GM, Dodge and Ford engine sizing in the past

[TomSeller]

Now a new 4cyl mustang will out run any of the old big block muscle cars in a 1/4 mi drag race.

6 bangers and 4 bangers are making history of the gas 8 cylinder. It won't be long before you can't get them. Too bad, nothing like the sound of a meaty V8

 

[94BULLITT]

6 bangers and 4 bangers are making history of the gas 8 cylinder. It won't be long before you can't get them. Too bad, nothing like the sound of a meaty V8

I doubt the V8 will go away. We are just going to see smaller, more efficient and more powerful V8's.

 

[TomSeller]

I doubt the V8 will go away. We are just going to see smaller, more efficient and more powerful V8's.

You may be correct in select models, but the high volume models I bet are more dominated by the 4 and 6 cyl in years to come. Many are already.

 

[jejeosborne]

The 4 barrel carb. was good until it started to over flow crossing a railroad track or bump in road and poured gas over the engine.
Then driving got interesting. stop raise hood and use fire fighting methods to put out fire road side gravel and sand or snow what ever could grab.
ken

Experience this on a boat. Nothing like seeing gasoline boiling on the manifold in the middle of the largest river in the US with your family aboard. Well at least water was close by if needed. Lol

 

[deerefan]

You may be correct in select models, but the high volume models I bet are more dominated by the 4 and 6 cyl in years to come. Many are already.

The V8 hopefully won't go away. That being said, we had a glimpse of what we are seeing now in the 80s with the Buick Grand National. It was out running cars with twice the cubic inches and getting good fuel mileage to boot. There was also the SVO Mustang with the turbo four that for its time was competitive.

 

[downsizingnow48]

My first hot rod was a 1958 Corvette with two four barrel carburetors on a 283 rated at 270hp. I put a bigger camshaft in it and 4.56 rear end. It was fast for about 200 yards then would get outrun by the 383s and 390s and 396s. So my second hot rod was a 1968 Camaro with the tri-power 427 rated at 400 hp. It had the small oval port heads and made huge torque up to about 4500 rpm. It had 4.10 gears. Never got beat on the street, that is a fact. No third hot rod, the insurance companies and law enforcement made it too expensive. But I learned how to rebuild engines, clutches, transmissions, driveshafts and rear ends before that era ended!

 

[arrow]

I doubt the V8 will go away. We are just going to see smaller, more efficient and more powerful V8's.

The small V8 is currently being used in formula1 racing (2.4L) and Hayabusa is making one with 420hp to put on a bike.. . Someone (BMW?) made a 3 liter V10. I think the V8's of the future will become "fad" engines. It's much cheaper to build a 4 or 6 cyl engine and slap a turbo on it. They can even fake engine sounds now with a flip of a switch (ugh).
Personally, I like the lopity -lope idle of an old iron V8 built for HP.

 

[arrow]

Funny you mention Arnie Beswick. He is from my area and he had his car at a show I was at several years ago. I remember him doing a huge burnout in the parking lot before he put it on the trailer.

I talked with the guy in 65 Dman when he was campaigning a 64 Tempest. He was using a 421 at the time. Pontiac was developing their 428 and he was alleged to be getting one in 1966 before they came into production. At the beginning, he was truly on his own packing up the Tempest right from the farm and traveling across the country. Back then it was all about weight reduction. Funny cars were doing 9's and 10's and they had no blowers. It was quite the time.

 

[Oaktree]

Well said. They don't make them like they used to, they make them better.

They would also out accelerate, out corner and out brake all but a very few of the 1960's muscle cars. That with the AC on, stereo, power seats, power windows, power locks seats for five and a large trunk. Then push 30mpg if driven at 55mph on a trip.

True on both accounts, but something seems to have been lost along the way. Cars have become appliances...nothing to really differentiate one from another...they all just seem the same. All the government mandates are a big part of this, but it's been a long time since anything's come along that I consider even remotely stylish. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I can't see someone 40 years from now showing off his lovingly restored 02 Corrola or Accord.

 

[mikehaugen]

It's much cheaper to build a 4 or 6 cyl engine and slap a turbo on it. They can even fake engine sounds now with a flip of a switch (ugh).

I don't know if I believe this. Maybe, but I doubt it.

True on both accounts, but something seems to have been lost along the way. Cars have become appliances...nothing to really differentiate one from another...they all just seem the same. All the government mandates are a big part of this, but it's been a long time since anything's come along that I consider even remotely stylish. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I can't see someone 40 years from now showing off his lovingly restored 02 Corrola or Accord.

This is very true. Although I still believe the new challenger is an exception.