What Do You Know About Ford Engines?

AUTO

By: Robin Tyler

7 Min Quiz

Image: Pixabay by MichaelGaida

About This Quiz

Who hasn't heard of Ford, one of the United States' most loved auto manufacturers and one of the "Big Three" along with General Motors and Chrysler?

Backed with some automotive knowledge (Henry Ford had built his first vehicle in 1896) Ford began the company in 1903 and within a few short years, he had transformed motoring in both the American and the world. This was largely down to the Model T, one of the most influential cars of the 20th century. It sold 15 million units up until 1927. That success carries on today, because in 2017, Ford sold around 6.6 million units worldwide.

Ford has produced some iconic motor cars over the years other than the Model T. Think of their F-Series pickup trucks ... going strong since the 1940s. And what about the GT40, a car that broke Ferrari's domination of the endurance races at Le Mans? And there are so many more. But just as iconic as the Ford motor cars over the last century, so too are Ford engines. From humble beginnings in his kitchen, where Henry Ford built his first engine, to the modern engines today which are not only green but also economical, Ford engines are highly regarded around the world.

But just how much do you know about them? Do you know the powerplant that powered "Tin Lizzy," the Model T? Or what about the high-performance engine found in the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning super truck? These and more are covered in this comprehensive Ford engine quiz.

Let's see how well you do!

Powered by a Ford 7.0-liter V8, this vehicle broke Ferrari's domination at the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour Endurance race in the mid-1960s. Can you name it?

The Ford GT40 won the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour endurance race for four straight years from 1966 to 1969, which included filling out the top three positions in 1966. Only 105 were produced. The title winning car from 1966 was actually powered by a Mustang engine, a brute of a 7.0-liter V8.

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Ford makes many top quality diesel engines. From this lineup, pick one of them, please.

A staple for many Ford F-Series trucks, like the Super Duty, Ford's Power Stroke engine was at first a rebranded Navistar engine. In 2010, however, Ford produced their first homegrown Power Stroke engines including a 6.7-liter V8 version which pushes out 400 bhp and a monstrous 800 lb-ft of torque.

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Ford's modular engines, introduced in 1990, were found on Ford, Lincoln and what other brand of vehicle?

Of course it's Mercury, that is a brand from the Ford stable. Modular Ford engines incorporated different designs. The modular aspect came in the fact that they shared certain parts. Did you know, once these engines were introduced, Ford factories could be reconfigured to produce a specific engine as needed within a day?

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In 2011, Ford introduced a new Shelby GT350 Mustang. What powered this modern muscle behemoth?

Performance-wise, the 2011 Shelby GT350 Mustang was super impressive. Not only could it go from a standing start to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, but it also covers a quarter mile in just 12 seconds, reaching 121 mph in the process. This is all thanks to the 5.0-liter Ford V8 engine under the hood.

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Which Ford engine was named International Engine of the Year in 2016 in the 1-liter and below class?

The 1.0-liter Ford EcoBoost I-3 has certainly been a winner for Ford. In fact, it not only won the International Engine of the Year in 2016 in the 1-liter and below class, but it also dominated that class from 2012 to 2017. A turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost produces up to 140 brake horsepower in some versions!

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What is another name for a flathead engine as often used by Ford?

The first Ford sidevalve engines were used in British and German Ford models. First seen in 1932, this engine type was only replaced in the 1960s. A naturally aspirated inline four, two displacements were available, 933 cc and 1,172 cc.

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A Ford engine produced in the late 1960s produced 360hp with 459lb-ft of torque. Can you name it?

The 428 Cobra Jet from Ford is a legendary engine from the American automaker. It was seen in a number of models including the 1968 Ford Mustang. It became known as the "CJ". The Cobra Jet was based on the Ford FE engine, an essentially, it was a tuned up version.

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True or false. During World War II, Ford made engines for B-24 Liberator bombers as well as the bombers themselves.

