Top 10 Inline Sixes Ever Made

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

i,d like to add the toyota landcruiser diesel i6. the last one that was developed, 1hd-fte. specs are 4.2l deseil. four valves /cylinder, direct injection, ohc, turbo,inter-cooler, electronically-controlled injection pump(runs on truck diesel), cast iron construction. i don,t think ive heard a bad word about them, very reliable.

The mighty 1HD-FTE...we had one of them in a 100 series Landcruiser. Super reliable big lump, and surprisingly economical for it's size. Mechanics would happily tell you that with regular oil and filter changes they will last way over 500,000km before even looking like needing work, and maybe not even then. Some pilot vehicle companies were showing up near a million kilometers without having the head or sump off.

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

You may be right about the Toyota 6 but I was referring to fairly big volume sales.The RB was a good engine but was let down by being fitted to a body that didn't allow proper cooling.As for torque you are comparing 3ltrs with 3.9 or 4.ltrs and you would have to be very biased to call the 3.9ea a good engine

I had an EA turbo which I rebuilt myself and it never had one oil leak and never overheated ever. The EA 3.9 multipoint is actually a very good engine, just not when it was released in 1988. Once the sump gasket and veranda seal was updated to the later EL design and the cooling system sorted they are a very good engine. There's not too many problems with the design, but more so the way Ford choose to seal some joints. A 3.9 multi point with 5 speed manual will return brilliant fuel economy with there 2.92 factory diff gears and the large cubes insure effortless overtaking. In my eyes this engine was far superior to the V6 3.8 Holden motor.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

Chev stove bolt six none of these even got a mention :(

Yeah, it would have be nice if it had a mention. I would've put it on there before the red but ehh not my list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevro...aight-6_engine

[Pis-ton broke]

i thought the holdern six was a copy of the chev blue flame six?

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

i thought the holdern six was a copy of the chev blue flame six?

The engineers took influence from a number of existing straight-six engines but ultimately the red six was a new design.

[ford man xf]

Surely the 2V 250 gets a mention? Those things even in stock form went really good for it's time, put only a mild cam in them and they really get up and go.
Didn't they get dropped from the Falcon range because they performed similarly to the 302? Or was it emission laws that killed them?

[ford man xf]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

The engineers took influence from a number of existing straight-six engines but ultimately the red six was a new design.

I've never understood what the big deal was with the Holden 202 motors, is it because the were Australian made? They don't seem to pump out that decent power, at least factory stock engines, is it because they respond well to mods?

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by ford man xf

I've never understood what the big deal was with the Holden 202 motors, is it because the were Australian made? They don't seem to pump out that decent power, at least factory stock engines, is it because they respond well to mods?

I prefer the 186. A worked 186 (or 192) with the powerglide is something to be experienced. They are a strong motor and super-easy to work on. With the right mods they can really liven up. I prefer the Ford six but have a few red motors and a couple of old Holdens too. I think they sound great, a relatively unique sound in today's traffic. Something to consider is they are a lot lighter (and shorter) than the ford six too.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I also think the 250 2v was an excellent engine. In fact, the 4.1 is probably the reason I ever got into Fords in the first place. My brother bought a ZL Fairlane when I was about 12. What a car.

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

As great as the XU1 was, I think it's a big stretch to put the Holden red motor in this list.

Agreed there was never a quick one made. They were generally more than three seconds slower to 100mph than an E49. Even when Brocky drove the E49 in a Motor test back to back with a heap of other cars including Phase III HO, he said the torque of the E49 was unbelievable, that reflects my experience also. Those specially made for that engine Webers with their long runners etc. and the long stroke of the motor and a throttle body for each cylinder etc. just made for awesome bottom and mid-range pull, I'm talking as low as just over 1000rpm in top gear and still pull okay with hardly a grumble. Amazing engine, I always had V8s from my first car onwards, but first drive of an E49 and I had to have one, so I did.

