GM, Dodge and Ford engine sizing in the past

[DarkBlack]

The best sounding V-8 is still the Flathead Ford.

I like the sound of this German engine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x8f0z-HfRI

 

[arrow]

There was a famous road test in where a Pontaic GTO took on a Ferrari GTO. The Pontiac came out on top. It should have been running a 389 tri power. Instead, they found out later, it was running a 429 Super Duty that was bordering on a pure race setup. .

Subtract -1 from that Super Duty pontiac engine DMan. There was an old time funny car driver by the name of Farmer Arnie Beswick. He was the only guy in funny car match racing that used a true Pontiac engine based on the 428 which came out in 66 and put in 67's. All the other "Pontiacs" had hemis in them mostly.

 

[timswi]

Subtract -1 from that Super Duty pontiac engine DMan. There was an old time funny car driver by the name of Farmer Arnie Beswick. He was the only guy in funny car match racing that used a true Pontiac engine based on the 428 which came out in 66 and put in 67's. All the other "Pontiacs" had hemis in them mostly.

There also was the 1965 GTO 421 tri-power, 4:33, Muncie Bobcat...My dad had one when I was a kid...I still remember being pinned to the seat when he'd nail it....My mom said she almost divorced him when he sold it...mom can still slam some gears.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Jeez, you forgot 239(first overhead valve "Y" block V8, 1954) grew into 272, 292, 312; then the FE block( my favorite) 352, 390, 406, 410(Mercury), 427, etc. Owned them all except the 410 and up. The '61 390 was a tri-power as was the '62 406, both factory stock

Yes sir, I almost mentioned the 390. Sounds like you would have liked the old 292 we built a few years back. There's not many high performance parts for them, so we ended up building a 4B intake and having a cam custom ground for it. I have not clue why we did all that other than we wanted see what it would do.

With those solid lifters that thing would scream.

 

[dodge man]

Subtract -1 from that Super Duty pontiac engine DMan. There was an old time funny car driver by the name of Farmer Arnie Beswick. He was the only guy in funny car match racing that used a true Pontiac engine based on the 428 which came out in 66 and put in 67's. All the other "Pontiacs" had hemis in them mostly.

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.

 

[AGRIMAN]

The best sounding V-8 is still the Flathead Ford.

It hard to argue that point, but i will tell you, a 666 ci Ford sure sounds good to me.

 

[handirifle]

Gas and diesel engines, both, have come a LONG way in reliability and power. Sadly, for diesels, it's not the engines lack of reliability the epa mandated garbage, much like the gas engines of the 70's. I remember 454's that put out barely over 200hp in the late 70's. Pathetic.

One thing is for certain, in my mind, the older engines didn't last as long, weren't as refined, and generally got less mileage, but if (big IF) we ever have an EMP or similar, they, and the older diesels, will be the only things running.

All that said, I wouldn't trade my 06 Duramax for any truck on the road, gas or diesel. When I pull my (weighed on cert scale) 11,400lb 5th wheel and get 12.7 measured mpg, with tons of power to spare, I have no regrets switching from gas to diesel.

Back on topic. It seems to me the CC based engine measurements have ALWAYS been a tad off. Motorcycles were never exact. A 250cc engine was quite often 236cc or similar. Older Harley's on the other hand always seemed to be spot on, ie. 64 Cu In for the old Hawgs.

Newer engines are more refined, but power delivery is not up to the driver, in most cars, it's up to the computer. Tractions control, wheel spin control, everything is in control except the driver. The government mandates these controls, yet lets drivers behind the wheel that are absolutely clueless about actually driving. If it's more complicated than pushing the gas or brake, they get lost.

Heaven forbid they have to drive a stick shift. If you mention a term like "trailing throttle over steer", or counter steering a motorcycle, they look at you like you are speaking Chinese.

 

[94BULLITT]

The 5.3L /327 direct injection engine makes any old 350,400 or 454 a dog by comparison . 355HP and 383lb ft torque. Always starts, idles smooth, flat torque curve and mileage that will get you called prone to exaggeration .No vapour lock, no flooding, no fan belts jumping off. No points , no heat riser and no sticking choke. Runs 300,000 miles with just two set of spark plug changes,. Regular oil changes and air filter changes. Good old days, no they were not the good old days.
6.2L if you want 420HP and 460lb ft of torque. Cheaper fuel than diesel. No glow plugs, no turbo, no waste gate, no cooled EGR, no particulate filter and no urea injection. No fuel jelling and just one starting battery.

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

 

[buickanddeere]

The 86/87 Grand National and the 87 GNX set the standard for performance in the 1980's. 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.

 

[94BULLITT]

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