Influential American Engines That Changed Cars Forever

28. Ford Windsor 5.0

After the original muscle car era passed in the early 1970s, car manufacturers including Ford turned to produce low compression engines that were shadows of the former glorious V8. The power levels were embarrassingly low and throughout the ’70s and early ’80s, serious performance was just a mirage. However, Ford offered its venerable 5.0 V8 in Mustangs and other models, constantly upgrading the specification and power output from the diminutive 140 HP in 1979. From 1978 to 1985, Ford offered the 5.0 in the Mustang GT with 170 HP output. However, the biggest change appeared in 1986 when Ford introduced its electronic fuel injection intake system to 5.0. This transformed it from the old, weak unit into a modern muscle car engine.

This combination proved successful since the 5.0 EFI had a 225 HP rating, more than adequate for the standards of the day. The 5.0 EFI was a reliable engine with great balance, proven technology, good fuel efficiency, and big tuning potential. Installed in the lightweight Fox-body Mustang, the 5.0 was the engine to have in the late 1980s. It provided great performance at an affordable price. Even today, 5.0 Mustangs are legendary for their performance. There is a whole industry dedicated to restoring, upgrading, and racing those cool machines. Along with Chevrolet`s small block from the Corvette and the Camaro, Ford`s 5.0 EFI engine, which was produced from 1986 to 1993, is credited as the engine that saved American performance and muscle cars in the ’80s.

27. Iron Duke

It is strange to see this four-cylinder engine amongst the high-powered V8s on our list, but we had to feature it since it was a very important engine. The importance of the Iron Duke lies in the fact that it was one of the very few four-cylinder engines produced during the late ’70s and ’80s, and even though it wasn’t very powerful, it was successful and made in millions.

It started life in 1977, and Pontiac first used it. Displacing 2.5 liters and delivering just 84 hp, it was nothing to write home about. But in the Malaise Era, the design, output, and fuel economy were just the Pontiac needed, and the engine proved to be popular and steadily improved over the years. It stayed in production until 1993, and during that time, it powered various models from Pontiac, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobile.

26. Chrysler Slant Six

It’s amazing that Chrysler’s simple yet very dependable and durable six-cylinder engine was produced from 1959 till 2000. Over the course of 41 years, Chrysler made millions of those legendary engines and put them in almost all products it made. Even more so, Slant Six was often seen installed in machines, boats, or trucks, and proved very efficient, easy to maintain, and reliable.

The Slant Six design started life in the late ’50s with 170 cubic inch displacement, which was enlarged to 198 cubic inches soon. In 1960, it became the 225, which was the displacement this engine kept till the end. Chrysler realized the potential of this straight-six and offered an aluminum block option. Chrysler offered multi-carb setups, high-performance parts over the years, and Slant Six even scored victories in NASCAR. Interestingly, Slant Six was very popular in export markets as well.

25. Ford 428 Cobra Jet

Ford presented the legendary Cobra Jet as a mid-year introduction in 1968 as a new muscle car engine from Ford. The pressure from Chevrolet’s 427 V8, Mopar’s 440 and 426 Hemi, and Pontiac’s 421 and 428 V8 made the 427 Medium Risers obsolete. Ford needed a new mass-produced muscle engine to battle their competitors, so they designed the Cobra Jet engine to be affordable but still durable and powerful enough.

Ford rated the 428 Cobra Jet at 335 HP, but it was immediately obvious their new offering put out much more than that. In fact, it put out over 400 to 450 HP, which was enough to claim the title of Stock Car Champion and winner of many illegal street races. In 1969, Ford produced over 20,000 Cobra Jet engines and even rarer Super Cobra Jet engines. They featured tougher internals and a couple of performance upgrades but retained their factory power output of 335 HP.

24. Ford 5.0 Coyote

Back in the early 2000s, Chevrolet was the king of affordable and well-built V8 engines with their eponymous LS motors. At the same time, Ford had a 4.6-liter V6 which barely managed 300 hp and wasn’t known for its durability or tuning potential. Dearborn knew that they needed something special to take the crown from the Chevy.

