I don’t remember which motor specifically but I remember seeing a YouTube video on one of those massive 7-8L Cadillac motors that only made like 200 ish horsepower from factory. They were exploring why the engine made so little power, and basically because of emissions the heads were just super restrictive. So they ported the heads and put in a custom cam, and I think new performance carburetors and it made something absolutely ridiculous like 850 pounds of torque and I wanna say just shy of 700 horsepower.
If memory serves, there were like pounds of metal shavings that came out of those heads.
You’re spot on. The 500 when released in 1970 had a 10:1 compression ratio, using 76cc combustion chambers in the heads and very shallow peanut dishes in the pistons. For 1971 they had to drop compression so they went to a 3/8” deep “bathtub” dish in the pistons. In 1972 they switched from the Gross to Net HP rating so nothing physically changed but the rating went from 365 to 235 HP. For 1974 they needed to drop compression even further to work either smog equipment so they increased combustion chambers from 76cc to 120cc and changed up the pistons again - the 472 got a true flat-top piston, this is how I learned what engine I had when I tore it down and rebuilt it.
The stock intake manifold is also crazy, half of the runners have to actually drop below deck height and then come back up to get into the intake ports on the heads due to needing the engine to clear the hood of the car. Can’t have a Caddy with a power bulge.
Simply eliminating the smog equipment, swapping the intake manifold for an aftermarket one, and putting a nicer cam in a later model bumps horsepower by a large amount.
With some custom aluminum heads, stock block, stock crank, Keith Black pistons and rods, and a couple 91mm turbos, the Spectre Infidel land speed car made 1900 HP and ran 415 MPH.
We had a Jeep, if memory serves, with the 4.0 in it.
After 180k miles, sold it to a dealership. My dad was good friends with one of the mechanics there and asked what they did with it.
They intended to kill the motor and take the insurance money for it. Drained all the oil and left it idling in the parking lot until it seized. It idled an entire work shift and still ran flawlessly.
The next day, they did hot laps around the block for like 2 hours before it started to even tick.
Had to scroll too far to find this one. The straight six is officially broken in around 150k miles, good luck convincing one to die for real. And if you do eventually have to rebuild it, you can always get it bored out and go the 4.6L stroker route.
Just bought an '08 Yaris 5 speed a few weeks ago. The intent was a boring, responsible, 40mpg fuel efficient interstate vehicle. Turns out, the 1NZ is more than enough pep for such a lightweight car, it'll haul ass hard enough to get me in trouble, and it'll still give me 35mpg when I'm romping on it like an idiot.
Im goin with the gen 3/4 small block chevy. The LS engine. Good size, all over the place, huge aftermarket. Ive put a few together na and boosted and they just handle it.
There's a special place in my heart for the B series. I've had more than a few sitting on my garage floor through different projects back in the day. As weird as it sounds, I think it's a good looking engine.
Its not particularly fast, powerful or fuel efficient. Puts out like 201bhp. But the low rev output V6 coupled with the turbo gives the engine a certain character where it doesn't matter where you are in the rev range, there is always power. There is no turbo lag or noticeable kick, just stable power from idle to redline.
It makes it extremely comfortable to drive both as a highway cruiser and for towing. Thing just wants to go no matter the rpm.
The first engine I really had to fix so it’s got a special place in my heart. Also didn’t know what I was doing at first so caused me a lot of pain lol
7 bolt crank walk is so overhyped on the internet. Considering they started showing up in 1GB era there would be so many more crankwalked engines. The 6 bolt had better rods but the 7 bolt block was superior. Most of your powerful DSMs are running a 7 bolt since they are much more plentiful.
Even the early NA Miata engines had “crank walk” issues but no one jerks off about it on the internet as much.
I had a 1GA talon (best body), and have many friends with a variety of 1G/2G and a few with GRV4s and Evos. I mean the K series is an insane engine as well but the 4G just sounds better.
The best engine I have had was a '69 Chevy I-6 250 installed in my '67 Biscayne. It pushed the car at 110mph as long as I asked it too. The radiator blew on the expressway in the wee hours of -5°F clear night and got me all the way home for 20 miles. It dieseled itself to sleep and when the repaired radiator was installed it ran fine. I flushed the oil system and it never failed. It got great mileage too with it's stock carb.
