Best Engine Offered In Australian Car?

[GTP290]

Ive been reading a lot lately about LS3,BOSS and turbo 6 engines, that got me thinking, what is the best engine ever offered in an Aussie car in terms of power,economy,reliability,low maintenance and cheap mod costs. Im leaning towards the LS2 and LS3 as it can be stroked to 7 litres and is cheap to modify, what do you guys think?

[FGII-XR6]

F6 good economey heaps of potential for cheap mods

[GTBenny]

My opinion would be for all the criteria that you've listed the one that stands out from the rest would be the Turbo 6 engine. I know my view probably looks biased but here is why I think this.

I've spent so far on engine performance mods $2500 with plenty more power available after around another $4k is spent, my car gets (if driven sensibly) 12.9L/100 around town and 9L/100 on a trip, realiability seems quite good from the previous models when modified and the gearbox is very strong.

The larger capacity 8's would be amazing with forced induction and just as reliable, I'd love to have one but cost is much greater and fuel would be more costly.

Just my opinion.

Benny

[The Monty]

The turbo i6, without a doubt.

[XR Martin]

Bang for your buck LS2/3 and Turbo 6 would be neck and neck.
If you want real hardcore power (like 600hp+), the the LS engines have greater potential due to the aftermarket.

[vztrt]

I'll say I6T (even if I want the v8) mind you all the engines exept the alloytec are great motors and this is great for consumers.

[Biggav]

Old School would of been close fight between the 351c and the Hemi 6 with the Hemi by a nose IMO

in todays spec cant go past the Turbo I6 from BA-on just gets better with age.

[Smoke Pursuit]

I6 Turbo

[rosco426]

Hemi 6 is still infront.

I would say that the i6T would slightly be infront of the LS because it is more sensible to drive. It isnt all about power. Its a smooth, quiet comfortable car aswell as being able to overtake easily at 100k's.

[mongoloid]

Might be worth adding a poll, there are really only 5-6 basic engine packages anyway. I6, I6T, 5.4boss, LS(insert number here) V8 and the holden (buick) V6.

[jakkes]

whats all this about a hemi 6 LOL their not even a hemi : LOL

[Gobes32]

From the factory, stock as a rock, the Ford turbo 6 wins in terms of Australian made, for cheap, HUGE power upgrades, the ls1,2&3 motors cannot be beat.

As for aftermarket, Clevelands and Chev big blocks aren't in drag cars for their looks..................

[wados]

turbo 6, due to the all round ability, and the ls engine not far behind

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Biggav

Old School would of been close fight between the 351c and the Hemi 6 with the Hemi by a nose IMO

in todays spec cant go past the Turbo I6 from BA-on just gets better with age.

Old schoool? Cleveland by a mile in that race.... 308 second, results speak for themselves.
Current? I6/BOSS are both quality engines.

[Biggav]

orrite then Slant 6 to be absouletly correct then.

[Gobes32]

If you want fuel economy then its turbo 6 all the way.

[Aeron]

I had a turbo 6 and found it didn’t have much punch down low, even after a tune. I much prefer to drive my LS2 powered SS because of its instant throttle response. Sure, it doesn’t have the top end charge of the turbo, but I enjoy the low down grunt more.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

If you want fuel economy then its turbo 6 all the way.

That really depends on how you drive them... if you push the turbo hard they're just as thirsty as a Boss or LS3.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

If you want fuel economy then its turbo 6 all the way.

If fuel economy is a the factor ( I6 easy)
stock = power/torque (I6 easy)
reliability id give the ls motors the edge just because its a bit early for reliabilty claims in the fg. I often wonder how far there pushed that motor

[ehast13]

I assume we are talking about standard engines, not privately modified motors.

hemi was alright but not as smooth as jag or BMW sixes.
e37,38, 48 and 49 hemi sixes were second to none for power and torque and weren't bad for NVH considering power output

Cleveland was overweight but able to flow big hp with standard heads. Lacked Windsor low down torque and fuel economy.

Holden v8's weren't bad for their day (sixties and early seventies)

Ditto CHEV v8s

Ditto Valiant V8's

Windsor v8 smooth, torquey but needed better heads.

LS1, 2 and 3 all not bad engines (particularly in terms of power output) but not world class (see mercedes V8, see toyota v8, see BMW v8). They are great engines but behind in terms of NVH.

Holden six was an old engine but in xu1 spec was a match for just about any other 3 - 3.5 litre performance engine (BMW batmobile, capri rs3100) except in terms of refinement.

The only engines fitted to an aussie car that match the rest of the world for NVH, power output etc is the Aurion v6 and the ford twin cam six (especially in turbo mode).

The ford six doesn't produce a lot for a 4 litre but it is not meant to be a race engine like other big inline sixes (M3, E36) but it is a world class engine in terms of torque, economy and NVH (remember it is more than a match for any other naturally aspirated big six powering a family car - maxima, aurion, lexus, mercedes, BMW, Audi etc)

This might throw a spanner in the works but how many naturally aspirated 5.4 litre engines can you think of that produce 420 horspower, 550nm of torque, and are smooth from idle to redline? Mercedes 5.5 was smooth but down by 50kw. BMW 5.0 produced 300kw, toyota/lexus produce some good'uns but as for a n/a 5.4, FPV's boss 315 is excellent - compared to any v8 of that size.

