12 Of The Greatest Ford V8 Engines Ever MadeFord is the company that brought us mass manufacturing and with that, more affordable cars. It's safe to say that company truly popularized the car as a form of transport for everybody. However, since the 1930s, the Blue Oval has been synonymous with the V8 engine. Capable small blocks that won numerous races. Big-block beasts with power to spare. Turbodiesels that could tow any trailer. Ford truly has had a V8 engine for everyone for almost a century now.But which Ford V8 engines are the greatest? Deciding on that is often an entirely subjective matter, as each engine has its application. In this piece, I'll give you my perspective on the Ford V8 matter. I've been writing about, testing, and reviewing cars for over 15 years, and crucially, closely followed the development of the American automotive industry. What follows is a chronological list of Ford's greatest V8s, containing engines of various types and designs. Enjoy!Ford MEL (1958 to 1967)Ford's MEL engine lacks the legacy of its Flathead V8 predecessor. However, it was a much better engine, designed for luxury sub-brands Mercury, Edsel, and Lincoln. Yup, that's where its name comes from. Crucially, this was the first American V8 to reach 400 hp.The most potent, 7.0-liter (430 cubic inches) version produced the groundbreaking figure @ 5,200 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque @3,200 rpm. It was a big block engine, but even then, the figures are impressive. The 6.7-liter (345 hp) and 6.3-liter (325 hp) were far from underpowered, too. Later, Ford introduced a 7.6-liter (462 cubic inch) version with 340 hp, but a higher torque of 485 lb-ft.At that time, the first American 400-hp engine brought you a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. Underwhelmed? Apart from the big-block MEL, the 1958 Mercury Commuter Super Marauder was also equipped with a slow-shifting Multi-Drive Merc-O-Matic 3-speed automatic. Tire technology was far less advanced in the 1950s, too. Not to mention, the Super Marauder was a luxury vehicle, not a sports car.Like many early engine designs, the MEL is quite interesting. Unlike the Flathead V8, the MEL is an overhead camshaft engine. However, Ford machined the block deck at a 10-degree angle, while the head stayed flat, resulting in a weird, wedge-shaped combustion chamber. Part of the piston even almost touched the head! Unsurprisingly, this strange design didn't last, but can you argue with 400 hp?Ford 5.0 H.O. (1982 to 1993)The second-gen Ford Mustang is not very fondly remembered by Ford enthusiasts. Due to the oil crisis, the most powerful V8 Mustang King Cobra version had only 139 hp, enough for a leisurely 0-60 time of 9.8 seconds. Fortunately, the third-gen Fox Body Mustang turned things around. With a modern, boxy design, and an all-new 5.0-liter H.O. (High Output) engine, the Mustang made headlines again.Initially, the engine wasn't all that powerful, producing 157 hp @4,200 rpm. Thanks to the thin-wall block, it was still a lightweight unit, with the block weighing only 120 pounds. During the 1980s, Ford polished the H.O. significantly, and in 1985 the 5.0-liter H.O. made 210 hp @4,400 rpm. It was equipped with new cylinder heads, forged pistons with low-tension rings, and a Holley 4180C carburetor. Next year, Ford added fuel injection, which lowered the peak output to 200 hp. However, in 1987, it jumped again to 225 hp, thanks to a larger throttle body.However, the 5.0 H.O. got the biggest upgrade in 1989, when Ford equipped it with a Mass Airflow fuel injection system. Thus, the engine was ready for more aggressive cams, which could significantly increase the 225-hp figure. Finally, in 1993, the Mustang SVT Cobra was equipped with a 235-hp tune of the engine, courtesy of cast iron GT-40 heads, a wider 65-mm throttle body, and larger injectors. It could hit 60 in 5.9 seconds and came exclusively with a slick Borg-Warner T-5 five-speed manual.Ford 6.7 Power Stroke (1994 to Present)Among fans, Ford is mostly known for gas V8s. However, the brand's 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbodiesel engine is equally deserving of a mention here. It's a highly capable motor powering Ford's Super Duty series of trucks, providing torque that gas engines can't even dream of.In the latest Super Duty models, this brute provides up to a locomotive-like 1,200 lb-ft of torque and 500 hp. To put it in perspective, the 7.3-liter gas V8 only has 485 lb-ft of torque and 430 hp. Not only that, but the diesel reaches its peak torque at just 1,600 rpm, while the gas V8 needs 4,000 rpm. So, clearly, if you need to haul and tow very heavy stuff, the Power Stroke is the way to go. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke is much more economical as well, so it pays off at the pump.Interestingly, Ford managed to reach those world-beating numbers using only one sequential turbocharger with one dual-compressor turbine, which provides good response at low rpm and more power at higher rpm. Advanced high-pressure common-rail fuel injection with piston-cooling jets increases efficiency, while also ensuring durability and reliability. The engine is also equipped with selective catalytic reduction and a diesel particulate filter for lower emissions.However, the latest Power Stroke is only the tip of the iceberg. Ford's V8 turbodiesel dates back to 1994 when the first 7.3-liter Power Stroke was introduced. Since then, Blue Oval's most torquey engine delivered reliability, peerless capability, and efficiency.