That's the reason I really don't like it as much. It's almost exclusively for cars that don't get driven on the street because they're tuned for ludicrous amounts of power. A Peripheral Port is also just stupid loud as well and I'd have the cops on me in seconds after starting the engine.
I'll just stick with the Bridgeport, it doesn't make the car any more difficult to use as a daily even though it doesn't idle particularly well. My current daily driver is a 2001 FD3S while my "Let's Go Crazy" car is a 1995 FD with a 20B swap from a Cosmo and a 6-speed sequential gearbox and TBH it's not really streetable with that setup.
It's a mod that involves cutting an additional intake port into the block. It basically increases overall power output while also making it idle like absolute shit.
No more, it describes the cut. When you cut the intake port, you cut a strip metal into the port so the seal doesn't fallout, it kinda looks like a bridge when done.
As far as a well-rounded engine in performance, reliability, and fuel economy, the general motors 5.7 LT1 V8 is by far the best choice hands down.
If im going specifically for reliability and not worrying about performance, chrysler 225s and 318s are my go-to. Sturdy and reliable, with competitive fuel economy in some cases as well.
Audi 4.2 V8, awesome sound, great powerband, and a super cool development story. They got a bad rap from the timing chain issues that required the engine to be removed to repair, other than that though, pretty flawless.
I'm too American not to say an SBC or LS. They are too plentiful. There's too much of a knowledge base around them. They just work in too many applications.
There are engines I like more, but they are more niche things. A Mazda 13B is like that girl I think I can fix and the VW 07K is the perfect engine for my 924, but not much else.
The original SBC. Yes they are out dated and there's better engines now. But they are so versatile to play with because of all of the different stroke, rod and bore combinations.
Like a 350 has a 3.48" stroke. But you can swap it for a 3" crank and have a 302 or you could put it in a 267 block and make a 235ci v8 (3.8L?). But if you put that crank in a 0.030 over 305 would make a big bore short stroke 267 but the first SBC from the 1950's was a 265/4.3L that GM later kept the bore and used a 350 stroke and called it the "305". If power isn't your only goal. There are tons of options to play around with just because you can.
My 6.5 sounded like a freaking semi. Was always funny to see people's reaction when I started that old Suburban in a parking lot. Loved the sound, but it ended up having a cracked cylinder head and would eat a gallon of coolant every 250-500 miles
I’m going to get a lot of hate for this, but I have a soft spot for the Chevy ecotecs. Cheap, plentiful, good power for the price, and I still haven’t killed one. I have an LE5 in my bug
K series are stout, and at least parts for those are easy to come by. I miss my 95 GST but it’s almost time for the 97 talon tsi to come off the jackstands and hit the pavement in 26
First gen small block Chevy. Never thought I’d say that. I tried so hard to get away from them but they just work for me, they’re super cheap, reliable, easy to work on, and parts are available at every parts counter in America.
K series. One of the few still out there that can thrown together by junkyard scrounging and make good power. Rwd adapters are becoming more and more common aswell
b230 "redblock" will always have a place in my garage.
Stout engine that can take up to 800Nm of torque and both the original 8 valve heads can be made to flow well into the +200cfm range.
Not to speak of the godly Porsche designed b234f 16 valve head that can push 300whp N/A when done just right.
Mercedes m104 is another beloved engine type of mine, for the same reasons, but more of everything.
ratrodder49@reddit
472/500 inch Cadillac. Mammoth motor that doesn’t weigh much more than a small block but makes twice the torque.
HabaneroHotPocket@reddit
I don’t remember which motor specifically but I remember seeing a YouTube video on one of those massive 7-8L Cadillac motors that only made like 200 ish horsepower from factory. They were exploring why the engine made so little power, and basically because of emissions the heads were just super restrictive. So they ported the heads and put in a custom cam, and I think new performance carburetors and it made something absolutely ridiculous like 850 pounds of torque and I wanna say just shy of 700 horsepower.
