Toyota 2JZ-GTE
Coming at you from the ’90s Supra, the 2JZ-GTE is a twin-turbo inline-6 engine that was so powerful it became iconic in street, drag and drift racing circles. Modding it is a breeze, tuning it is a pleasure - it’s basically just an unbreakable crank made of pure boost tolerance.
Chevy Small Block 350
Roaring onto the 1955 scene, the 350 was reliable, budget-friendly and everywhere. Because it’s like a gift that keeps on giving, it's still popular now; parts are plentiful, rebuilding it’s simple and it's endlessly customizable.
Honda K20
A staple of Integras and Civics, if you look after the K20 you’ve got legendary Honda engineering reliability on your side. This beauty revs and kicks way above its weight class, then becomes a real beast once the timely VTEC kicks in.
BMW S54
Found in its natural Z4M and E46 M3 habitat, The S54 is a temperamental creature, but when it’s dialed in properly it sings like a songbird. It’s a member of the inline-6 family and has natural aspiration with an 8,000 rotations per minute (RPM) scream. It’s got character and soul!
Ford 302 Windsor
You’ll find the 302 Windsor in a lot of classic cars, and for good reason - it’s affordable, reliable, and gave the Mustangs their kick! The best part is its accessibility though; from resto-mods to hot rods, it's the core of many DIY passion projects.
Cummins 6BT (12-Valve)
An inline-6 engine sometimes found in Dodge Rams, the 6BT’s no-frills attitude is simple, direct and built like a brick house. You won’t find any electrical wizardry here, just good old fashioned engineering torque that can be tuned to perfection and last forever with TLC.
Mazda 13B-REW (Rotary)
There’s no pistons involved in Wankel’s 13B-REW - it’s entirely rotary, hence its nickname: “the spinning triangle of doom.” Despite its occasional fragility and deceptively small size, this marvel roars like a chainsaw with way more power than its weight class.
Nissan RB26DETT
This 2.6L twin-turbo inline-6 engine was the heart of the Skyline GT-R, or “Godzilla” and it made an impression comparable to a rampaging kaiju. The solid block of iron can wrestle power into submission and boost ‘til the giant, city-destroying cows come home. It even tunes like a dream!
Porsche Mezger Flat-6
Named for German engine meister Hans Mezger, the Porsche Flat-6 was forged with titanium race car parts and remained as reliable as ever even at RPMs-a-plenty and high boost levels. Unsurprisingly, many Le Mans winners - including the Porsche 911 GT3 - packed one of them under its hood.
Toyota 1UZ-FE
Considered among the most overbuilt engines ever, the 1UZ-FE is a mighty V8 you can depend on - it will outlast you, the apocalypse, and the ape rebellion that follows. It was built using borrowed race car tech, and you can swap it into whatever you want - it’ll still purr beautifully.
GM LS3
The LS3 is like a swiss army knife in engine form; it’s compact and light - so it will fit into any engine bay - and since it’s a potent 6.2L V8 capable of 430 horsepower or more, you can use it to power up anything from your go kart or monster truck.
Subaru EJ20/EJ25
With unequal-length headers that give it a signature rumble and an impressive turbocharged punch, the EJ20/EJ25 engines are a real gem! The downside of their rally racing charm is that blown head gaskets - a common problem when they’re overworked - are expensive.
Chrysler HEMI 426
The 426 HEMI is the legendary power behind some raw, retro muscle cars - that means it’s loud, terrifying in the best possible way, and can throw out 425 horsepower on a whim. It’s so powerful NASCAR banned it for winning too much.
Ferrari F136 V8
If you want the engine equivalent of an opera singer, the all-aluminium Italian F136 V8 is music to your ears. Sure, it’s high maintenance, but with a rev limit of 9,000+ RPM, you’ll both feel and hear it screaming down the highway like a banshee.
Ford Barra 4.0L Turbo
Known Down Under as “Barra the God,” despite being budget-friendly the 4.0L Turbo can move like a rocket-powered kangaroo, hitting 1,000 horsepower easily with a roar like a vengeful Australian deity. A little tuning can up its power even more!
Volvo Redblock B230FT
The 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 Redblock is a boost-tastic engine commonly found in ’80s and ’90s era Volvos, and it was built to last. Seriously, this thing is built like a tank - you could drop it off a cliff, and you could find it purring at the bottom!
Mercedes M113K (Kompressor V8)
This Eaton supercharged V8 engine is often found in unassuming sedans and coupes, supplying them with surprising torque and 500+ horsepower while pretending to be a meek, normal engine. It’s mod-friendly too, especially with pulley upgrades.
