Best engine ever? (gaskets, sedan, gas, Buick)

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by NWPAguy

What is your idea of the best engine ever made? Consider factors such as durability, longevity, power, economy, low maintenance, etc.... all the good stuff.

To this Classic Car owner, that honor would have to go to the special 'L88' factory Chevy Motor , a 427 cid Big Block with solid lifters, 850 cfm Holley carb, 12.5:1 CR and long duration / high lift Cam . 110 octane gas was required and a sticker stating this otherwise engine damage would result, was included. The L88 was found on the factory 1967-1969 Corvette as a special order Option ; not many ordered it due to the enormous added cost plus it was a race motor offered for street use and idled at 1500 rpms when fully warm . Didnt have a factory fan shroud either , but im sure most Guys added one to keep it running a tad cooler on the street . It was advertised at 435 h.p. but actual h.p. was approx. 560 gross .

Oh yeah...it was NOT intended for economy ; just for tearing up the pavement or for all out racing.

[Drover]

I'd have to go with the 3.0L I-6 turbo found in the MKIV Toyota Supra Turbo. The block and head in particular could withstand incredible amounts of power; not uncommon to see upwards of 1,000 HP on a stock block and head. Even the stock internals could withstand close to 500HP. It's because of that engine and its receptiveness to extreme tuning that you you'll rarely find a MKIV Supra Turbo for under 20 grand no matter how many miles. Unfortunately, it's also why you will rarely find one in stock form.

[burdell]

Pratt & Whitney 4360

Hey, nobody said it hadda be a car engine

[WyoNewk]

Of all the engines I've sat behind, and there have been a bunch, the one that's impressed me the most was the Saab 2.0L 175 hp turbocharged used in my old '86 and '88 Saab 9000 Turbos. I had 185,000 miles on my '88 when I finally traded it in 2000, and it had never hiccuped in that time. It would sip gas at about 33 mpg at 60 mph, 29 mpg at 80, or hum a song at 135 mph.

I loved those Saabs. I also owned a Turbo Porsche and a Toyota pickup when I bought the first one, but I felt like the 9000 Turbo could fill in as either a sports car or a pickup. It handled like a sports car, but drop the seat in the back (opening it up to the trunk) and it would haul a pickup load of crap.

[maggiekate]

Dodge Dart slant 6 back in the seventys, was told was a great engine! I had 2 dodge Darts, both had water leaks, so, bye to the Dodge, however, the car did run great!

[sinsativ]

I'm going to be specific about the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth slant six. Particularly, the "225"

The Slant-6, known within Chrysler as the G-engine, is one of Chrysler's two best known automobile engines, along with the Hemi V8. The engine is an inline-6 piston engine specifically designed such that the cylinders are inclined at a 30-degree angle from vertical. The 30° inclination of the Slant-6 gave a lower height overall engine package, which enabled vehicle stylists to lower hoodlines, and also made room for the water pump to be mounted with a significant lateral offset, significantly shortening the engine's overall length. In addition, the slanted cylinder block provided ample space under the hood for intake and exhaust manifolds with runners of longer and more nearly equal length compared to the "rake" or "log" style manifolds found on other inline engines. These manifolds give a more even cylinder-to-cylinder fuel distribution and are less restrictive for better airflow through the engine.
The engine was introduced in two sizes in 1960: The 170 cubic-inch (2.8 L) "LG" (Low-G, referring to the relatively short engine block casting and crankshaft stroke) in the Valiant, and the 225 CID (3.7 L) "RG" (Raised-G, referring to the relatively tall engine block casting and crankshaft stroke) in full-size Plymouth and Dodge Dart models. In 1960, the engine was referred to by Plymouth division as the "30-D Economy Six" engine, the "30-D" referring to the 30° cylinder block angle.

Cause from personal experience, you couldn't beat these engines to death if you tried. Run em without water, oil, they would keep on (almost) toughest damn thing ever. Great economy, easy to work on. The slant had a reason, not just fitting better. Tough, tough, tough.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by sinsativ

I'm going to be specific about the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth slant six. Particularly, the "225"


Cause from personal experience, you couldn't beat these engines to death if you tried. Run em without water, oil, they would keep on (almost) toughest damn thing ever. Great economy, easy to work on. The slant had a reason, not just fitting better. Tough, tough, tough.

Thanks, my self, and a friend, went in a blizzard, that doge dart, why I did buy the car! I did
buy over the phone, 2800 was the price, did keep the car for 3 years, and got
people and dealers, coming for the car. They gave me 2000, so not a cool
car, but what a car! When I did sell the Dart, it had 50,000 miles on it!
No other car did beat that cost for a great car, water leaks, were the bad!
Now I have the Honda, and they stay along time!

[shadowwalker]

Older chevy 350 or ford 390. Good starting in cold weather runs strong and starts well.

[01Snake]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

The 2JZ (inline 6) engine is incredibly reliable and takes to power extremely well. Ive seen many of those engines handle 800+ hp on stock internals and run perfectly.

Winner.

[deepcynic]

Originally Posted by WyoNewk

Of all the engines I've sat behind, and there have been a bunch, the one that's impressed me the most was the Saab 2.0L 175 hp turbocharged used in my old '86 and '88 Saab 9000 Turbos. I had 185,000 miles on my '88 when I finally traded it in 2000, and it had never hiccuped in that time. It would sip gas at about 33 mpg at 60 mph, 29 mpg at 80, or hum a song at 135 mph.

I loved those Saabs. I also owned a Turbo Porsche and a Toyota pickup when I bought the first one, but I felt like the 9000 Turbo could fill in as either a sports car or a pickup. It handled like a sports car, but drop the seat in the back (opening it up to the trunk) and it would haul a pickup load of crap.

Yup! Loved the Saabs when they were still Saabs!