The answer arrived in 2011 in the form of a very modern and very efficient 5.0-liter V8 called Coyote. This is a naturally-aspirated engine filled with modern technology, high-revving potential, direct injection, and variable valve timing. The initial power output was 420 hp, but current Coyote V8s produce 480 hp in stock trim with more available with common bolt-on parts.

23. Chrysler 2.2-Liter

From this perspective, it’s safe to say that Chrysler was saved from bankruptcy by two things, the K-Car platform and a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, both of which were introduced in the early ’80s and proved perfect for the times. The 2.2-liter (later 2.5-liter) was an ideal engine since it offered compact size, decent performance, and good fuel economy. This unit was installed in almost all Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth models of the period and stayed in production until 1995.

Interestingly, Chrysler offered it with the turbocharger, and a modest 2.2-liter managed to be one of the most potent compact engines of the period. One of the best examples was the Dodge Omni GLH. It was also one of the best affordable performance models drivers could buy. Nobody expected Dodge could produce a hot hatch that could beat the European competitors. But with Shelby’s help, it did just that. Shelby took the 2.2-liter four-cylinder and added a turbocharger. This gave the Omni GLH a total output of 175 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of fewer than seven seconds. Dodge offered the GLH some suspension modifications and other upgrades so it could handle all that power.

22. Ford 300 CID

Even though Ford gained fame for its V8s, ordinary customers and working men preferred its 300 CID straight-six offering that was introduced in 1965 and remained in production for 31 years. The 300 CID was the simple straight-six engine, which was designed to be a standard engine option on F-Series trucks and Ford Bronco.

Initially delivering 170 hp, this six-cylinder was praised for its durability, high torque figure, dependability, and affordability. Ford sold it as a crate engine, and it was also used for machines, trucks, and boats.

21. Oldsmobile Rocket V8

For the 1949 model year, Oldsmobile presented two essential things: the 88 model series and a new 303 CID V8 engine they called the Rocket V8. Both innovations would prove influential in Oldsmobile history. The 88 model was relatively light and compact, and the Rocket V8 was a hot engine with a two-barrel carburetor and 135 HP on tap.

The combination of a light body and powerful engine in the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 made it the first muscle car from Detroit. The 1949 Olds 88 enjoyed quite a success with customers and on the race track, too. It won six out of nine NASCAR races that year, proving competitive on the drag strips as well. The engine and the car were the themes of one of the first rock and roll songs ever made, Rocket 88, by the Kings of Rhythm. All of this makes this engine extremely influential in automotive history and also in the history of rock and roll.

20. Ford Flathead V8

The 1932 Ford came with one of the best engines of the 20^th century. It was Ford’s simple-but-effective 3.6-liter V8 engine with just 65 HP at the beginning of production. Even though other carmakers offered V8 engines for their models, Ford’s design proved to be the toughest.

Soon, it became the definitive engine for anybody looking for power in an affordable package. In fact, when hot rodders found out that the Flathead V8 had serious tuning potential, the ’32 Ford became the favorite base for all kinds of modifications. The 1932 Ford with the Flathead V8 engine is one of the most revolutionary and important cars in automotive history. It introduced V8 power to a larger market, establishing the V8 as one of the most recognizable features in the car industry.

19. Chevrolet 6.2-liter LT4 Supercharged V8

What is the greatest feature of the new Corvette C7 Z06, aside from a great chassis, design, and legacy? It’s the small-block 6.2-liter V8 engine with a big supercharger on top. It provides 650 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque, an astonishing number. This LT4 engine is the evolution of a long line of Chevrolet small-block engines dating back to 1955.

