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.

[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.

[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.

[jakkes]

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

[Ricks_Xr6t]

Originally Posted by 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.

slant6 was a direct copy of a BMW engine which was only a 2.5ltr and chrysler did a good job with it yeah but had to make the capacity twice the size to get equal power.

[Bossxr8]

I6 Turbo hands down, without a doubt. No other engine can match its economy, which can get well down into single figures during a cruise, its cheap power upgrade potential, its smoothness, bang for your buck, and the fact that in FG F6 form its the quickest Australian car you can buy, I still don't think any W427 has run faster than a 12.6 stock.

They are tough as nails too, how many engines can run 10's with standard internals, including valve springs. LS engines can't.

[LOCO XP]

Easy choice, Starfire 4cyl esp when fitted to a VB Commodore.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by Ricks_Xr6t

slant6 was a direct copy of a BMW engine which was only a 2.5ltr and chrysler did a good job with it yeah but had to make the capacity twice the size to get equal power.

Its ohv version of its side valve engine before it..
Was so tall thay laid it over to fit ..


The little boxer flat four EJ20 / 25 from Subaru, The SR20 from Nissan and lets not forget the Evo engines from Mitsi..Then the 2JGTET from Toyota, 1UZ from Lexus [Toyota].. The 2J is the engine doing quick times at present and in std form go o/k in Supra's...

yea I must say the Starfire takes some beating!! To think Toyota fitted these into their cars.. So they MUST be good!! hahaha
About as good as the P76 6 cylinder.."Lucky" we didn't get the Tasman and Kimberly here...

[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.

[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

[GT0132]

The Chrysler Hemi 265 in E37 config

[Biggav]

orrite then Slant 6 to be absouletly correct then.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by Biggav

orrite then Slant 6 to be absouletly correct then.

Wasn't the slant 6 from AP5/6 vintage, a bit older than the Hemi 6.

I think the point that was being made was that the Hemi 6 doesn't really have "proper" hemispherical chambers.

[Gobes32]

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

[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

[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.

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by Aeron

I much prefer to drive my LS2 powered SS because of its instant throttle response.

don't you mean your L98 powered SS? LS2 is HSV only, unless of course you've done an engine change.


on topic.

for a 6, the I6T is king,
V8 it has to be the LS1,2,3 and L98 family

[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

[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... :