The Most Powerful Old School Engines Listed
Many of the fantastic automobiles in the sixties were designed for drag racing and nascar super speedways and power under the hood kept improving as manufactures fought for bragging rights
This list high lights some of the most powerful production engines right into the early seventies before federal requirements spoiled all the fun
1970 Chevelle SS 454
General motors lifted the ban on engines exceeding 400 and moved past some competitors with the powerful LS-6 V8 engine @ 500 pounds of torque and 360 horsepower
This kind of power allowed the chevelle to perform 0-60 in 6.1 seconds.
1969 Camaro ZL1
The ZL1 chevy camaro became the first chevrolet production model to replace the iron designed engine block with aluminum, shedding unnecessary weight and providing better top speed performance and acceleration
The 427 cubic inch V8 engine generated 450 horsepower and easily demonstrated 0-60 in just 5.1 seconds
1970 El Camino SS
The El camino SS received a 454 cubic inch engine that produced 450 horsepower
This chevy power was tested 0-60 in 7.6 seconds, anything over one hundred MPH causes unnecessary fish tailing
General motors never intended to make this automobile run on race courses
The 440 7.2-liter V8
The 440 mopar engine production years were from 1965 to 1978
The six pack configuration consisted of a 10.3:1 compression ratio and three two barrel holley carburetors
During 1969 -1971 the 440 power level reached 390 horsepower with 490 lb-ft of serious torque
The 413 Max Wedge V8
Introduced in 1959 the 413 became a trade mark in chrysler’s new yorker and 300 series
In 1962 it became a limited production high performance engine known as the 413 max wedge
The 413 max wedge had a displacement of 425 cubic inches with 11.0:1 compression ratio and factory rated output of 415 hp @ 470 lb-ft of torque
The 426 Max Wedge V8
Introduced in 1963 the 426 max wedge engine had a 4.25-inch bore with three compression ratios of 11.0:1, 12.0:1, or 12.5:1 depending on the desired configuration
The 426 nax wedge was factory rated at 425 horse power with 480 lb-ft of torque
Dodge 340 Small Block
The 340 cubic inch V8 small block was introduced in 1968 and offered 275 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque
The 340 six pack was introduced in 1970 for the challenger T/A offering 290 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque
The 340 engine was dropped n 1973
The Expensive 426 Hemi
The 426 cubic inch hemi V8 engne was introduced in 1966 for dodge models
The premium expensive option 426 hemi produced 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque
When emission laws began forcing auto makers to decrease power in performance engines in 1972 chrysler discontinued their low production 426 hemi engine
The L88 427 big block
Produced from 1967-1969 the L88 427 corvette engine was factory rated @430 horsepower
Actual untold truth was more like 540-580 horsepower
The L88 was a highly modified version of the 427 that used a racing cam, solid lifters, and high flow aluminum heads
Mustang 428 Cobra Jet
Their were 50 mustang cobra jet engines built in 1968
Ford released the optional 428-cid V8 @ 335 horsepower for $500 dollars
The 428 cobra jet was offered in fastback and coupe mustangs and real power was around 410 with ram air induction and a functional hood scoop
The functional hood scoop was mounted to a special air cleaner with a vacuum actuated butterfly valve that funneled air directly into a 735-cfm holley four barrel carburetor
The 428 cobra jet engine used a nodular cast iron block and crankshaft, forged steel piston rods and aluminum pistons, used an external oil cooler also
The ford mustang 428 cobra jet 7.0 V8 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds, an estimated 1/4 mile drag time in 13.39 seconds with a trap speed of 102.1 mph
Ford 427 R Code
The R 427 cubic inch dual holley carburetor factory designed race engine produces 425 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque @ 11.5:1 compression ratio and was not available to the public
The 1963 ford galaxie 500 XL R-Code fastbacks recieved the 427 @ 425 horsepower mounted to a four speed transmission, which was the largest engine size allowed under nascar rules at the time
The ford galaxie 500 R code fastback model was one of the fastest cars of its time offering the FE series big block 427 cubic inch V8 engine
Ford produced 18,551 galaxie 500 XLs in 1963, but fewer than 100 examples had the R-code engine
Time trials 0 - 100 in 6.1 seconds and 0 - 60 in 5.8 seconds with top speed 155 mph
Mopar 318 Engine
The 1957-58 plymouth fury came equipped with the 318 and two four barrel carburetors producing 290 horsepower with 325 torque @ 4000 rpm and 9.25 compression
Chrysler first produced the 318 V8 in 1957 to be used in their plymouth automobiles
Sadly horsepower was reduced in 1959 and the 318 experience served many years after as a fuel economy V8 engine