Best petrol engine over the last 50 years??

Dandle · 20 Nov 2011 at 17:57

Lucero said:
Got to be some of the BMW straight 6's

Mercedes also had a great 6 cylinder lump thats soldiered on for years.

Neither is the greatest engine in the last 50 years though. I dont know what is tbh. It would be something used in various forms around the world from powering generators and pumps to various forms of transport. If it was for the greatest petrol engine my vote would be the VW flat four but thats nearly 80 yrs old.

[TW]Fox · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:00

On paper the N54 has to be in with a shout - 306bhp yet 30mpg combined - but in reality the reliability issues probably rule it out.

stulid · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:00

Cosworth YB.

Tesla · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:17

K series.

MOOGLEYS · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:21

Vauxhall 20XE, I still have mine it has seen 3 cars and will live again some time in the future. Although the head was designed by cosworth and the early ones built by them it has a vauxhall badge on it...

NathWraith · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:23

Amoeba said:
SR20DET - hella reliable and hella powerful .

Also RB26DETT for sheer cool value .

2JZ-GTE

mattx2 said:
Toyota 2JZ-GTE I6

in stock form its bullet proof and can take double the power on stock internals

fadetoblack · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:31

Tesla said:
K series.

Worst hands down

Firestar_3x · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:32

Lashout_UK said:
Smallblock Chevy. Possibly the most versatile and long-lived engine ever made. Chevrolet's built over 90,000,000 of them.

This would be my choice.

stulid · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:38

Rover V8.

Ryan-3 · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:41

For me, any of:

1JZ-GTE,
2JZ-GTE,
B16,
RB26 DETT,
SR20 DET.

Isn't a Jap' car fan much...

mattyprice4004 · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:48

Rover T16 Turbo, had 2 and both done moon mileage and reliable. 197bhp standard from a 4 pot capable of 40mpg in the right car.

Hxc · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:50

fadetoblack said:
Worst hands down

It's actually a good engine plagued by poor maintenance and costcutting.

Lashout_UK · 20 Nov 2011 at 18:55

So it's a bad engine then? A great (or even good) engine will soldier on even when neglected.

Rich_L · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:06

I think the Northstar V8 in my car has won a few awards over the years, its kinda been left behind now but given we're talking over a 50 year period it probably qualifies as a candidate.

The camel mode is kinda cool

Who needs coolant anyway

[TW]Fox · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:06

Lashout_UK said:
So it's a bad engine then? A great (or even good) engine will soldier on even when neglected.

Any mainstream mass market engine that fails when subjected to the attitudes of the average motorist cannot be considered flawless.

A Rover 25 1.4 is not a high performance enthusiasts car. It shouldn't need care, attention and love. It should simply work, in the same way the 1.4 litre engine in a Honda Civic... does.

godinman · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:41

Didn't they revise the head gasket in the K series so it doesn't blow all the time? Or are there more issues than that?

2-step · 20 Nov 2011 at 19:58

Aircooled flat 4

Dr Who · 20 Nov 2011 at 20:56

Having been in an 800bhp Skyline R32 for me it is the RB26DETT.

To think they can get to 600bhp on stock internals over 1200 bhp on heavily modded versions, and it is thought possible to get to 1340bhp you cannot fail to be impressed by the little 2.6ltr straight 6.

Not to mention the N1 versions.....

Draeger · 20 Nov 2011 at 21:19

Rotax 990 V60. But then again, I'm slightly biased. :cool:

helpimcrap · 20 Nov 2011 at 21:32

2 - the skyline RB26 TT motor or the Sierra cosworth 200 engine.

both tuneable WAY past double their standard outputs and often 4x!!

Seriously impressive!