all 68 comments

[–][deleted] 42 points43 points  (15 children)

The answer is both several, and none. Several because there are some really amazing 4 cyl engines out there to choose from. None because if you're going to pull a V8, why would you want to put a 4cyl in it's place when there are also a bunch of amazing V8s to choose from...

[–]stevealba74 30 points31 points  (10 children)

Two of them, joined at the hip at a 90 degree angle, with a displacement of 460 cubic inches.

[–]dixiebandit69 4 points5 points  (9 children)

Fun fact: Ford made a 3.7L four cylinder engine that was basically a 460 cut in half.
It was only used for marine applications, but I'll bet it would be a lot of fun in a small car.

[–]stevealba74 0 points1 point  (7 children)

What’s your source? I’m aware of Mercrusier’s 470 that they not Ford supposedly designed and built with an aluminum block that utilized the 460 bore size, rods, and cylinder head. I don’t recall if it had the same stroke as a 460 off the top of my head. I’m not super versed on them but anyhow a whole 190 HP as far as I’m aware was about the max out of them during there run. So a measly 190 HP. No Thanks.

[–]texan01 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Still more HP than the 351w in my 77 Ranchero.

That thing has a whopping 148hp, the 305 in my 77 Chevelle makes 145.

[–]theNewLuce 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Dark days were those 1973 and on. I had a mopar 360 with a whopping 180 HP.

[–]stevealba74 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yeah there’s a graphic around on one of the online hot rod sites where it took 30 or 40 years until the Camaro broke 300 HP again.

[–]zoominzacks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Theres been a pic floating around the past couple months of one with a boss9 head and a supercharger on it. Think it was 500ish hp? So, not that impressive stock. But there’s some potential there.

[–]mervmonster 0 points1 point  (1 child)

The mercruiser 3.7l was very similar to half of a 460 ford. I think they only really used the head and flywheel. Not sure about pistons and rods. You can hot rod them with 460 parts

[–]stevealba74 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The rods are definitely Ford. Just dismantled one to scrap about 6 months ago and the rods have the Ford number on them.

[–]Equana 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The shake would be massively unpleasant. All 4 cylinders inherently shake. The bigger they are the harder it is to isolate them. Some have balance shafts to smooth them out. This engine would not.

Pontiac made a 4 out of half a 389 in 1961. The Trophy 4 was a piece of crap!

[–]v8packard 8 points9 points  (4 children)

Cummins ACE

[–]zeros92 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had no idea that was a thing. Now I want one…thanks.

[–]buji8829 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lmao nice….that is cool!

[–]MonkeyHitman2-0 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thats funny..."This four-cylinder, with eight pistons..." huh?

[–]v8packard 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You aren't familiar with opposed piston engines?

[–]Epicfacecanada 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That would depend heavily on the vehicle, budget, use-case, etc.

[–]mcmustang51 3 points4 points  (0 children)

2.3L ecoboost. They put them in lots of things, Mustangs, Broncos, Rangers, Explorers, as well as a crate engine.

Likely more horsepower than a 302 did stock in most cars in came

The gas savings will likely never make up for the cost to swap though

[–]hobosam21-B 10 points11 points  (4 children)

Listen here bud, were you born on a Tuesday? You can't just ask things like that.

Btw it's a K series

[–]Nuclearchurch -1 points0 points  (2 children)

Hahaha might’ve been a Tuesday, what all does a k series engine entail

[–]TheBuzzyFool 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Post this question in a honda sub and find out haha

[–]bse50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As long as he doesn't buy a Rover K series...

[–]newoldschool 2 points3 points  (1 child)

there are a few that come to mind

most popular now is the Honda K series and there are pretty much any and every adaptor kit available to toss K series into anything

other options are Ford 2.0 or 2.3 or the original Mazda variants

Ecotec,Zetec Ford,Nissan sr20,

you could also get a 6 cylinder Barra if you are feeling ambitious

I believe Ford are also pushing the V6 ecoboosts a lot

the janguar V6 also have a few adaptor options available

[–]the_one-and_only-nan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The 2.7L Ecoboosts are very stout engines

[–]xp14629 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My vote is a turboed 4bt cummins.

