As usual, Ford is out there first with the pony car and all the others play catch up.

Still it begs the question again......Why did Ford not offer a 5.4L 350 something HP for the mustang as a special offer or order. They could have offered a V-6, V-8 and a GT w/ a 5.4L non supercharged.

With the exception of the Daytona (350 HP) most of the competition is at or over 400 hp (New Camaro, Challenger, Charger, Firebird...just guessing).

We can compete somewhat with the daytona with a CAI and retune (600 buck upgrade). For the rest we have to go with a supercharger. Heck most of the new cars are over a liter or more larger. Even the Dodge V-6 is rated at 250hp.

With the exception to the Camaro.....most are 4 door, grocery getter, family cars. Rumor has it that all will change by 2009.

What's a Ford lover to do.....dern sure not to put a dodge in my garage. :notnice:

 

I would hope that the 5.4 would see the engine bay sooner or later.

Keep in mind the GT is at a much lower price point than the 400HP cars will be at.

I personally think a stout 3V 5.4 should be in a Boss or mach1 that would be a regular member of the lineup to compete with the more powerful ponycars

 

And I'd be all over a Mach version ...

 

Im sure that Ford didn't lose one sale having a 4.6L rather then a 5.4.

The cars you talk about are also not coming out til 2008 or 2009. So there is plenty of time to size up the competition.

 

The reason is simple: Ford is saving the 5.4L for a SE, such as the Mach 1 or Boss. The 400HP engines the competition is using is for the high-end models, which would be the equivalent of a SE (SS for GM, SRT-8 for D-C). As Galaxie said, not the same price point.

 

I would also assume this as well. More than likely, the LS2 in the Camaro concept will be in the high-end model while they could also opt for the rumored 5.3L for a mid-level Camaro to be more on par with the GT. Same goes with DC as well. 6.1L Hemi in SRT-8 and 5.7L Hemi in an R/T. This way, both Camaro and Challenger would be marketed similar to Mustang.

I wouldn't worry about Ford not doing something to compete with its rivals. I'm sure that there is much more room for imporvement in the 3V 4.6L.

Just my $0.02.

 

And remember, the V6 Stang is probably going to get the 3.5L, 250HP V6 in the near future.

 

I agree with this. Ford is watching guys, right now everybody is up in arms over this Challenger and Camaro business, I have the feeling Ford is about to roll out something to combat those cars. We just got 475hp last week, so I know we should have 400hp something coming soon in a SE model...just have some patience.

 

I think Ford should definitely fill the void between the GT and the GT500. My choices would be:

5.4 -- 400hp -- 3V (Cobra Jet) and/or 4V (Super Cobra Jet) as the big, torquey motor for a drag oriented Mach I. A high ration SRA and gearing optimized for the strip/stoplight would be ideal here.

4.6 -- 375hp -- 4V as the high winding road racer for either a Boss or GT 350. A tight six speed and IRS would top this package out.

The 3V 4.6 would anchor the bottom of the Mustang performance lineup while the GT500 remains at the top. Perhaps offer 6spd mtx (GT) and at least an IRS option to keep these fresh and interesting as the Camaro and Challenger roll onto the streets.

 

Rhumb, I like how you think! :P Those would certainly be my guess as well as to what Ford might have up its sleeve then next couple of years.

 

Yes and Yes

A 400 HP 5.4 is a MUST

I hope Ford can pull it off especially with some refined 3v heads using a premium fuel tune and some slightly bigger cams or cams using a more aggressive lobe design.

In basic "GT" tune, your looking at 350 HP, its been rumored I guess that the GT is due for a 15 or 20 HP bump (I wonder how that was accomplished?), but that gets a 5.4 3v to 360 or 370 HP so its still 30 down for the count.

If the next "GT" tune is accomplished via electronics then that leaves the hardware. I've read that the 3v heads are very nice units and that they are better than the older 4v heads with a very effecient intake port which I suppose leaves only the combustion chamber and valve bowl area as the only areas that meaning full cylinder head refinement can come from? Other than that its on to the cams which could be made both bigger (as in lift) and more aggressive (as in lobe shape) but for reliabilitioes sake the attendant valvetrain parts either need to be lightened or made more durable or both.

Then again maybe there is still some areas left for improvement in the intake and exhaust department? Or maybe they could touch on all these areas for that 50 hp boost?

 

I would like to see an AL 5.4 myself. I don't want too much weight over the front of the car if I can help it, and the torque would be fun to have on the street.

 

No.

If the camaro and/or Challenge make it to market, there will be Machs and Bosses to take them on.

GT is just fine with "wimpy" 4.6L, 300HP engine.

 

With MOD motors the weight difference between a 4.6 liter V8 and a 5.4 liter V8 really isn't that big. It's not like they're adding hardware or "growing" everything by 27%.

 

I think I had read in the past that the 5.4 engine cannot be fitted into a Mustang on the normal assembly line. The 5.4 would drive assembly costs up substantially, and would have to be covered by the consumer. The Mustang GT at it's current price point is killer; a
much more expensive Mustang GT puts it in a crowded area. I agree with AFBLUE........the current GT is awesome!

 

No doubt the GT is awesome now, but i agree with everyone else here, a 5.4 is needed (if possible) to bridge the gt/gt500 gap.

 

Hey! All it takes is $$$$. Go for it!

 

What we need is the australian Boss 290 engine. 5.4L 397hp. Seems like the perfect option for an SE model to battle the 6L camaros and challangers.

 

Why are you guys quoting the 5.4L NA engine at such a high horsepower (I think Rhumb said 400) (Knight said 397, but aren't Aussie regs less strict on emissions)? The last high-po NA 5.4L we saw in a Stang was in the 2000 Cobra R. It had DOHC/32V and it put out 385. You guys really think the 3 valve can make more?

I have been dreaming of the 5.4L V8 (NA of course) in a Mustang for years, and I could never figure out how GM could afford to throw around 5.7, and Dodge, the HEMI, yet Ford only found it necessary to equip even the high end Mustangs with the 4.6 (in DOHC, and eventually in Forced Induction).

Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of the Modular family of engines, but 1. I am not gonna hold my breath for anything besides a SVT product to get the 5.4 in the next couple of years, and 2. if we do get a NA 5.4 I don't expect it to push much over 375 hp.

Please Ford, PROVE ME WRONG!

 

and not to mention actually in production compared toteh Challenger and Camaro. The concepts always have extravagant engines.