The Best 4-Bangers Throughout Tuning History

Shops, People & Opinion
The Best 4-Bangers Throughout Tuning History

Many of us grew up learning the ropes of engine work on our favorite 4-cylinder engines, and many of those platforms are still as relevant today as ever. In 香蕉视频直播 issue #151, we investigated which 4-bangers are considered the best in tuning history with some digging through the files, talking to performance shops, and asking our audience. Here are the top 10:

Honda B16

HONDA B-SERIES

Valvetrain: SOHC/DOHC
Popular In: Civic, CRX, Integra
Year Introduced: 1988

  • First usage of Honda鈥檚 VTEC system that we all know and love.
  • 1.6L, 1.7L, 1.8L, and 2.0L variants.
  • B16 bottom end + B20 CRV head = B20VTEC (badass NA four-cylinder).

Honda KSeries

HONDA K-SERIES

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In:Civic, CRX, RSX
Year Introduced:2001

  • Two short block options, differentiated by deck height. K20 deck height is 212 mm, whereas K23 and K24 deck height is 231.5 mm.
  • Possibly the best four-cylinder engine ever based on versatility, reliability, and ease of modification.

Honda F20

HONDA F20C/F22C1

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In:S2000
Year Introduced:2000

  • Developed specifically for S2000.
  • 9,000 RPM redline.
  • Most brake-horsepower-per-liter and quickest piston speed upon initial release.

SR1024 52812.1409150392.1280.1280

NISSAN SR20DET

Valvetrain:  DOHC
Popular In: 180sx, 240sx, Silvia, Pulsar GTi-R 
Year Introduced: 1989

  • Some of the greatest turbocharged engine noises in the world.
  • Factory forged pistons in later generations (S15 Silvia).
  • Lightweight and easy to work on. Just try not to open the bottom end unless you know what you鈥檙e doing.

Mitsubishi 4G63

MITSUBISHI SIRIUS 4G63T

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In: Galant VR-4, Lancer Evolution
Year Introduced:1989

  • Probably the most heavily-modifiable four-banger in any production road car ever.
  • Frequently built to four-digit horsepower.
  • Insane builds have seen the 2,000 horsepower region with 13,000 RPM.

GM Ecotec

GM L850 ECOTEC

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In:  HHR SS, Saturn Sky, Solstice GXP
Year Introduced:1994

  • Factory forged rods and crankshaft.
  • High-pressure fuel injection system.
  • The final kickass move by GM Performance Division before the program鈥檚 cancellation.

BMW S14

BMW S14

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In: E30 M3
Year Introduced:1986

  • No direct successor or predecessor.
  • Made specifically for BMW鈥檚 phenomenal E30 M3.
  • Based on M10 block and M88 head, minus two cylinders.

Toyota 4A GE 2

TOYOTA 4A-GE

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In:AE86 Corolla, Celica, MR2
Year Introduced:1983

  • Rev-happy iron block straight from the factory.
  • Supercharged in 1988 (4AGZE) with forged internals and oil squirters.
  • Famous 鈥淪ilver Top鈥� and 鈥淏lack Top鈥� 20v models introduced in JDM AE101 and AE111 Trueno models.

Toyota 3S GE BEAMS

TOYOTA 3S-GE

Valvetrain:  DOHC
Popular In:  Celica, Altezza
Year Introduced:  1984

  • Best known for the 鈥淏EAMS鈥� (Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System) model among enthusiasts.
  • Pulled off the greatest motorsports cheat of all time in a 3S-GTE Celica GT-4, earning a two-year ban from WRC in 1995 (look it up 鈥搃t鈥檚 amazing).
  • Cast iron block with alloy cylinder heads.

SR1024 52812.1409150392.1280.1280

VAG 1.8T 20V

Valvetrain: DOHC
Popular In:Golf, Jetta, TT, A4
Year Introduced:1997

  • Used in every generation of VW Golf from 1998-present.
  • Five valves per cylinder.
  • Head designed by Cosworth for maximum flow.

Related Articles

Throwback: 5 MORE Vehicles from 香蕉视频直播 in 2009 Throwback: 5 MORE Vehicles from 香蕉视频直播 in 2009
The incredibly diverse builds and 香蕉视频直播 features of 2009 were so good we couldn't keep it to just five that we dug out of the archives. This was...
Toyo Tires Unveils New Proxes Sport 2 Toyo Tires Unveils New Proxes Sport 2
Toyo Tires鈥� new Proxes Sport 2 is designed to bring enhanced handling and traction to modern sports cars, CUVs, and SUVs across gas, hybrid, and...
Yokohama Tire GEOLANDAR M/T G003 SxS Yokohama Tire GEOLANDAR M/T G003 SxS
Yokohama Tire brings serious off-road performance to side-by-side (SxS) drivers with the new GEOLANDAR M/T G003 SxS, now available in U.S. markets in...
DC Sports Muffler Delete for Subaru WRX/STi DC Sports Muffler Delete for Subaru WRX/STi
DC Sports has restocked a limited supply of their Muffler Delete system for the 2015-2021 Subaru WRX/STi, offering enthusiasts a straightforward...
VIDEO: PAS365 Rally 2024 - Vegas to Salt Lake VIDEO: PAS365 Rally 2024 - Vegas to Salt Lake
For the second time in 2024 - and the third time since our official PAS365 Rally launch last year - we gathered up some friends and new faces, planned...
Howell EFI Introduces New LS and LSA Swap Harnesses Howell EFI Introduces New LS and LSA Swap Harnesses
Howell EFI, a trusted name in electronic fuel injection conversions since 1997, is expanding its lineup with new LS and LSA swap harnesses and...