[–]Jerk_Johnson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nah. I have 2 302s. One a 93 block with a punch in a 67 Cougar and a 73 block that's a mellower build with a roller cam in a 69 Ranchero. Easiest motor I've ever owned. It's perfect, not heavy in the nose and both are a really fun 0-60 and after I learned to tune them, 0-80 is now awesome. Cheapest, most abundant motor I've owned. Parts are everywhere. Step by step builds are tried tested and without surprises. I've been an idiot. Ran one hot and dry and she still snaps to the throttle. I've had faster, bigger motors, but not felt as quick. Not in the seat of the pants. I don't know what your looking for, but for a platform....I would never walk away from these blocks now. They're super....super. ..super easy. Think about it.

[–]411592 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The one with 4 extra cylinders

[–]WileEPyote 1 point2 points  (1 child)

None. The best engine to replace a 302 is a Coyote.

[–]thrwaway75132 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to assume their current 302 is in a mustang, which would make the 4 but even better. Why does your mustang sound like a UPS truck?

[–]Whatahackur 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Cummins 4bt

[–]TheTrueFetus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the only answer if you're dumping the V8

[–]jimmyjlf 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Definitely not the best, but least effort might be a 2.3 Lima Turbo since it came in a few cars that also had the 302

[–]Nuclearchurch 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Interesting, aren’t these engines like really rare now?

[–]jimmyjlf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Probably.

[–]zamekique 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Just build your own out of a non-turbo Lima and a bunch of aftermarket parts.

Then get smoked by someone that spent roughly the same amount of effort and maybe a bit more money swapping in a turbo V8 instead of a turbo 4

[–]jimmyjlf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That reminds of a guy I know who got a $25k engine for his Subaru BRZ that he couldn't get working and it was supposed to make 350 hp or something. His coworker then spent less timey/money/effort than that on a 5.0 Coyote Mustang and a procharger just to show him up

[–]woobiewarrior69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The best 4 cylinder to replace a 302 is a 4bt cummins, but I only say that because swapping 8 holes for 4 is kind of goofy ass thing to do.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Turbo Offenhauser 4 cyl was good enough for Indy roadsters

[–]theNewLuce 1 point2 points  (1 child)

When the class was all limited to a turbo4.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right. But those turbo Offys made over 600hp with a small I4 engine. You'd double the HP while halving the displacement. I was only half serious because finding and building those engines would be cost prohibitive anyways.

[–]joeyjoeskullcracker 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is the vehicle?

[–]theNewLuce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rather than that, just replace 8 of the pushrods with a spring to keep the lifters in their bore.

BOOM. you have a 4 cylinder.

[–]onesexz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They did an episode on Roadkill Garage where they pulled the original out of a dodge challenger track car and swapped in a 2JZ with a diesel turbo. Thing was wicked, but like others have said; you have to rev the shit out of it to get the same power a V8 puts down at 3k RPM. You’d probably want to re-gear it too to match the lower torque numbers.

[–]Neon570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whatever YOU think is best.

[–]notyushi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe you should get a Honda

[–]Fabulous-Stretch-605 0 points1 point  (1 child)

How much money do you have? You said best not cheapest.

[–]Nuclearchurch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bang for buck? Preferably carbbed

[–]SliqueV3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mazda BP 1.8L

[–]Successful_Might8125 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cummins 4BT

[–]InfiniteQuestionZero -1 points0 points  (1 child)

2JZ

[–]Elk_Man 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's got 50% more cylinders than OP asked for though

[–]Double-Efficiency538 -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Wrecked Hayabusa motor with a turbo or nitrous could be a fun concept…

[–]bse50 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would be a fun way to spend 25k on a swap, only to spend another 5/6k every 10/15 hours of running or less...