If memory serves, there were like pounds of metal shavings that came out of those heads.
ratrodder49@reddit
You’re spot on. The 500 when released in 1970 had a 10:1 compression ratio, using 76cc combustion chambers in the heads and very shallow peanut dishes in the pistons. For 1971 they had to drop compression so they went to a 3/8” deep “bathtub” dish in the pistons. In 1972 they switched from the Gross to Net HP rating so nothing physically changed but the rating went from 365 to 235 HP. For 1974 they needed to drop compression even further to work either smog equipment so they increased combustion chambers from 76cc to 120cc and changed up the pistons again - the 472 got a true flat-top piston, this is how I learned what engine I had when I tore it down and rebuilt it.
The stock intake manifold is also crazy, half of the runners have to actually drop below deck height and then come back up to get into the intake ports on the heads due to needing the engine to clear the hood of the car. Can’t have a Caddy with a power bulge.
Simply eliminating the smog equipment, swapping the intake manifold for an aftermarket one, and putting a nicer cam in a later model bumps horsepower by a large amount.
With some custom aluminum heads, stock block, stock crank, Keith Black pistons and rods, and a couple 91mm turbos, the Spectre Infidel land speed car made 1900 HP and ran 415 MPH.
southwestpessimist@reddit
Jeep 4.0
HabaneroHotPocket@reddit
We had a Jeep, if memory serves, with the 4.0 in it.
After 180k miles, sold it to a dealership. My dad was good friends with one of the mechanics there and asked what they did with it.
They intended to kill the motor and take the insurance money for it. Drained all the oil and left it idling in the parking lot until it seized. It idled an entire work shift and still ran flawlessly.
The next day, they did hot laps around the block for like 2 hours before it started to even tick.
bryancopper@reddit
Had to scroll too far to find this one. The straight six is officially broken in around 150k miles, good luck convincing one to die for real. And if you do eventually have to rebuild it, you can always get it bored out and go the 4.6L stroker route.
HabaneroHotPocket@reddit
Depends on what criteria.
My favorite engine to work on is the air cooled VW Beetle motors. Pre-emissions controls. Like my 1966.
My favorite sounding engine is the Ford 427.
My favorite engine for dollar per horsepower is the Gen III Hemi/Hellcat/Demon platform.
My favorite engine to drive is the Euro spec E36 M3 engine—the S50B32; in an E36 M3.
Wholaughed@reddit
Everyone is going to hate me but I really like my m54, it’s insanely reliable if you get your cooling issues fixed. Very fun to drive
It may not be the best engine, but it’s my engine, love you m54
rynil2000@reddit
Toyota 1NZ-FE. Cockroaches will inherit them after the bombs drop.
bryancopper@reddit
Just bought an '08 Yaris 5 speed a few weeks ago. The intent was a boring, responsible, 40mpg fuel efficient interstate vehicle. Turns out, the 1NZ is more than enough pep for such a lightweight car, it'll haul ass hard enough to get me in trouble, and it'll still give me 35mpg when I'm romping on it like an idiot.
dewaltyellowjacket@reddit
I learned how to wrench on an old Camry and am grateful for it. The car still runs and was so forgiving on an ignorant me
alarumba@reddit
I've become a fan. The manuals are zippy, and they're not far off the fuel economy of a hybrid for combined driving.
Pity the local pick and pull has none of them, since someone is taking all of them as soon as a car arrives and sending the engines to Nigeria.
Eon4691@reddit
Amen brother
Mission-Attempt-5385@reddit
VQ35HR/VHR
BooobiesANDbho@reddit
1uz
SameOlG902@reddit
Yessir!
notaccel@reddit
OM606
RexicanDarsh@reddit
Where are all the 2JZ boys at?
aberg59@reddit
2JZ-GE Non-VVTI all day
UrbanCobra@reddit
✊
rudbri93@reddit
Im goin with the gen 3/4 small block chevy. The LS engine. Good size, all over the place, huge aftermarket. Ive put a few together na and boosted and they just handle it.