Despite the advanced technology other manufacturers use, Chevrolet is still faithful to its simple-yet-effective formula. It includes a single camshaft and valve lifters. In comparison to some other high tech V8s on this list, Chevrolet’s solution may seem primitive, but there’s no denying the results. The combination of classic analog engineering with a massive supercharger equals 650 HP, smoky burnouts, and a true V8 legend.

18. Ford Voodoo V8

The renaissance of American performance in 2010 brought many fantastic engines from domestic car brands. Chevrolet has its line of fantastic LS and ZL-1 small-block V8s and Dodge had its mighty Hemis. When Ford presented a modern, powerful 5.0 V8 they called the Coyote in 2010, it featured modern components, variable valve timing systems, and 32-valve heads. But despite the Coyote being fantastic, the Voodoo V8 took the crown for one of the best modern Ford engines. It is also one of the best production units in America. With 5.2-liters of displacement, they loosely based the Voodoo on the Coyote V8 architecture but with different components and characteristics.

First, the Voodoo features a flat-plane crankshaft, an exotic solution for a muscle car engine. Second, it has newly-designed high-flow heads and forged pistons. Third, it has heavy-duty internals and exhaust systems. The Voodoo delivers 526 HP, more than 100 HP per liter of displacement. The red line is at 8,250 rpm, which is unbelievable for a V8 engine. The Voodoo is the most advanced muscle car engine with technology equal to exotic European cars. Presently, the Voodoo is only available in the Shelby GT350 and its more powerful, lighter GT350 R variant.

17. Chevrolet Small Block V8

It’s hard to comprehend, but Chevrolet’s small-block V8 was in production for precisely 50 years from 1953 to 2003, with a basically unchanged design and features. During five decades, GM made over 100 million of those engines, installing them in countless cars, trucks, boats, pickups, and machines. Even today, the GM powertrain division makes numerous V8 engines with the same basic principles, design, and displacement.

There would be no Corvette, no muscle cars, no powerboats, and no hot rod culture if it weren’t for that simple but fantastically effective V8 engine. With two valves per cylinder and a single camshaft in the engine block, the Chevrolet small-block V8 managed to beat several more complicated units. Once the EVs take over, most drivers will miss the rumble of a carbureted 5.7-liter V8.

16. Ford 6.8-Liter Power Stroke V8

The only diesel engine on this list is the Power Stroke V8, which Ford produced from 2011 to 2015 for their trucks. International Harvester produced the previous generation of Ford diesel engines, but the company received many complaints about the engine and its quality. So the company decided to design the next generation in-house to iron out all its flaws. Although it isn’t a new V8, you still can find them all over America, and with low mileage too.

The 2011 Power Stroke was tougher than any other V8 diesel engine on the market. They fixed the fuel and intake systems and the new powerplant delivered 390 HP and 738 lb-ft of torque. Besides the big power and great performance, the 6.7-Liter Power Stroke V8 also delivered an efficient fuel economy. It was also quiet-running and powered anywhere in its rev range. After the 2015 upgrade, which included a new turbo and engine management system, the fantastic V8 diesel delivered 440 HP and a massive 860 lb-ft of torque.

15. Chrysler 6.2-Liter SRT Hellcat Supercharged V8

One of the meanest, scariest engines on this list is Chrysler’s crazy 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi. Chrysler produced these V8s for their Hellcat versions of the Challenger and the Charger. This engine pushes the boundaries of Hemi design as well as the concept of a street-legal V8. With 707 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Hellcat Hemi propels any car to sublime speeds in just a couple of seconds. This is the final and most powerful version of Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi, which debuted in 2003. The secret of the Hemi engine is its cylinder head, which is bigger and more hemispherical, hence the name. This concept allows the engine to burn more fuel at higher rpm to deliver more power.

Even though the basic 5.7 Hemi was a decent engine, Chrysler engineers wanted more. With the help of a larger displacement block and 2.4-liter supercharger unit, they got the monstrous 707 HP that deserves the nickname, “Hellcat.” However, car fans are afraid this is the last time they’ll see a crazy engine like that. The trend is to downsize, so the Hellcat Hemi could be the last great American V8.

