The five most significant Ford engines - one opinion

[Syndrome]

Just like holes in the bum, everybody has one.

[kypez]

They missed that the 302 still lived up to 2002 with the AU Falcon but I guess its US centric

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by kypez

They missed that the 302 still lived up to 2002 with the AU Falcon but I guess its US centric

What, citizens of those 50 states don't realise that a world exists outside their borders?

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

What, citizens of those 50 states don't realise that a world exists outside their borders?

Some don't recognise all 50 states as is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM3NSTbi4OQ

Some interesting mentions in that list. I would've thought the Coyote would get a mention or the Voodoo but I can see this list had a lot of longevity as a deciding factor.

[MercuryT]

Barra Turbo best Aust Ford engine by a mile in recent times.

Older I'll leave to others.

[happy1]

That's a difficult one. Many unbeatable work horses to choose from over the years:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_engines

the Kent engine, I4, year 1959 - 2002, would have been built in millions, and was absolutely indestructible.

The OHC / Pinto engine, I4, year 1970 to 1988, was also a work-horse over the years. The Cosworth version with the same block was more fun !

The CVH, I4 from 1980 to 2002 was an important one too.

Then the Zeta /Zetec from 1992 to 2004 was more fuel economical, and very reliable.

1964 to 2011 Cologne / Taunus V6, Durable, but uneconomical iron pigs, technology like an over-sized Briggs&Stratton engine.. but could purr like a pet when rev'ed, and some fitted Janspeed twin turbo kits to them also.

1983 - 2010 Navistar V8 Diesel.. PowerStroke from 2003 onwards had monster tuning potential ;-) New injectors and head studs, twice as big turbo and your truck had 500+ diesel kW and smoke like a freight train.

As some of you mentioned, the Barra DOCH in Australia and previous single cam versions have a big role in the Aussie history. Shame it wasn't globally available. Barra Turbos can beat anything.

Petrol V8, don't ask me! The Flatheads looks cool. Would love to have one as a coffee table that could start and run :-)

Cheers,

[bathurst77]

3.5 l cossie v8
how many gps and championships did that win?

[MITCHAY]

Barra Turbo for sure. At least for Aussies if not the world.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

3.5 l cossie v8
how many gps and championships did that win?

Not designed by Ford.

[Sprintey]

I like the humble Windsor block. Tractable, torquey passenger car engine; could power pickups, could win Bathurst and Lemans.

Aussie I6 in Barra Turbo form as well.

[Franco Cozzo]

When you see engines that have such long lifecycles, two that stand out to me locally is Windsor and Holden V8 it shows how resistant the industry is to update and change.

Same with the BTR Trans in the Falcons - how long did that run for - EA to BF Falcon

Maybe it's a mix of capital investment involved and the industry being run by bean counters but it seems the automotive industry hasn't been a driver in new technology development for 40+ years now.

I imagine the people who designed the Windsor were probably dead and buried by the time the last one rolled off the production line for the AU Falcon and their platform was still being used multiple decades later with a couple of modifications.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

When you see engines that have such long lifecycles, two that stand out to me locally is Windsor and Holden V8 it shows how resistant the industry is to update and change.

Same with the BTR Trans in the Falcons - how long did that run for - EA to BF Falcon

Maybe it's a mix of capital investment involved and the industry being run by bean counters but it seems the automotive industry hasn't been a driver in new technology development for 40+ years now.

I imagine the people who designed the Windsor were probably dead and buried by the time the last one rolled off the production line for the AU Falcon and their platform was still being used multiple decades later with a couple of modifications.

The local volumes made it increasingly difficult to justify investment in newer technology which continually became increasingly expensive.


Easy to justify in the 1960s building a simple cast iron, carburetor powered V8.


Difficult to justify in the 2010s a all alloy V8 with twin OHC, direct injection, full engine management system with numerous sensors from inlet to exhaust.


Borg Warner/BTR/Ion/DSI had a locally designed six speed automatic transmission but could get any of the locals to buy it.

[Sprintey]

You might know that when the Windsor was released, the hi-tech thing about it was the thin wall casting (also on the Falcon 6). This allowed the block weight to be very close to GM's all-alloy V8, while the Ford block would be much cheaper to produce.

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Not designed by Ford.

No but the thread doesnt say designed by ford.
It wore a ford badge in big letters, was a ford engine.

[Sar4890]

DFV for the win

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Not designed by Ford.

Not built by Ford either.

[GT450]

Was a derivative of the illustrious 289ci an engine which won many many races.

[Sprintey]

Oh yeah, Ford's brand spanking new 7.3L pushrod, naturally aspirated, simple V8.

[.:4:.]