TasTuned@reddit
Yep agree, mine cops so much abuse and just keeps on keeping on
anchorholic@reddit
This is the right answer
Own_Baby_2820@reddit (OP)
🤝
mr_lab_rat@reddit
B series Honda. I know the newer engines got pushed further but for projects I just appreciate how simple the B series is.
JJ_Neat22@reddit
There's a special place in my heart for the B series. I've had more than a few sitting on my garage floor through different projects back in the day. As weird as it sounds, I think it's a good looking engine.
Aggravating_Ad_1889@reddit
I hear ya. The B ruled the earth until the K came around.
AngryScottish@reddit
Without going into ultra exotic engines:
Sounding: VR6 (VW 2.8/3.2/3.6) or any inline 5
To drive: M158 (AMG 5.5L V6 twin turbo)
To race: F22C (Honda S2000 2.2l)
cerbera79@reddit
I miss my VR6...
wasack17@reddit
I smushed a mkv GTI with a vr6 into a jersey barrier. I regret loosing that car every day. It's been 15 years.
ghost_sanctum@reddit
Just any tt v6 in general. Especially on a mid engine awd car. Yes I like the gtr lots.
ManufacturerLost7686@reddit
Saab B308E (Turbocharged GM/Opel X30XE)
Its not particularly fast, powerful or fuel efficient. Puts out like 201bhp. But the low rev output V6 coupled with the turbo gives the engine a certain character where it doesn't matter where you are in the rev range, there is always power. There is no turbo lag or noticeable kick, just stable power from idle to redline.
It makes it extremely comfortable to drive both as a highway cruiser and for towing. Thing just wants to go no matter the rpm.
NoClothes1999@reddit
12 valve Cummins
I'm a simple man
NeuralFlow@reddit
I should have probably swapped that in my hmmwv a long time ago, instead of rebuilding and upgrading my 6.5.
aj8j83fo83jo8ja3o8ja@reddit
skynyrd.mp3
ratrodder49@reddit
Seconded.
NeuralFlow@reddit
6.5 diesel… lol I’m just try to tell myself I don’t need a swap
MrFoolinaround@reddit
4G63. The thing is damn near bulletproof.
ConsistentExchange61@reddit
The first engine I really had to fix so it’s got a special place in my heart. Also didn’t know what I was doing at first so caused me a lot of pain lol
torNATEo12@reddit
6 bolts with the 7 bolt heads are…. 7 bolts are known for crankwalk, but can also get the mains machined and have thrust bearings installed.
MrFoolinaround@reddit
7 bolt crank walk is so overhyped on the internet. Considering they started showing up in 1GB era there would be so many more crankwalked engines. The 6 bolt had better rods but the 7 bolt block was superior. Most of your powerful DSMs are running a 7 bolt since they are much more plentiful.
Even the early NA Miata engines had “crank walk” issues but no one jerks off about it on the internet as much.
torNATEo12@reddit
You’re not wrong, I’ve owned a few DSM’s both stock and modified and never had an issue and I easily put 200k on the stock one
MrFoolinaround@reddit
I had a 1GA talon (best body), and have many friends with a variety of 1G/2G and a few with GRV4s and Evos. I mean the K series is an insane engine as well but the 4G just sounds better.
unlimitedmuggins@reddit
Big fan of the Toyota 3UZ.
Iwantmynameback@reddit
The mighty Barra 182.
Can get them dirt cheap and they make good power with reasonably few internal mods. And if you need parts the junk yard will have 30 of the bastards.
FossGly524@reddit
SBC and SBF…
aj8j83fo83jo8ja3o8ja@reddit
both? is that allowed?
FossGly524@reddit
🤷♂️
RCMike_CHS@reddit
The best engine I have had was a '69 Chevy I-6 250 installed in my '67 Biscayne. It pushed the car at 110mph as long as I asked it too. The radiator blew on the expressway in the wee hours of -5°F clear night and got me all the way home for 20 miles. It dieseled itself to sleep and when the repaired radiator was installed it ran fine. I flushed the oil system and it never failed. It got great mileage too with it's stock carb.
discussatron@reddit
Ford 351w.
