MrMorden

Do you think that it will be naturally aspirated ~370 hp? or will they have modded it? [/b][/quote]
The Rumor is a 370hp N/A 5.4L

The 2000 Cobra R was 385hp with 4V heads, so I don't think 370hp with 3V heads is unrealistic. They'd have to cut some corners to make the motor affordable for mass production...don't expect forged pistons or rods. It would probably be basically an F-150 motor with better cams and (maybe) a forged crank.

I'm not sure about the weight difference between a 4.6L and 5.4L motor, but I suspect a 5.4L Mach I would handle a bit worse than a GT, but would smoke it in a straight line.

rhumb

A bit more as it's a taller block. But a heavier, more powerful, straight-liner would would be in keeping with the Mach I's character, which has been that of more of a drag racer than a road racer.

Now if they also come up with a neo-Boss 4V DOHC 4.6, backed up by a tight 6 spd MTX, taut IRS suspension and pizza-pan brakes for those of us who live to drive more than a 1/4 mile at a time down a straight track...

And then there will be the 500hp IRS Cobra as the crown jewel, uber-Mustang in the lineup combining Mach I+ straight line prowess with neo-Boss agility through the twisties and all the creature comforts one could hope for.

Sounds like a perfectly logical, sensible and desirable lineup for all tastes ... I wonder how Ford's management will contort to somehow rationalize their way out of it. :bang:

clintoris

I guess the 5.4 is all of about 70lbs heavier... beef up the suspension a little in the front, perhaps move the battery to the trunk, and it shouldn't he too hard to handle it like the current GT. I agree on the breaks, though.... if not bigger, slot and cross drill them. I like a wide variety of twisties and the quarter mile sprint.

MedVader

I been hearing for the last year that 4V head is going out the window. Word was that everything is going over to the 3V.

The '05 Navigator is 3V SOHC 5.4
In fact, the ONLY 4V motors produced today are for the Lincoln Aviator and Ford GT. And when the 3V 4.6 comes out early in '05, then the Aviator will be SOHC too. It looks likes the DOHC era ends when the last Ford GT rolls off the line.

78Mach1

a 5.4L mach 1 sounds pretty good to me!

rhumb

Not sure if the 4V heads will completely die off but imagine they will get a much more restricted use as the 3V heads offer probably all the performance most applications demand for less money and complexity. But of course, most of Ford's offering are not performance models like the Mustang, so there may well be more rationale for offering the DOHC heads in the Mustang lineup.

Interestingly, Mercedes went all 3V for quite some time, probably for the same reasons Ford's doing so, but now they are starting to return to 4V designs. Is this like some adolescent growing-up phase:-)

sferrv6

Man, I would like nothing more than a 5.4, but it seems illogical to me, especially when Ford could easily get another 30-40 horsepower out of the current 4.6.

I could see them offering a 4.6 3V Mach 1 with 340 HP for 06 and 07... and then in 08+ have the 4.6 340HP mach engine be standard for the GT (except this engine will be factory rated at 325 for the GT) and then offer the 5.4 370HP in the Mach.

It just sounds too good to be true if they had 5.4 370HP next year!

clintoris

That was the thing with the vintage Mustangs... they had a bunch of different engine options... and not just a "tune" on the same engine. There were I think 5 different engine options.... different c.i.d in '68... currently there are only 2. I'm guessing, but perhaps they're trying to offer something more. Give people more of a choice, and something more than just badging and 10hp to separate their Mustangs. When they came out with the '03 Mach 1, having the shaker and the 4v motor was along the same lines I'm talkin'. There is a 55hp difference and a different engine (4v vs 2v). With this deal, now that the GT hp is pretty close to the '03-'04 Mach 1, they're going to have to do something more significant the try to ring more hp out of the 4v motor... it was pretty tapped N/A with the '02 Cobra config. And in order to keep from exquisite feeling release of liquid waste product of the SVT Cobra owners, that have their own club, they would have to stay away from the actual "cobra" motor... that's why the '03 Mach one has a different intake manifold and 5 less hp. Anyways.... I'm babbling now... but yeah... to give an array of engine options, and try to give each one a little exclusivity or uniqueness...
I'm praying for the 5.4L

BlackMustangGT07

I've loved the Machs since ive first seen them, just their entire configuration and color schemes. I'm not sure about handling, but I know they're powerful. Sure a Cobra would be nice, but I dont think I can afford it- So I'm stickin to the good old Mach 1. Can't wait...

distortion

I want orange on my Mach 1. Also, I want it this summer. Bill Ford, you listen to us now.

muscleman

The mclaren-mercedes SLR uses 3v heads.

cntchds

i need a mach... well in a couple years at least. like when i can drive o and maybe even be able to pay for it....

red454

Has anyone seen any leaked Mach 1 photos yet?

78Mach1

Yes, any leaked Mach 1 photo's???? What do you think its gonna look like?

cobrasvt777

Sounds to me like the 5.4L N/A is a very reliable rumor. I've read one of the guys who posted the info and where he got it from and it sounded pretty tight.
But ya never know.
I think Ford was perhaps surprised at the Success of the 03 and 04 Mach1's and probably reconsidered it for this new Mustang. If they dont make a MACH in the next couple years out of the New design, then that would be a mistake in my opinion.
There is something about driving a car with more CUBES!!
And a 5.4 N/A is a perfect balance of power between the GT's 4.6L and the Cobras rumored 5.4L SC. It's always good to have an OPTION in between the two.

slavehand

I couldn't agree more except maybe 2 options between them.

78Mach1

What kind of re-tooling would they have to do at the factory to add the 5.4 to the production process? is this gonna be like the 69-70 boss 429's that had to be produced off-site and needed extensive changes to the frame/shock towers to add the engine? Is the 5.4 much larger than the 4.6?

TrueBlueCajun

My wife told me to wait until all variants are available. Purchase what you want then keep it for 10 years. I said fine with me.

426H

Going with the GT now, getting the shelby when available!

78Mach1

TELL FORD WE WANT THE MACH!