14. Hemi 426

One of the most famous engines in the muscle car era was the Chrysler 426 Hemi V8. They conceived it in the early ’50s with an innovative way of constructing the heads of the engine with big, hemispherical combustion chambers and side-mounted valves. This configuration proved to deliver more power, torque, and revs than regular V8 engines. Soon, Chrysler adopted it for most of its cars. The Hemi family started with the 331 CID engine and went all the way to 392 CID before they discontinued it in the late ’50s. However, while looking for racing engines, Chrysler engineers remembered the Hemi. They decided to resurrect it in 1964 as a pure racing engine with 426 CID or 7.0-liters of displacement. The new engine proved to be fantastic for drag racing and on the NASCAR ovals, too.

It didn’t take long for management to understand its commercial potential. So in 1966, the 426 Hemi became a regular production option on selected Dodge and Plymouth models. Compared to other muscle car engines of the period, the Hemi was the king and soon earned the nickname “The Elephant” for its size and power. In street trim, they rated the engine at 425 HP, but it was obvious it delivered around 500 HP straight from the factory. Soon, the Hemi became the most desirable engine for all street racers The last year of the 426 Hemi production was 1971. For five years, they installed around 10,000 engines in Dodge and Plymouth cars, and even in drag racing boats.

13. Ford Boss 429

The mythical Boss 429 engine is a proper muscle car legend. Ford built the engine in 1969 as a pure racing engine for use in the NASCAR championship. The Boss 429 featured different engine architecture than the rest of the Ford big blocks. The Boss 429 was much wider and had semi-Hemi combustion chambers that helped it achieve higher revs. With better flow inside the head, it produced more power and torque. Although it was factory-rated at 375 HP, in reality, this unit produced over 500 HP, and even more in race trim.

Ford decided to put the Boss 429 engine into the Mustang, creating a limited production Boss 429. However, NASCAR decided not to homologate it since the series only accepted intermediate and full-size cars and the Mustang was a pony car model. So, Ford homologated the Torino Talladega, adding the Boss 429. Ford participated in the 1969 season with Torinos and Mercury Cyclones powered with the Boss 429 engine. Those cars proved successful, winning 30 out of 54 races that year. Ford designed the Boss 429 to run at high RPMs for long periods of time and achieve peak power high in the rpm range. Unfortunately, the Mustang Boss 429 never fulfilled its street racing potential since the mighty engine needed those long superspeedway tracks to reach full power rather than short quarter-mile stretches.

12. Chrysler 440 V8

Available between 1965 and 1978, the Chrysler 440 CID V8 was one of the most popular big blocks on the market. It was the last version of the ancient RB big-block V8. This engine was a feature in almost all Chrysler products, from Dodge and Plymouth to Chrysler and Imperial. The 440 was a tough, dependable unit and the performance intake made it one of the best muscle car street engines ever.

The high-performance versions produced 375 HP, but with the “Six Pack” intake system containing three two-barrel carburetors, power output was 395 HP. The 440 V8 was often compared to the Hemi since they produced similar power and they used them in the same models. However, the Hemi was a little more powerful and had much more tuning potential for those serious racers. During the ’70s, the compression levels declined, and so did the power levels. That meant that in 1978, the 440 V8 was just a big engine without power. Even in the “police interceptor” package for 1978, the once-mighty 440 V8 produced just 255 HP.

11. Chevrolet 454 V8

Chevrolet’s biggest engine was the 454 V8 they introduced in 1970. Chevrolet built it using the 427 V8 as a base, installing it in numerous cars, including the Corvette. When the 454 V8 debuted, the 427 V8 stayed in production, so Chevy had two big blocks to offer.