[ford man xf]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

I also think the 250 2v was an excellent engine. In fact, the 4.1 is probably the reason I ever got into Fords in the first place. My brother bought a ZL Fairlane when I was about 12. What a car.

You can actually fit a 4.1 head onto the Holden 202, it fits on back to front and lines up, a few people have done this mod and are happy with the results.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by ford man xf

You can actually fit a 4.1 head onto the Holden 202, it fits on back to front and lines up, a few people have done this mod and are happy with the results.

Yeah, I know. I would try it myself but I'm currently building a 186 with Yella Terra head. No idea when the head is from but the car I took it from looked like it was built in the 80's.

[Madaya]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

Appreciate the feedback. If I made a V6 list what would I include? I was thinking Alfa busso, L76, Ferrari dino, xj220, 2GR-FSE, giulia, ford GT vr38 any others?

The word V6 did not exist for me until 1978. Until a bud, whose V8 was in the shop for modifications, borrowed his Sisters V6 1971 Capri. Gads, I fell in love, not just with the car (if I get lucky, I'll grab one), but with this mysterious V6 thingy.
The Essex engine for sure. Many guises and can be worked to the max. A brilliant Ford piece of Steel.
A Wiki intro...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Essex_V6_engine_(UK)

But make sure we keep the straight 6 thread just that. V, W, Flat, not here.

[mcnews]

Dad had a new 3.0S Capri around 1980, was a nice looking car at the time and was good for 130mph, with mum screaming in the front and me laughing in the back at seven years of age. The next model was downsized to 2.8 but had a turbo added and were a pretty quick car for the early 80s era. Were quite nice inside for that era too actually.

[Madaya]

Older brother's first car was (I think) either a 220 or 250 Ford XP Super Pursuit auto. He used to give it the hammer and being front bench seat without headrests, I would get a sore neck from the g force after every trip to the shops.
Like I hinted earlier. The 4L NA I6, with almost 50 years between the Super Pursuit (push rods, 2 valves etc) should be so much more.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Madaya

Older brother's first car was (I think) either a 220 or 250 Ford XP Super Pursuit auto. He used to give it the hammer and being front bench seat without headrests, I would get a sore neck from the g force after every trip to the shops.
Like I hinted earlier. The 4L NA I6, with almost 50 years between the Super Pursuit (push rods, 2 valves etc) should be so much more.

Originally Posted by aussiblue

The late 70's - 1980 Mitsubishi Triton or Dodge Ram D-50 is an interesting case for argument as from the windscreen forward it's a Mitsubishi Lancer / Plythouth Arrow / Mitsubishi Celeste; so hatch back coupé based rather than sedan based.

Well it would have originally been probably a 200 but maybe had been changed to either a 221 or even a 250 pretty common conversion

[Madaya]

Agree Tassie, was probably a 221 drop in. I was only emerging as a motrorhead back then. He sold the XP for a HQ 2dr Monaro 245, Canary Yellow with black stripes. Came with the usual stuffed lifters, and even blew out the odd spark plug on the road.
I picked and fixed up the unit a few times, but still learning the beast.
Dad welded the front seats, the original braces were crap and broke. But the HQ was a beautiful car. There we were. Older brother had a Monaro, younger brother had a Charger and I was set to start looking at a Hardtop. Both cars got T boned. Missed out on the HT. What a coupe family it could have been.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Agreed there was never a quick one made. They were generally more than three seconds slower to 100mph than an E49. Even when Brocky drove the E49 in a Motor test back to back with a heap of other cars including Phase III HO, he said the torque of the E49 was unbelievable, that reflects my experience also. Those specially made for that engine Webers with their long runners etc. and the long stroke of the motor and a throttle body for each cylinder etc. just made for awesome bottom and mid-range pull, I'm talking as low as just over 1000rpm in top gear and still pull okay with hardly a grumble. Amazing engine, I always had V8s from my first car onwards, but first drive of an E49 and I had to have one, so I did.