Own_Baby_2820@reddit (OP)
I love the 351w it’s such a good motor. So good for foxbodies
Cthulhujack_3kgt@reddit
Mitsubishi's 6g72. I have a soft spot for the 3s platform even if they arent amazing engines
ALoneStarGazer@reddit
Obtainable i would say the series 2 or 3 3800, no good tranys for it that i know of other than i think a t56
C4PTNK0R34@reddit
Bridgeported 13B Wankel Rotary.
ultramilkplus@reddit
Real men P-port (source: I used to sell a lot of drag parts to Puerto Rico, especially in the golden age of "who had the fastest 12A or 13B OZ or PR")
C4PTNK0R34@reddit
That's the reason I really don't like it as much. It's almost exclusively for cars that don't get driven on the street because they're tuned for ludicrous amounts of power. A Peripheral Port is also just stupid loud as well and I'd have the cops on me in seconds after starting the engine.
I'll just stick with the Bridgeport, it doesn't make the car any more difficult to use as a daily even though it doesn't idle particularly well. My current daily driver is a 2001 FD3S while my "Let's Go Crazy" car is a 1995 FD with a 20B swap from a Cosmo and a 6-speed sequential gearbox and TBH it's not really streetable with that setup.
concussedhummingbird@reddit
Bridgeported?
C4PTNK0R34@reddit
It's a mod that involves cutting an additional intake port into the block. It basically increases overall power output while also making it idle like absolute shit.
concussedhummingbird@reddit
Done on a Bridgeport I take it?
D0z3rD04@reddit
No more, it describes the cut. When you cut the intake port, you cut a strip metal into the port so the seal doesn't fallout, it kinda looks like a bridge when done.
Subarunicycle@reddit
I agree, but I would never own another.
C4PTNK0R34@reddit
That's what I thought too, but then I figured out that the blocks are super cheap and bought 6 more and rebuilt them as spares.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
As far as a well-rounded engine in performance, reliability, and fuel economy, the general motors 5.7 LT1 V8 is by far the best choice hands down.
If im going specifically for reliability and not worrying about performance, chrysler 225s and 318s are my go-to. Sturdy and reliable, with competitive fuel economy in some cases as well.
Mico4@reddit
BMW B58 and the Nissan RB30ET
grease_monkey@reddit
B58 is what's up
Plane_Geologist8073@reddit
Audi 4.2 V8, awesome sound, great powerband, and a super cool development story. They got a bad rap from the timing chain issues that required the engine to be removed to repair, other than that though, pretty flawless.
rocktropolis@reddit
Ford Straight 6 4.9/300
bangbangracer@reddit
I'm too American not to say an SBC or LS. They are too plentiful. There's too much of a knowledge base around them. They just work in too many applications.
There are engines I like more, but they are more niche things. A Mazda 13B is like that girl I think I can fix and the VW 07K is the perfect engine for my 924, but not much else.
Snakedoctor404@reddit
The original SBC. Yes they are out dated and there's better engines now. But they are so versatile to play with because of all of the different stroke, rod and bore combinations.
Like a 350 has a 3.48" stroke. But you can swap it for a 3" crank and have a 302 or you could put it in a 267 block and make a 235ci v8 (3.8L?). But if you put that crank in a 0.030 over 305 would make a big bore short stroke 267 but the first SBC from the 1950's was a 265/4.3L that GM later kept the bore and used a 350 stroke and called it the "305". If power isn't your only goal. There are tons of options to play around with just because you can.
taz_78@reddit
A running one.
BurtReynoldsMouth@reddit
Vw aircooled 1600cc dp
PantherBrewery@reddit
Straight 6 ford 300
KA9099@reddit
Nissan's TB48. It's the RB's bigger brother and practically indestructible.
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
Big fan of the sound my 6.2 Detroit makes.
RentAscout@reddit
Yeah, it does sound great. Too bad it's a gutless pig NA.
