AMC straight 6.
Engines with legendary reliability.
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VW EA827
Small Block Chevy and variants like the 4.3 V-6
GM LS engines (new but proving themselves to be reliable and get good gas mileage)
Chrysler 318 and variants like the 3.9 V-6
Chevy 2.2 OHV (Cavalier)
Chevy Ecotech (new but reliable)
I don't know anything about the imports, but I'm sure there are a few of them because I see them on the road for over 20 years.
GM LS engines (new but proving themselves to be reliable and get good gas mileage)
Chrysler 318 and variants like the 3.9 V-6
Chevy 2.2 OHV (Cavalier)
Chevy Ecotech (new but reliable)
I don't know anything about the imports, but I'm sure there are a few of them because I see them on the road for over 20 years.
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
My parents AMC eagle with 4.2L went 300k before they simply got sick of it sitting in driveway unused and sold it. It never had ANY internal motor work. My mum simply took it to Kmart for oil changes or local yocal tire shop every 5000 miles.
My mums GM 350 in Subarban did 280k without engine work but rust in 14 years ruined it.
My parents 2.5L EJ 2000 Subaru Forester has 220k on it no engine work and they still use as third car.
The iron duke I give credit as my dad had a company 1988 Buick Century and went 15k-35k oci dino and it lasted 190k miles no issues albeit in 3.5 years.
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
My parents AMC eagle with 4.2L went 300k before they simply got sick of it sitting in driveway unused and sold it. It never had ANY internal motor work. My mum simply took it to Kmart for oil changes or local yocal tire shop every 5000 miles.
My mums GM 350 in Subarban did 280k without engine work but rust in 14 years ruined it.
My parents 2.5L EJ 2000 Subaru Forester has 220k on it no engine work and they still use as third car.
The iron duke I give credit as my dad had a company 1988 Buick Century and went 15k-35k oci dino and it lasted 190k miles no issues albeit in 3.5 years.
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
Agreed. The early Renix 4.0s and the 91 - 95 HOs were bulletproof. The 96+ have aluminum pistons that like to break occasionally and a few years of the coil on plug ones have about a 20% head crack rate (cracks on the top of the head and dumps coolant straight into the oil).
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
Agreed. The early Renix 4.0s and the 91 - 95 HOs were bulletproof. The 96+ have aluminum pistons that like to break occasionally and a few years of the coil on plug ones have about a 20% head crack rate (cracks on the top of the head and dumps coolant straight into the oil).
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
Agreed. The early Renix 4.0s and the 91 - 95 HOs were bulletproof. The 96+ have aluminum pistons that like to break occasionally and a few years of the coil on plug ones have about a 20% head crack rate (cracks on the top of the head and dumps coolant straight into the oil).
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
^^^^^ You beat me to it. I 2nd the vote for the AMC/Jeep 258 (4.2L) and the later variant the 4.0L.
The fuel injection system on the later 4.0L was better than the early 4.0L, but the early 4.0L was the reliable one. The "newer" ones break pistons, crack the head and ruin the oil pump drive and seize up the oil pump.
Agreed. The early Renix 4.0s and the 91 - 95 HOs were bulletproof. The 96+ have aluminum pistons that like to break occasionally and a few years of the coil on plug ones have about a 20% head crack rate (cracks on the top of the head and dumps coolant straight into the oil).
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Originally Posted By: pbm
The Ford Lima 2.3 was a very good engine....so were the Dodge 318 V8 and the Buick 3.8 V6.
Till Ford redesigned the pistons around 1980 they were often a POS, many busted pistons before 75K mi(common to find skirt in oil pan)... The slider cams were always a sore spot as well, not till the roller camshaft was introduced in the later '80s was it a "good" engine...
The Ford Lima 2.3 was a very good engine....so were the Dodge 318 V8 and the Buick 3.8 V6.
Till Ford redesigned the pistons around 1980 they were often a POS, many busted pistons before 75K mi(common to find skirt in oil pan)... The slider cams were always a sore spot as well, not till the roller camshaft was introduced in the later '80s was it a "good" engine...
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
Vortec 6000 LQ4 (6.0)
Why not the 6.0 L96? Any difference?
