Along with a storied history of legendary cars, Ford boasts an incredible range of iconic engines that helped shape the automotive landscape

Since its establishment in the early 1900s, the Ford Motor Company boasts an enormous fleet of trucks, cars, tractors, and vans, estimated at well over 300 million. Under the hood of this beautiful and stylish range of automobiles are some of the most famous engines in American automotive history. An impressive engine catalog includes robust V8s, venerable V6s, and the occasionally successful inline-fours that won the hearts of fans.

But in the upper echelons of performance cars, a handful of engines stand out as significant achievements in engineering prowess and their importance to the brand. Most importantly, many industry experts and everyday enthusiasts have given these trustworthy engines favorable reviews for their dependability.

Read on to find out the most reliable Ford engines ever built.

10 – 289 V8 Small-Block

Ford designed the 289 CID, 4.7-liter V8 engine with a relatively small weight, small dimensions, and decent power to serve as an entry-level V8 for all models. Introduced in the early 1960s, the small-block V8 ultimately became the perfect match for the legendary Ford Mustang when it debuted in 1964.

The 289 V8 small-block later spawned iconic iterations such as the factory-tuned HiPo 289 and the race-ready 289 fitted in the ultimate 1960s Mustang, the Shelby GT350. Despite being in production for five years, Ford still makes parts and aftermarket components for the reliable 289 V8 small-block.

9 – Voodoo V8

The Voodoo engine is a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that Ford produced specially for the Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R. Interestingly, Ford’s SVT team barely based the Voodoo on the Coyote V8 architecture.

The Voodoo V8 distinguishes itself with a flat plain crankshaft, new high-flow heads, new forged piston designs, heavy-duty internals, and a heavy-duty exhaust system. With a 526 hp displacement, an 8,250 rpm redline, and more than 100 hp per liter of displacement, the Voodoo V8 is arguably one of the most advanced and reliable Ford engines.

8 – EcoBoost Family

In 2009, Ford introduced the EcoBoost engine family, boasting various cylinder configurations, sizes, applications, and power outputs for modern passenger cars. The economic engine family ranges from small 1.0-liter three-cylinder engines to 2.3-liter four-cylinder units, 3.5-liter V6s, 2.7-liter V8s, and 3.5-liter V8s.

However, the first generation of the three-cylinder EcoBoost and EcoBoost V6 variants proved problematic and should be avoided at all costs. Luckily, the refined second-generation EcoBoost engines addressed all the issues of their predecessors to become some of the most reliable engines on the market

7 – Boss 429

The mythical Boss 429 engine is a true muscle car legend, conceived as a pure racing engine for NASCAR championships. Unlike other Ford big-blocks, the significantly wider Boss 429 featured semi-Hemi combustion chambers and better flow to achieve higher revs and produce more power and torque.

Ford used the bulletproof Boss 429 in limited Mustang models and homologation editions of the Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone. Despite failing to fulfill its street racing potential, the Boss 429 helped Ford to win 30 out of 54 races, making it a highly desirable engine today.

6 – 428 Cobra Jet

With 427 Medium Risers becoming obsolete in the late 1960s, Ford introduced the 7.0-liter Cobra Jet V8 as a durable, powerful, yet affordable muscle engine to take on Chevrolet’s 427 V8, Pontiac’s 428 V8, and Mopar’s 426 Hemi. Rated at 400 to 450 hp (Ford officially claimed 335 hp), the 428 Cobra Jet and even rare Super Cobra Jet engines were enough to claim Stock Car Championships and several illegal street races.

Ford offered the Cobra Jet as the top engine choice in the Ford Mustang and an optional powertrain for models like the Torino. Today, most remember the incredibly reliable Cobra Jet as the ultimate Mustang power plant.

5 – Flathead V8

Revered as the first highly influential Ford power plant, the Flathead V8 was the first mass-produced V8. Booming with new technology and an impressive 65 hp, Ford beat its biggest competitor, Chevrolet, to V8 power by more than two decades. Over twenty years of production, power grew to 125 hp, putting the Flathead-equipped luxury Fords of the day as the most powerful in the class.

The most important aspects of the Flathead V8 were its durability and tuning potential, with a few mechanical tweaks almost doubling the power. The Flathead V8 aftermarket offerings that arrived later became the first engine tuners for the community and hot rod crews.

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