During the Second World War, Ford turned its attention to the war effort. The company produced over 86 000 B-24 Liberator bombers as well as 57,000 engines under license.

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Ford's "super truck," the F-150 SVT Lightning had which of these under the hood?

The SVT Lightning was introduced in 1993 and essentially is an F-150 truck with a little extra under the hood. The Lightning was powered by a 5.8 liter V8 which produced 240 bhp while handling was improved thanks to an upgraded suspension system. Even more powerful models followed at the end of the '90s.

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The second generation of the GT, released in 2017 is powered by a ________?

The second generation of the Ford GT is a thing of beauty. And it is powered by a great engine, as well. The 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 engine produces 647 hp!

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Early Ford engines, like that found on the Model T, would power the ______ wheels?

The Model T engine delivered its power to the rear wheels of the car using a planetary gear-based two-speed gearbox. Interestingly, Ford called it three-speed but that doesn't really count, as one gear was reverse!

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And what engine powered the Quadricycle?

Henry Ford's quadricycle had two speeds and was powered by a two-cylinder engine that ran on ethanol. In second gear, the engine could propel this early vehicle to 20 mph.

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Still sought after close to a century after it was first produced, which of these engines often features in hot rods?

The Flathead V8 was a revelation by Ford after the company patiently waited to enter the V8 game. Quite simply put, at the time, there was nothing similar to it out there. Most importantly, it was cheap, which made it more accessible to people struggling through the Great Depression.

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Ford's 1932 Flathead V8 was unique to other auto manufacturers because ______?

It took Ford some time to release their first V8 engine - Chevrolet had done so around 15 years earlier - but when they did in 1932, it was a massive success. It differed from other V8s as it was cast from a single piece of metal which Ford called "en block".

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The Consul 4 is also known by another name. What is it?

Why was the Consul 4 given the name of Zephyr? Well, its because it found itself powering a British-based Ford product, the Zephyr. So the name kind of stuck after that.

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What was the most powerful Ford engine put into the first generation Mustang?

The 4.7-liter Windsor HiPo V8 was first introduced by Ford in 1963 and was used on their Fairlane model. It became the most powerful engine put in the first generation of the Mustang and produced around 270 bhp.

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Before he even started the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford had built his first vehicle. What was it called?

Henry Ford's Quadricycle wasn't anything special. It did get him into car design, however. Running on four bicycle wheels, the Quadricycle could reach speeds of up to 20 mph.

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Which engine replaced Ford's Flathead V8 in the 1950s?

Produced for a 10-year period from 1954, the Y-block V8 replaced the Flathead, an engine that was now over 20 years old. It increased power significantly, improving by 20 horsepower over the Flathead.

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In 1958, Ford introduced the MEL V8. This replaced the Lincoln Y-block. A water-cooled engine, what was its intended use?

Yes, the MEL V8 was introduced in 1958. It was specifically for larger vehicles in both the Mercury, Edsel and Lincoln range. In fact, the name MEL comes from just that.

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Car control layouts were very different in the early days of motoring. If a driver wanted to accelerate a Ford, do you know which of these below he would do?

In the early days of motoring, there were many configurations for brake, clutch and throttle control. To use the throttle on a Model T, the driver would adjust a lever near the steering wheel. But let's be honest, using one's foot seems so much easier.

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"Tin Lizzy," the Model T, is one of Ford's most famous cars. What powered this auto legend?

The first Model T's were powered by a 2.9-liter inline four-cylinder which produced 20 brake horsepower. This gave "Tin Lizzy" a top speed of around 45 mph.

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The Model A, the precursor to the Model N first left the Ford factory in 1903. What engine gave it a top speed of 30 mph?

The first incarnation of the Ford Model A was released in 1903. And technically, although it was designed by Henry Ford, the engine was in fact from Fiat. It was a 1668 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine which gave the Model A a top speed of 30 mph.

