427... Ford FE 427 side oiler & SOHC (Cammer), Ford 429 SCJ & Boss 9... Mopar 440 Magnum & 6 Brl/Pack, the 426 Hemi was great on the race track (not so much on the street)... i'm a Shiverlay guy, but i gotta' admit the Fords & Mopars were more durable, The FE won Lemans (with Chrysler Hemi connecting rods?), and the 426 Hemi Cleaned Up in NASCAR... and to beat the piss out of on the street, gimme' a 440 magnum or a 429 SCJ anyday!... "Gator Mcklusky" or "Kowalski" anyone ?...
From red light to red light the 440 in the same bodied car would beat the Hemi. If you got a green light on the second light, the Hemi would run past the 440. If'n you had the same rear end gears.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
Having driven nothing but Fords for the last 50 years, I'd give the nod to the 302/5.0 engine, along with the 4.0 that was in so many of the Explorers and Rangers in the 1990 and early 2000 time period. As for the 300 inline that others have mentioned, I bought a new 1979 Ford truck that had one, and it was shot at 70,000 miles.
The Ford 5.0L “Roadrunner” from the 2011-2014 Boss 302 Mustangs was quite the engine. A Coyote with forged components. The compact Chevrolet 7.0L LS7 was an awesome small block from the same time period. Both were high-winding street engines.