Imagine what FPV could do with 6.2 litres!

[Gobes32]

I think the OP needs to come back and explain WHY he wants to know what is the best motor, otherwise there are too many variables.

[Fairlane]

Ford Barra 245 T or whatever it is now. World class technology and refinement designed perfectly for Australian conditions.

Close second is the Valiant Hemi 6. Even by today standards it is a tip top engine and considering it made do with carby's, pushrods and 1960s design techniques it could pull the power, torque and be damn near bulletproof. In 265 cu form it still pulls as much power and has better torque character than the Holden 3.6 alloytec.

Third is probably the Toyota 3FR-SE or whatever it is in the aurion, sure the car is crap but the engine is grouse.

Best V8 would be the Leyland 4.4l V8. All alloy, smooth and economical all in 1973. Best 4 cylinder is tough would probably some old Merc motor or something, all sorts of weird and wonderful cars were made in Australia in the 1960s, the 4 cylinder Family 2 in the Vectra is suppose would be the best i know off

[GTP290]

Having owned a couple of holden red 6 powered cars,a 308 commodore, 5 cleveland motored cars a couple of windsors and 2 early model and 2 late model Ford sixes a BOSS engined GTP and a 460 bigblock, Id have to say the 351 clevo was my favourite engine, lots of low down torque, tons of revs, tough as nails, and no overheating issues as with the windsors.
But I have to say my brothers 265 powered VG Pacer was an absolute screamer of engine, flooring that car was like releasing a massive spring that had been compressed and released into the air, it just had instant torque on tap, a very underratted engine in there day.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by GTP290

Having owned a couple of holden red 6 powered cars,a 308 commodore, 5 cleveland motored cars a couple of windsors and 2 early model and 2 late model Ford sixes a BOSS engined GTP and a 460 bigblock, Id have to say the 351 clevo was my favourite engine, lots of low down torque, tons of revs, tough as nails, and no overheating issues as with the windsors.
But I have to say my brothers 265 powered VG Pacer was an absolute screamer of engine, flooring that car was like releasing a massive spring that had been compressed and released into the air, it just had instant torque on tap, a very underratted engine in there day.

I think the thing that made the chrysler 6's feel powerful was the fact that they were in light weight mid sized cars. The chryslers were over 230kg's lighter than a Falcon.
I do agree tho, the clevo was the pick of the bunch!

[MRJUCY]

As much as I'm a V8 nut & would love to say Clevo or even the T3 motor the current turbo 6 is the best hands down IMO, the BAF version was good but the FG really is a massive leap all round. It has far more power then anything else available anywhere in the rev range, NVH is world class & fuel economy is very good if you are sensible (but thirsty if you are not) & is an easy motor to squeeze more out of.

[peachey80]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Ford Barra 245 T or whatever it is now. World class technology and refinement designed perfectly for Australian conditions.

Close second is the Valiant Hemi 6. Even by today standards it is a tip top engine and considering it made do with carby's, pushrods and 1960s design techniques it could pull the power, torque and be damn near bulletproof. In 265 cu form it still pulls as much power and has better torque character than the Holden 3.6 alloytec.

Third is probably the Toyota 3FR-SE or whatever it is in the aurion, sure the car is crap but the engine is grouse.

Best V8 would be the Leyland 4.4l V8. All alloy, smooth and economical all in 1973. Best 4 cylinder is tough would probably some old Merc motor or something, all sorts of weird and wonderful cars were made in Australia in the 1960s, the 4 cylinder Family 2 in the Vectra is suppose would be the best i know off

The best V8 to come out in a Aussie car and you come up with a P76 V8... :

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by peachey80

The best V8 to come out in a Aussie car and you come up with a P76 V8... :

LOL, there's a few other roughy's in that list too!

[CAMS290]

The Ford I6 without a doubt...it has been around for a zillion years and has morphed into the greatest homegrown engine in Australian history.

The only thing it doesn't have is a racing history like the Clevo or 308, both of which are no longer produced.

All the others have gone by the wayside, but not the I6.

1 million k's to full overhaul in taxis, i have one with 300,000 on it, doesn't use oil or rattle, and now the FG F6....do you need anymore proof...standing 1/4's in the 12's stock, and 80-120 in 2.7 seconds, M3 and E63 territory !

[Gobes32]

It's true, the I6 is tough as nails, runs well on gas when tuned properly, parts are cheap and there is plenty of knowledge around if you so need it. But is it the BEST motor ever made in Australia? The clevo in the Phase 4 would surely be the greatest? But how many people will ever drive one? My mate had a 383 stroker and it was more fun than naked jelly wrestling, but once again, how can you vote for something no one else will experience? This is a very good thread, but the questions still remain................

1.What is the fastest motor?

2.The toughest (i.e keeps going)

3.Cheapest to mod (bang for your buck)

4. Most frugal?

[GTP290]

how would the VL turbo 6 rate? You can get them to go very quick on a budget, but it seems Fords mighty Aussie T6 has blown the little jap engine out the water, but Im sure many would debate this statement!