[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by qwik48r its funny NASCAR small block makes about the same power as an F1 motor at half the rpms

And F1s make their power with half the displacement. It's just a different means to the same end.

And to that end, look at sportbike motors. 1.3L gets you 180+hp at 14k+rpm, but only about 80 lbs of torque.

I'm not saying that one's better than the other. If you were to hold a gun to my head I'll take the DOHC, then the pushrod, than a SOHC, but I've owned all three, and have found examples of each that I really, really like.

[ReverendDexter]

Sorry... somehow that double posted.

[qwik48r]

thats why we dont drive hondas reverend

[v606er]

Originally Posted by qwik48r thats why we dont drive hondas reverend

maybe a honda lawnmower...

[kevin86freeman]

Doc....i love you...

[BWAL09]

modular 4v 4.6 sitting next to a pushrod 5.0.. look at that size difference:

[v606er]

so are the pushrods more economical since they have less displacement?

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by v606er so are the pushrods more economical since they have less displacement?

Pushrod motors are usually MORE displacement, though pushrod vs OHC has NOTHING to do with how much displacement the motor ends up being.

[v606er]

o ya that pic bwal posted, the pushrod had more displace ment but it was smaller in size

[ReverendDexter]

As a secondary thought, it depends on your definition of economical. If you're talking fuel economy or efficiency (hp/L), the rest of the world seems to think not; as I said earlier there are only two companies in the entire world that continue to make pushrod motors in production cars: GM and Chrysler.

Really, the ONLY thing a pushrod motor has on an OHC design is torque, and I would argue that that's more a factor of displacement than of engine design.

Case in point: in the 80's Toyota had the A block motor, which came in RWD and FWD formations, SOHC, DOHC, carb'd and fuel injected. However, every single formation of this motor makes nearly identical torque specs, as they're all 1.6L engines.

Another example: the old standard C-code 289 in the first gen Mustangs made 220 hp and 304 lbs of torque; the Hi-Po 289s used in the K-code Mustangs made 270+ hp and 312 lbs of torque. And the DOHC 4.6L (281 cu. inches) in my cobra makes 305 hp and 300 lbs of torque. The key thing is that all of these motors are within 8 cubic inches, and they're all within 12 lbs of torque, despite having a difference of 85 hp and two very different engine designs. I'm guessing you can figure out which gets the best gas mileage, too.

[v606er]

my '92 jeep larado has a straight 6 4.0L in it. do you know if this a push rod?

[ReverendDexter]

It's either pushrod or SOHC, I forget. Those 4.0L I6s are badass, though.

[HMUSN]

my truck has a inline 6 too. a 300 cubic inch one

[v606er]

ive been driving it again recently, and it is so different from my mustang. going up to 2k rpm's like i usually do will get me to 45mph in about a mile lol. it has great visibiliyt though, and the loose steering wheel is fun. is such an easy and relaxing car to drive, though the breaks are just as weak as the accereration

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by HMUSN my truck has a inline 6 too. a 300 cubic inch one

Yeah, I wish they had dropped the truck 302 instead of the 300. I've got one of the truck 302s in my Bronco, and If I can't have the 351, I'd rather have the I6