Size of the fight in the dog.... GM were going to make a hotter Monaro but they went with the Torana XU-1.
Less tyre wear, fuel consumption. And by the time the LJ homologation specials had come about they were quick enough.

[Maka]

Honourable mention for the Au 4.0 Intech Vtc, a very good but underrated motor Imo.

cheer's, Maka

[wildpete]

If your going to include diesels I would say the the "B" series cummins would probably top the list. They surpassed 8 million units produced a few years ago.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

There is also the rare at the time, and even rarer now, 250 2V motor that was optional in the XY and XA model years. Factory rated at 170hp or 126kw, it took years for an I6 revision to make those numbers again.

The 170hp 127kw were gross power figures only for the 250 2V and 155hp for the normal 250, now in net power figures the stock 155hp 250 is rated at 111hp, I don't know the net of the 250 2V as a guess maybe 126hp.

The XE EFI 4.1L had 111kw in DIN power figures and that's 149hp so she is making more power truly than a 250 2V

XF leaded 4.1L carby is making 103kw = 138hp in DIN so I would say it makes more power then a 2502V

XD 4.1L has 94KW = 126HP DIN so she is making more power then a 250 2V.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by ford man xf

Surely the 2V 250 gets a mention? Those things even in stock form went really good for it's time, put only a mild cam in them and they really get up and go.
Didn't they get dropped from the Falcon range because they performed similarly to the 302? Or was it emission laws that killed them?

The XY had a full import 302 engine and the thing was ford Australia started making it's own 302 in the XA so the been counters came into play and ford tried to push the V8 more so to get the numbers up.

Nothing to do with emissions at all.

VG Pacer with the hemi 245 2BBL performed much better than any 250 2V.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by ford man xf

I've never understood what the big deal was with the Holden 202 motors, is it because the were Australian made? They don't seem to pump out that decent power, at least factory stock engines, is it because they respond well to mods?

Yes the Holden 202 engine can respond well to mods better than the old log ford 6 and the X flow 4.1L is limited to be a good high rev engine and the 3.3L rod ratio is wrong, only the old XR falcon 200 engine had a good rod ratio but for that log head that limited it's potential and tossing a 2V head on it lowered the compression.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Dad had a new 3.0S Capri around 1980, was a nice looking car at the time and was good for 130mph, with mum screaming in the front and me laughing in the back at seven years of age. The next model was downsized to 2.8 but had a turbo added and were a pretty quick car for the early 80s era. Were quite nice inside for that era too actually.

The Capri's were all V6. I think they even had a V4 early on. I didn't know there were any Turbo models Factory?

[AussieCJ7]

The inline 6 was the AMC 258, while not a HP monster had bucket loads of torque, would run on almost any fuel and the block was used virtually unchanged from early 70's to around 2002, with AMC going into the chrysler 4.0L that powered Jeeps

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

The Capri's were all V6. I think they even had a V4 early on. I didn't know there were any Turbo models Factory?

The standard Capri came with a 1.6 engine as fitted to the earlier Cortinas

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

The standard Capri came with a 1.6 engine as fitted to the earlier Cortinas

Was actually called the Ford KENT... (family of 4 cylinder engines)

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

The Capri's were all V6. I think they even had a V4 early on. I didn't know there were any Turbo models Factory?

Yep early 1980s sportier Capri went from 3.0 down to 2.8 and gained a Turbo. Came with Tickford badging etc.

[Sprintey]

Great thread.
Well done on including the Jag XK, amazing as of when it was designed. And incorporated with IRS in the early 60's or sooner
Hemi 6 was a blast, great strong motor. 225 2bbl slant very punchy from memory too.
1HD-T gets a vote from me, the first turbo diesel in the Toyota line that culminates in the 1HD-FTE.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

The standard Capri came with a 1.6 engine as fitted to the earlier Cortinas

Yes, great engine. but they also had a range of other 4 cylinder engines straight and v's