My opinion is the flathead v8 made an impact from the 30s to 50s, but not so much in australia. Whilst many variations, the australian 250, come crossflow, come ohc which evolved into the barra is my pic. My car has a stock petrol barra, its nothing amazing performance wise, but they are know as reliable for a good amount of kays. Thats a reference to the motor not the other issues to be had with a bf as a car. And the barra is my pic as they are whats around me, and its what ive experienced. Yes ive grown up around things like eb's with efi windsors, x series with clevos, crossflows etc, my brother has an ed 6, my dad had an ef for a few years with the sohc head. All solid motors, but like when i bought my bf ghia, my brother refused to drive it because i bought a 6. So he bought a vq caprice with a 304 boat anchor. Sounded good, but the bf whaled on it. He finally caved and drove the bf and was, as bogans are, shocked a 6 that was 18 years newer in stock non turbo form was all around better then an old v8. Fairly similar torque figures, the 6 makes a few nm more, power wise the 6 makes more. An extra 2 gears also helps. But fuel economy is much tidier.

[MercuryT]

It doesn't fit the thread so I'm sorry.

But the V6 in the Ford Probe was very sweet to drive.

Was a better drive in the corners than my Falcon Turbo. (which I loved as needed space)

Sure no powerhouse but a Mazda I think?

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by MercuryT

It doesn't fit the thread so I'm sorry.

But the V6 in the Ford Probe was very sweet to drive.

Was a better drive in the corners than my Falcon Turbo. (which I loved as needed space)

Sure no powerhouse but a Mazda I think?

My ex wife had a couple of mazdas, an 03 mazda 6 with a 2.3 4 banger and an 08 cx9 with a 3.7L v6. Both motors had fomoco stamped on various parts. So im going as far to say, around that time ford had some input into those engines, so your probe v6 counts in my book.

[happy1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...ne_of_the_Year


Here is the full list of winners for 2019:
•International Engine of the Year: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
•Best Performance Engine: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
•Best New Engine: Jaguar electric powertrain
•Best Hybrid Powertrain: BMW 1.5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid
•Best Electric Powertrain: Jaguar electric powertrain
•Sub 150PS: Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder
•150PS to 250PS: Audi 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder
•250PS to 350PS: Porsche 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
•350PS to 450PS: Jaguar electric powertrain
•450PS to 550PS: Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
•550PS to 650PS: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 (different version)
•Above 650PS: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

A total of 69 automotive journalists from 31 countries around the world including The Car Guide’s Marc Lachapelle make up the International Engine of the Year jury.
______________

Not many Ford engines on this list...
Impressive how many wins BMW have had over the years.

Cheers,

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

My ex wife had a couple of mazdas, an 03 mazda 6 with a 2.3 4 banger and an 08 cx9 with a 3.7L v6. Both motors had fomoco stamped on various parts. So im going as far to say, around that time ford had some input into those engines, so your probe v6 counts in my book.

The V6 in the probe was a Mazda engine. Funnily enough the 3.7 V6 was totally a Ford engine. The same engine that was supposed to go into the Falcon.

[MercuryT]

On my mental health drive today I saw a Citric Acid BA Turbo - was mint and clearly all the upgrades.

Very quick.

Think I'll need to buy another one day but I suspect getting more expensive than cheaper......

[eb2fairmont]

The Mazda MZR ford still builds and calls ecoboost

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by happy1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...ne_of_the_Year


Here is the full list of winners for 2019:
•International Engine of the Year: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
•Best Performance Engine: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
•Best New Engine: Jaguar electric powertrain
•Best Hybrid Powertrain: BMW 1.5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid
•Best Electric Powertrain: Jaguar electric powertrain
•Sub 150PS: Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder
•150PS to 250PS: Audi 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder
•250PS to 350PS: Porsche 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
•350PS to 450PS: Jaguar electric powertrain
•450PS to 550PS: Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
•550PS to 650PS: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 (different version)
•Above 650PS: Ferrari 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

A total of 69 automotive journalists from 31 countries around the world including The Car Guide’s Marc Lachapelle make up the International Engine of the Year jury.
______________

Not many Ford engines on this list...
Impressive how many wins BMW have had over the years.

Cheers,

I think these guys also gave a gong to the VW twin grenade...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by eb2fairmont

The Mazda MZR ford still builds and calls ecoboost

Although based on the Mazda engine, it's significantly different.

[jpd80]

I was just thinking how fantastic the Cleveland and Windsor engines were
and what they would have been with that slightly wider 4.53" bore spacing.

[MercuryT]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Although based on the Mazda engine, it's significantly different.

Sorry to hijack thread but one thing I've learnt (imo) is more power doesn't equal more fun. I learned that on my BA Turbo.

Like how some people say older Ferraris and Porsches are more fun to drive than new ones, as you can actually get into it without losing your license in 5 seconds.........

Being able to drive a car responsibly but hard and stay (mostly) within limit is underrated.

Anyway, carry on with cool Ford engines as per thread. Fastest isn't always best and sound another big cool factor too.........

[HIPO]

Well they definitely got one of them right!