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True or false? The Speedster was a version of the Model T that was faster than the standard car.

Model T's could be customized quite a lot, depending on what the new owner wanted. For instance, a model called the "Snowflier" added skis to the front of the car in place of wheels to allow for driving in winter. And yes, there was a "Speedster" model as well which pushed out 35 bhp over the 20 bhp of the normal engine.

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The engine that powered the Ford Model T was not only able to run on gasoline but also ethanol and what other propellant?

Early Model T engines were capable of running on kerosene, ethanol or gasoline. Ethanol became too expensive, so when the price of gasoline eventually dropped, it quickly became the favorite form of fuel.

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Which engine powered the original Ford Mustang, the first muscle car introduced by the American auto maker?

The entry-level models of the 1965 Ford Mustang didn't have V-power. They did have a punchy 2.8-liter straight six engine, however. It produced around 100 bhp. Pretty weird that a muscle car didn't have V8 power. Ford soon remedied that, however.

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One of the earliest Fords, the Model N was the manufactured for the first time in 1906. What powered it?

The Model N was produced between 1906 and 1908. It was powered by a 2,440 cc inline-4 engine, the first four-cylinder engine produced by Ford.

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Although Ford had designed the Y-block and made it ready for production in 1953, it was only introduced in 1954. Do you know why?

Tested and ready to go by 1953, the Y-block had to wait to be introduced. Why? Well, there was a shortage of nickel in America due to the Korean War and the fact that the military had a preference in this regard. Once the war was over, however, Ford introduced the engine.

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People love the Ford Flathead V8. Why?

Although it had some problems -- it loved to burn oil at a high rate -- the Flathead V8 became very popular. And yes, it produced some great performance numbers at the time but more importantly, it was relatively cheap when put up against the V8's of other manufacturers.

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Ford didn't only produce car engines but for the military as well. Which of these would be used in a military scenario?

Manufactured during the course of World War II, the GAA powered various military vehicles, including combat machines such as the M4A3 medium tank, the famous Sherman. Made out of aluminum to keep weight down, this 32-valve engine was a 60-degree V8 which produced around 500 brake horsepower and over 1000 lb-ft of torque.

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In 1969, Ford released the Mustang Mach 1 performance package option. From the options, can you pick out the engine found in this muscle car?

Although different engines were available at a later stage, the first Mach 1 performance option given to the Mustang included a 5.8-liter Windsor 351 engine. Interestingly, this was coupled to a manual, not automatic gearbox.

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In what year did Henry Ford make his first internal combustion engine?

Ford's first internal combustion was put together in the sink of his home! It later became the powerplant to his first ever vehicle, the Quadricycle, which he built in 1896.

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Which of these engines was only produced for Ford models in the United Kingdom starting in 1951?

Produced from 1951 and for a 15-year period, the Consul engine had two varieties, a straight four and a straight six. They were used in a range of Ford products exclusive for the United Kingdom as well as other auto maker's cars, such as the Reliant Sabre.

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Did you know that in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Ford was involved in aviation? Around 200 Ford Tri-Motors served with a number of airlines. Did these aircraft use Ford engines?

No. Although the company was briefly involved in aviation, the Tri-Motor did not have Ford engines. Early versions were powered by air-cooled radial Curtiss-Wright engines and later models by more powerful Pratt and Whitney engines

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Ford was late to the game when it came to electric starters replacing hand cranks for engine starts. In what year did Ford finally use them?

The Model T engine was hand-cranked to begin with, much like all early engines. The option of the electric starter arrived in 1919, saving injuries for unwary owners. Due to a compression buildup, hand cranks could cause serious injuries for the unwary.

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True or false? The first 2,447 Model T engines were cooled using water pumps.

The Model T's 2.9-liter straight-four engine, which at first produced around 20 bhp, was initially water-cooled. Well, the first 2,447 were. Ford then changed to cooling thermosiphon action, where natural convection circulated water without the need of a pump.

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