Agree on the LQ4; they're simple, stout, inexpensive, and can make a silly amount of power. As more and more enthusiasts discover these engines in the junkyard, their reputation and desirability will grow...
https://youtube.com/watch?v=H6Ni2gPo5Us
L96 incorporates VVT, and is too new at this point for the legendary status...
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
Vortec 6000 LQ4 (6.0)
Why not the 6.0 L96? Any difference?
Agree on the LQ4; they're simple, stout, inexpensive, and can make a silly amount of power. As more and more enthusiasts discover these engines in the junkyard, their reputation and desirability will grow...
https://youtube.com/watch?v=H6Ni2gPo5Us
L96 incorporates VVT, and is too new at this point for the legendary status...
Originally Posted By: Miller88
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Why not one of the better flowing aftermarket heads and maybe some better bottom end guts? And IIRC, the 96+ blocks are stronger than the early ones, it's just the pistons that got weaker.
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Why not one of the better flowing aftermarket heads and maybe some better bottom end guts? And IIRC, the 96+ blocks are stronger than the early ones, it's just the pistons that got weaker.
My 2 cents is the 1977 Pontiac 301 in a Bonneville; which I remember would run 11,0000 miles before using 1qt of Amsoil 10w40, Even then I ran an oversize oilfilter. Motor outlasted the car. Another is a 69' Buick LeSabre With a 350 in which the distributor was up front instead of in back. Ran for ever, could not blow it up or over heat it. Got 2nd place in the figure 8 races when I finally got tired of the old car. GM's 3.8 when they went to fuel injectors because the motors were junk before that. OK I will leave now 
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Originally Posted By: Miller88
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Why not one of the better flowing aftermarket heads and maybe some better bottom end guts? And IIRC, the 96+ blocks are stronger than the early ones, it's just the pistons that got weaker.
Block strength depends. From what I can gather, the early 4.0L block was made of a different material than the HO 4.0L (both cast iron but a different composition, apparently). Chrysler had to add the crank girdle to combat block issues.
Whatever goes in will be getting rebuilt first. I could probably get away with pulling the oil pan and removing / swapping the head to replace the broken piston but the others will do it.
My friend has a 90 and we can wiggle the connecting rods quite a bit. It is whisper quiet ... and that is after he drove it 20 minutes with no oil pressure and rod knock and lifter tick from it not getting any oil. My 2000 sounds like it's going to come apart any day haha
Originally Posted By: Miller88
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
Why not one of the better flowing aftermarket heads and maybe some better bottom end guts? And IIRC, the 96+ blocks are stronger than the early ones, it's just the pistons that got weaker.
Block strength depends. From what I can gather, the early 4.0L block was made of a different material than the HO 4.0L (both cast iron but a different composition, apparently). Chrysler had to add the crank girdle to combat block issues.
Whatever goes in will be getting rebuilt first. I could probably get away with pulling the oil pan and removing / swapping the head to replace the broken piston but the others will do it.
My friend has a 90 and we can wiggle the connecting rods quite a bit. It is whisper quiet ... and that is after he drove it 20 minutes with no oil pressure and rod knock and lifter tick from it not getting any oil. My 2000 sounds like it's going to come apart any day haha
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Ford 3.0 Vulcans go many miles if the camshaft the sensors don't go out. You can beat the tar out of them because they HP/Liter is low they can't easily hurt themselves. About 155 HP depending on the model.
Agree.
Ford 3.0 Vulcans go many miles if the camshaft the sensors don't go out. You can beat the tar out of them because they HP/Liter is low they can't easily hurt themselves. About 155 HP depending on the model.
Agree.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
4.6L stroker!
When my 2000 finally calls it quits ... I suspect it will be somewhat soon as I'm getting bits of aluminum on oil change now ... It is getting a Renix or early HO short block, oil pump drive for a 2000 and a 02+ TUPY head.
4.6L stroker!
id vote 4.0 I6 Jeep
And 2 of the family of ranger engines 2.3l/3.0l
351 windsors ive had luck with.
351 Clevelands not so much
And 2 of the family of ranger engines 2.3l/3.0l
351 windsors ive had luck with.
351 Clevelands not so much
2010-present GM ecotec 2.4DI
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