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
I still love mine regardless
Joiner2008@reddit
My 6.5 sounded like a freaking semi. Was always funny to see people's reaction when I started that old Suburban in a parking lot. Loved the sound, but it ended up having a cracked cylinder head and would eat a gallon of coolant every 250-500 miles
Own_Baby_2820@reddit (OP)
I’ve heard they are good engines might be thinking of 6.5
Joiner2008@reddit
My 6.5 ended up having a cracked cylinder head and would kill a gallon of coolant every 250-500 miles
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
They are not designed for speed, but they will get you to where you are going.
Murky-Association-33@reddit
The Ej20 platform. It ain’t much, not reliable, not as powerful as some. But I’ll take it
No-Reality-723@reddit
Ford HIPO 289
kabobkebabkabob@reddit
There just isn't time in the world to drive enough of them! I've only owned like 5 cars lol
FormulaZR@reddit
Gen 3/4 GM SBC
nopester24@reddit
honestly the old Nissan KA24 was a fantastic engine. and the Toyota 3.5 v6 is also great for reliability.
for ease of working in, well that really varies but the chevy 350 small block is just a classic
TEAMTRASHCAN@reddit
Lt1 (middle one)
Remfire@reddit
Om606 almost done with mine
so-sick@reddit
Analog or digital?
v8packard@reddit
For anything in particular?
ncbluetj@reddit
Mercedes M120. It can be an ultra-smooth luxury car engine, or a 9,000 rpm screamer, depending on your needs and budget.
Affectionate-Map8474@reddit
302w.
HemingWaysBeard42@reddit
K-series 4B11t Nissan L-series LS
lucagiolu@reddit
How the fuck are the busso engines Not mentioned Here?
iswhatitwhiz@reddit
M113
eternaborg@reddit
I’m going to get a lot of hate for this, but I have a soft spot for the Chevy ecotecs. Cheap, plentiful, good power for the price, and I still haven’t killed one. I have an LE5 in my bug
Savings_Sentence_442@reddit
The Ford 300 i6. Good old simplicity and reliability. They have been built to put out good power too.
torNATEo12@reddit
K series are stout, and at least parts for those are easy to come by. I miss my 95 GST but it’s almost time for the 97 talon tsi to come off the jackstands and hit the pavement in 26
Own_Baby_2820@reddit (OP)
For me it’s 5.2 voodoo they sound soo good
C6Z06FTW@reddit
It’s the only mustang I’d ever consider. I just wish they put it in more stuff so I could swap one into something cool for a lot less money 😂
IntrstlarOvrdrve@reddit
First gen small block Chevy. Never thought I’d say that. I tried so hard to get away from them but they just work for me, they’re super cheap, reliable, easy to work on, and parts are available at every parts counter in America.
CabernetSauvignon@reddit
K is king
KamakaziDemiGod@reddit
Why do I suspect this isn't about the MG K series engine. . .
Own_Baby_2820@reddit (OP)
True
ShallWeGiveItAFix@reddit
Lotus 910s.. Thank you sir may I have another!
oh_no_its_in_my_eyes@reddit
A853 srt4/ptgt engine
Extremely cheap with a very potent power band that makes a wall of torque and is decently strong.
sladebonge@reddit
Mine.
And the mazda r26b.
trollkarlsmatto@reddit
SAAB B234R
BMW M50B25
Volvo B5234T5
Poutinemilkshake2@reddit
+1 for BMW M50.
You could probably fill the engine with vegetable oil and it would still chug along for another few thousand miles
Financial-Cow-4022@reddit
K series. One of the few still out there that can thrown together by junkyard scrounging and make good power. Rwd adapters are becoming more and more common aswell
SupraMK4@reddit
Suzuki G Series, Honda D Series, Alfa Busso V6
TheFinnishComrade@reddit
b230 "redblock" will always have a place in my garage. Stout engine that can take up to 800Nm of torque and both the original 8 valve heads can be made to flow well into the +200cfm range. Not to speak of the godly Porsche designed b234f 16 valve head that can push 300whp N/A when done just right.
Mercedes m104 is another beloved engine type of mine, for the same reasons, but more of everything.
disguy2k@reddit
The I5 from the Audi group B rally car.
gmkings@reddit
1.5jz gets my vote.