Renault F4R (Clio 182/RS)
Renowned for powering the Clio RS, rev the 2.0L inline-4 F4R up and listen to it sing like a choir of angels. It’s durable, simple and navigates through winding roads with ease, serenading you along the way at 180 horsepower.
Audi 2.7T V6 BiTurbo (APB)
Nicknamed “the German Octopus” for its complexity, the 2.7L twin-turbo V6 APB is a complicated beast, but once you tame it you’ll be rewarded with a power boost that can put many other engines to shame! Pair it with the right exhaust for audio perfection.
Toyota 4AGE 20V Blacktop
Just like a secreted samurai blade, the Blacktop is small, sharp and effective at its job - which is powering your vehicle at an astonishing 8,500 RPM! Since it's such a compact piece of kit, this engine’s versatile - it will go in go-karts and AE111s indiscriminately.
Jaguar XK Inline-6 (pre-1980s)
When it first came out in 1949, the DOHC inline-6 XK was advanced, and it was a staple in British motoring until the 1980s! A combination of alloy head and iron block construction still make it a strong piece of kit, while its toque gives it James Bond smoothness.
Detroit Diesel Series 60
The series 60 became legendary as the first heavy-duty diesel engine with fully electronic controls, and because of its unkillable nature it was used to power long-haul vehicles such as buses, boats and big rigs. It’s got torque for days and servicing it’s a breeze.
Alfa Romeo Busso V6
The Alfa Romeo Busso engine’s a 2.5 to 3.2L V6 that can take a licking and keep on ticking. Named for its creator, the now-legendary Giuseppe Busso, this baby sounds like a jungle cat - it purrs when it’s happy, but it hides a frightening roar.
Peugeot XU10J4RS
The XU10J4RS came out of nowhere and put Peugeot on the rally track, giving the 306 GTi-6 and 405 Mi16 cult status in Europe. This engine’s underrated but it packs 167–180 horsepower stock and a strong support in aftermarket and tuning communities.
Yamaha OX99 V12
The fabled Yamaha-built OX99 V12, sounds like a mechanic’s fairytale: an F1-derived V12 engine that could scream over tracks at over 10,000 RPM. Only three prototypes were made, so while it does exist, few people have ever seen one outside their wildest dreams.
Rotax 912
The Rotax 912 is an engine that literally flies - it was designed for small planes! However, it uses gas instead of jet fuel, and since it’s engineered to keep folks in the air, it’s super reliable in land vehicles, too.
Ford Flathead V8
The Flathead was the first mass-produced V8 engine; it was budget-friendly, reliable and offered Joe Normal freedom. It was in every vehicle for a long time, and it made an impression; it’s the basis of the ‘40s and ‘50s hotrod movement!
Isuzu 4BD1T
A 3.9L inline-4 turbo diesel engine, the 4BD1T is so bulletproof it’s used in military vehicles. Survivalists love it too, because it would still be found in working order after a nuclear apocalypse (probably powering Mad Max-style raider trucks).
BMW M88/3
If you ever wanted to turn a family car into a growling, barely-chained beast, look no further than the BMW M88/3, a detuned M1 racing engine with mechanical fuel injection and 280 horsepower. It’s a rare DIY-friendly monster, and as engaging as they come.
Honda F20C
A compact behemoth lived under the Honda S2000, a 2.0L inline-4 engine god that could rev at 9,000 RPM and get 240 horsepower out of its unassuming size. It punches way above its weight by aspiring to be a race car engine… and succeeding.
VW EA888 Gen 3
A modern 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine, the EA888 Gen 3 is found in a wide variety of cars, but its true strength is what you can bring out of it! Tuners love it for flexibility, and while it generates 220 horsepower stock, modifying can boost that up to 400+!
Lamborghini V12 (Bizzarrini Design)
Former Ferrari designer Giotto Bizzarrini created the V12, a constantly-evolving work of engine art that kept its eyes on the prize and stayed true to its racing roots for 50 years. The Gen 3 in particular is a howling success… when a mechanic wrangles it into submission.
Perkins 4.236 Diesel
The 4.236 is a cast iron 3.9L inline-4 diesel engine with no frills and surprises, no advanced tech, just pure, solid engineering simplicity that mostly refused to quit - and when it did, a DIY amateur could fix it with a hammer.
Deutz Air-Cooled Diesels
Construction equipment, farm machinery, military vehicles - you name it, the so-called “iron lungs” have run it, with no radiator and simple air-cooled German ingenuity. They can operate in the worst conditions and the most remote areas; they just keep on chuffing.
Kawasaki H2R Engine
You won’t be able to slap the H2R engine into your car - not only because it’s a motorcycle engine, but because it’s a track-only beast that the road can’t contain! It’s exotic and hits the atmosphere with a sound like thunder, revving at 14,000 RPM in a symphony of chaos.