The 454 was factory-rated at 390 HP. However, for a limited time, Chevrolet offered a 450 HP LS6 version, which was the prime muscle car engine at the time. However, they took one more step beyond the LS6, and that was the LS7. It had a rating of 465 HP, but it was a limited-production item that later moved to the aftermarket crate engine segment. The original 454 V8 was in production until 1976, gradually losing power and torque due to tightening emissions standards. Chevrolet re-introduced the 454 in the late ’80s as their truck engine.

10. Pontiac 455 V8

After the 421 and 428 V8, both successful big block power plants Pontiac produced in the ’60s, they presented the mighty 455 V8 in 1970. The engine was similar to other General Motors big blocks, but it had a few important differences.

The biggest difference was the stroke, which was longer than the other engines, making Pontiac’s V8 unit more powerful. Even though the power rating was 370 HP, the 500 lb-ft of torque rating was even more impressive. They installed the 455 V8 mostly in luxury and full-size cars, but the GTO and Firebird Trans Am received it as well. They discontinued the engine in 1976, and in its final phase, it only produced 200 HP.

9. Buick 455 V8

Buick offered their 455 V8 in 1970. It came with the same displacement as the Pontiac V8, but with different technology and construction. The different bore and stroke dimensions, as well as the thin-wall casting, made the Buick unit the lightest of all GM big blocks.

The initial power output was a healthy 350 to 360 HP, but the torque was an astonishing 510 lb-ft. That was only 10 more than the Pontiac 455. That meant the Buick 455 officially became the engine with the biggest torque rating in the muscle car class. They installed this unit in the Buick luxury car lineup. Also, a small amount went to the GS, Rivieras, and GSX muscle cars. The engine was discontinued in 1976 when it produced around 250 HP.

8. Oldsmobile 455 V8

Oldsmobile presented its own 455 V8 in 1968, basing it on the Oldsmobile big block like 425. The 455 was an updated version with more bore and stroke and different heads. In comparison to similar engines, the Olds Rocket 455 produced the highest amount of horsepower.

The base Rocket 455 V8 only produced 275 HP, but most of the engines produced 375 HP since they came with four-barrel carburetors. From 1968 to 1970, Oldsmobile produced a performance version of the Rocket 455 for the Toronado GT coupe. It produced 400 HP, which was the biggest officially-rated number. As with other big blocks from GM, they retired the Rocket 455 V8 in 1976. However, Oldsmobile produced a few more units until 1978 for motor homes and various other industrial buyers.

7. Lincoln 460 V8

The biggest passenger car engine the Ford Motor Company ever produced was the famous 460 V8 initially designed for Lincoln and Mercury. Based on an old 385 V8 engine, the 460 was thoroughly re-engineered with future fuel and emissions regulations in mind. This made the 460 V8 the first truly modern 1960s big block.

Introduced in 1968 and installed in the Lincoln Continental Mark III coupe, the 460 delivered a solid 365 HP and a healthy 485 lb-ft of torque. They designed it as a luxury car engine and Lincoln was proud of its smooth power delivery and effortless cruising. As with all other big blocks, they phased the 460 V8 out in the late ’70s for passenger cars, but it continued to serve in heavy-duty trucks and motor homes until 1997.

6. Cadillac 472 V8

In a relentless quest for performance, power, and prestige, Cadillac introduced the 472 V8 in 1968. It was the biggest passenger engine in the world at the time. The new powerplant replaced the 429 V8, and with 50 more CID came new technology and more power. The 1968 to 1970 472 V8 produced 375 HP and 525 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to deliver lively driving dynamics.

Over the years, the power level went down. The last year for the 472 V8 engine was 1974 when it produced just 205 HP. Sadly, it was just a pale shadow of its former self.

5. Cadillac 500 V8

The Cadillac 472 was an enormous, potent engine when they introduced in 1968. However, GM’s top luxury brand wanted more. So just two years later, the company introduced the mighty 500 V8 with the biggest displacement in the world.

