Cylinders or Horsepower? What's More Important?

The horsepower per liter argument is pointless.  A small engine with a ton of boost running at 5-digit RPMs is a timebomb.  Connecting rods get punished at high RPM, and the speed of the shock loading kills them unless they are made from expensive alloys.  Its power is also made at a higher engine speed at the cost of low RPM torque.  Small, turbo engines in cars are fun, but a bigger, torquier engine (as long as it isn't a lot heavier) is more fun.  
For example, how many RX7s, S-10s, and Jaguars now have small block V8s, and how many Corvettes are using rotary power?  
Feature Editor-Truckin' Magazine

Personally, I think the wave of the future for light trucks is going to be diesels. Yes, I know the fuel is $4.00+ per gallon. Even still, you'll get better fuel economy and lower overall fuel costs compared to an equivalently-powered gas truck.  

I will go with the more power and torqe.Ive got the proof under the hood of My toy that power is not the # of cylinders and as far as My turbo goes you should get more miles on a turbo than a gas eng,most turbos Ive replased have over 300 thou.  
85 Toyota Landcruizer repowered with 5.9 Cummins Turbo Diesel 400+ ponys, Banks charge air cooler,P-7100 Inline pump.

ToyDiesel. Good point. Cummins is probably one of the best examples that it's not about the cylinder count. Granted, the cylinders in the Cummins are the size of coffee cans, but point made regardless.    

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The horsepower per liter argument is pointless.  A small engine with a ton of boost running at 5-digit RPMs is a timebomb.  Connecting rods get punished at high RPM, and the speed of the shock loading kills them unless they are made from expensive alloys.  Its power is also made at a higher engine speed at the cost of low RPM torque.  Small, turbo engines in cars are fun, but a bigger, torquier engine (as long as it isn't a lot heavier) is more fun.

This is simply not true. If you get the A/F ratios right, Any size engine will be fine on a Turbo, Supercharger, or Even Nitrous. The main thing is to make sure you have a Good tune. For the More Fun statment, I totally disagree. I have Built them all and i had much rather have a Charged engine, Vrs NA....  

Yeah, there's nothing like the rush of a turbo or supercharger. Different feel between the two, but both fun.  

You cannot replace that all american muscle with a smaller engine  

I agree with the perfect example of the Cummins. More actual power and available power than pretty much any gasoline engine out there. But back to the point. A Turbo'd V6, in a FS Ford...no. Maybe say a Ranger or something. But not a Big truck ment for towing. Ford has all ready got themselves screwed up with the hunk of iron they call the Power Stroke. They don't need to throw another mess in one of their trucks. I skipped the whole Ford and Chevy V8 deal and chucked an Olds 425 Between the rails of my Chevy...Full Roller Valve train, custom ground cam, high comp. pistons, Edelbrock performer intake single Demon 675 4brl. Bunch of other goodies, and soon an FI setup and maybe a couple snails in the mix. But right now it still is a beast. It's out ran most everything that's been thrown at it. Except for a '66 'Stang with a blown 429. Did you know too that the 425/455 was used in Motorhomes, TORQUE MONSTER!!  

I agree that 425 and 455 are torque but the amount of fuel to make the torque is why you dont see many moter homes with gassers(mostly old mtr homes)most Run diesel 6 cyl puting more torque out with a lot less fuel usage.I work on a lot of moter homes and buse, most run cummins B,ISB,ISC,ISM,ISL,and the worst Mechanics night mare ISX (leaves no room to work on engine.  
85 Toyota Landcruizer repowered with 5.9 Cummins Turbo Diesel 400+ ponys, Banks charge air cooler,P-7100 Inline pump.