I decided to start this as a discussion that was forming from another thread so as not to Hijack...... What are the great American Engines vs say the great Euro engines...... are we talking power, sophistication, reliability, which one would you like to own.... and service...... and maybe what would be your choice to squeeze into a Mini ....in the current position...in front....can we have some fun with this?

 

You can't get much more American than a Chevy small-block...


in a '70 Camaro! Pics are scanned, sorry.
Specs...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=71348

 

Interesting question. I would suggest by starting to read here http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1890

There is nothing like a NA big block American Iron.

If you take a look at the latest AMG Mercedes lines, your going to fine ALL NA large V8s, 4 cylinder Turbos are out.

Turbocharging or supercharging four or six cylinder engines to get to V8 power levels simply adds more complexity and weight to an already challenged engine design, and sacrifices the low end torque of a naturally aspirated powerplant. (Just ask Mercedes’ AMG division, who’ve recently switched from supercharged eights and sixes normally aspirated 6.3-liter V8's.)

The adage that there is no substitute for cubic inches has always been correct.

 

This is the truth!
There is NOTHING like the sound of high compression big-block Chevy with a healthy cam.

 

Funny you should mention that but a few months ago we were at a speed shop and some guy pulls in with an old Hemi. You just knew the Headers were on and the lumpity-lump was awesome.

 

I'm just partial to old Chevy iron. But my grin is just as big with a HEMI of any size, or a 440, and of course a 428,429,460cid Ford, but to get the big smile, it has to have 14-15:1 compression w/lumpy cam and burning that funny purple gas.

 

Very few of the classic V8s really stack up in terms of HP or efficiency compared to todays motors. Sure they sounded great, but that lumpity-lump sound is from a motor so inefficient at idle that it almost wouldn't run. For the time and place, sure I like a V8 (though I'm partial to the 289, a high revver, but not the power or weight of a true big block).

Now, what would I like to build and service? No question a pushrod V-8. Preferably in a chassis old enough you could sit on the fender, straddle the motor, and tune the carb! I'm not as flexible as I used to be.

What would I like to own? Hmmm. A lot of the Ferrari motors are real pretty. But I sure wouldn't want to tune one....

I did see (but like a knuckle head, didn't bookmark) some photos of a guy in england who had put a 4L (or 4.1L) Rover V8 in a mini. Looked good! I also saw a conversion where a 455 was hooked up to an Olds tornado transaxle, all with a bit of custom work like a cam so the motor could run backwards, and that was plopped backwards into a Dodge Omni, I think. Rear wheel drive dragster! Now that's a Mini conversion no one has tried.....

Matt

 

not sure wat engine model number it is, but i was impressed by the great
milage you can get off the new vettes while maintaining a lot of hp and torque.

 

I saw a Cobra kit car take off from the line a couple of days ago and that V8 had no problem getting through the gears in fast time...... There was a post that includd the phrase.... "americans make good engines" and someone scoffed at it....... not to be political but "horses for courses" .... those big V8s made a lot of sense for a long time..... I worked on 318s in high school.... tore it completely down to the berings....reground the valves.....all the way to rebuilding the carb.... and yes you could sit in the fender and work.......