The best engine for power?

The best engine for reliability?

The best 'all around' engine?

Out of the show room production...

Power? The 427 ci 425 HP.
Reliability? The 300 straight six.
All around? The 302 v8.

289 HiPo

Power - 429 Cobra Jet

Reliability - 2.3 Liter 4 cylinder

All Around - The small block series - 260, 289, 302, 351, etc. Good power, good reliability, parts available anywhere.

the Ford flathead

2.3 liter Duratec for reliability and serviceability.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Duratec_engine#Duratec_23

5.0 liter dohc ''cammer'' for power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine#5.0.C2.A0L_Cammer

Best all around, the Lion 2.7 V6 turbo diesel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_AJD-V6/PSA_DT17#Lion_V6

The one used in 68 Shelby GT500. the best all around engine.

power proabaly either the boss 429 engine or the cobra jet 428 make in the 60 is and 70 is althoguh the supercharged 4.6L 03 cobra engine which produces around 410 hp is really good. the most reliable maybe ford explorer or taurus engines. l have a explorer V6 OHV with 150000 miles and runs great or any tarus is ford did a great job with them. the 5.0L fox body engines are great for modifying. not sure on the best all round engine. there are so many.

427, 300 straight six, and 302.

2.3 l reliability.
torque is power 6.4 l
all around 4.0 sohc
used in many applications explorer,ranger,mustang.

the great big 390

3.8 V six for reliablity, 300 striaght six for all around engine

460 or 300
400
460

The Ford Flathead V8 lasted from 1932 to 1953 & the 302 V8 started in 1968 & is still used in many applications now even though the 4.6 ltr has taken over most of the standard V8 duty. A lot of people may say the 289 but it was really under powered compared to the 302 which is the same basic motor.

l own 3 Ford Galaxies that all have the FE 390 motors & l do love those engines, great horsepower & reliability along with the 429 / 460 engines, but the 302 has outlasted them all & has many different applications from stock to hipo 5.0.

For the most instantaneous power for short applications, like drag racing, drag boat, tractor pulls: the Boss 429
For the most power for 24 hours of racing around Daytona:
the SOHC 427 (took 1st 2nd & 3rd leMans the only year it raced)
For reliability the Old 223 Straight Six. (It predates the OHV V-8 is & is still used in delivery trucks today.)
The best all around for driving in traffic, getting down the road & not being embarrassed, easy to work on, uses little gas, looks good in chrome, sounds more poweful than it is: 302, 5 liter
old Fart Ford Racer (drove 'em all)