At first, the new engine was exclusive to the Eldorado coupe. But after 1975, it was available in Fleetwood sedans and limousines, and the De Ville, as well as the commercial chassis. The 500 V8 produced 400 HP for 1970 and an astonishing 550 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, this engine was also affected by emissions regulations and low compression. Gradually, it lost power to the point where the once-mighty Cadillac 500 V8 only produced 190 HP. They ceased production in 1977.

4. Dodge 8.0-Liter V10

In the late ’80s when Dodge started the Viper sports car project, the company didn’t have a proper, high-performance, high-output engine. Back in the day, American car manufacturers just started producing engines with substantial power. The biggest power plant Dodge had was the 5.9-liter V8 that produced 230 HP. The Viper project demanded a bigger, more powerful engine. The Dodge engineers produced a couple of prototypes using the 5.9 Magnum block with two more cylinders, creating the V10 configuration. This engine proved to be promising, so Chrysler decided to develop it for sports car use and for the truck division as well.

The final version grew to an enormous 8.0-liters or 500 CID. Also, the V10 configuration was quite exotic for a mainstream American carmaker. The truck V10 had an iron block and internals to provide torque as well as power along with durability under hard working conditions. The sports car version had an aluminum block and more power for better performance. You may have heard that the V10 in the Viper is the same engine Dodge used in its trucks but that’s not true. They are similar in construction and architecture, but the materials and output are not the same. Also, not many of the components are interchangeable. The first-generation Viper engine produced 450 HP and 490 lb-ft of torque, which were impressive numbers for the early ’90s.

3. Dodge 8.3 and 8.4-Liter V10

Dodge presented the next generation of the Dodge monstrous engine along with the second generation Viper in 2003. The basic construction was the same, but they updated the cylinder heads, along with the cooling and valve train. The displacement grew to 8.3-liters or 505 CID, and the power climbed to 510 HP. This engine went to the Dodge Viper and also the Dodge Ram SRT-10 pickup, making it the fastest truck in the world.

In 2008, Dodge introduced a slightly improved version of the same engine which now produced 600 HP with a slightly bigger displacement at 8.4-liters. In 2013 with the introduction of the last generation Viper model, the 8.4-liter V10 returned but with 640 HP. Unfortunately, Dodge Viper production stopped in 2017, which meant Dodge also stopped producing this fabulous engine as well.

2. Cadillac Blackwing Twin-Turbo V8

Although the GM powertrain division is among the best in the world, most drivers were surprised to learn about Cadillac’s new Blackwing V8. This is a clean-sheet design and the first twin-turbo unit Cadillac has ever produced. It’s an all-aluminum engine with a modern cylinder head construction. The “Hot V” configuration means the turbochargers are between the cylinder banks.

The engine has a displacement of 4.2-liters and a nominal power output from 500 to 550 HP. This engine is available in only one model, the Cadillac CT6-V, starting from the 2019 model year. This is a limited-production model that magazine testers called one of the best American sedans ever built.

1. Ford 7.3-Liter Godzilla V8

You probably know about the Coyote 5.0-liter in the Mustang and the fantastic Voodoo 5.2-liter V8 in the Shelby GT350, but what’s the new 7.3-liter Godzilla? It’s one of the hottest new V8 engines designed especially for heavy-duty trucks and towing. The 7.3-liter is famous for its unique characteristics and distinctive old-school approach in a modern package.

The 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 is a push-rod, small-block, gasoline V8 engine that looks like it came from the ’60s. But with the latest technologies, state-of-the-art fuel injection systems, modern castings, and electronic engine management, it’s far from vintage. The new 7.3-liter is brutally-dependable, tough, and easy to repair. Surprisingly, it is also economical, powerful, and can last millions of miles. The nominal power figures are 430 HP and 475 lb-ft of torque, but the Blue Oval guys are sure to offer much more from this package.

These 20 influential American engines helped change the car world. Even nowadays, they’re still making an impact on how the major car manufacturers produce engines. While newer engines are coming, the older ones are still powering many cars on the roadways today.