Now, don't kill the messenger here BUT -

My friend who works for Ford and is in the SVT area at Ford (he provided a good amount of pre-production accuracy to the GT-500) called me just a few moments ago with some exciting news. (He has been really closed-lip about the recent projects until now for some reason...)

He tells me that there are at least two Boss Mules that he has seen (one Redfire and one Alloy), heavily disguised of course, being tested on the streets as we speak. There are also one-two of them out west somewhere for hot-weather testing.

They all are reportedly 5.4 N/A cars, 6 Speeds, Iron block, 4v aluminum heads that have had some work done to them to flow even better, gears, and are supposed to be ~400-410 hp. He also said that both of the cars that he saw look like a V6 Mustang - no visible body work, black rockers, etc but they are hiding the grilles/bumpers and rear wing area, according to him.

He also reported that there are also two-three other study/development 197s that are tagged to be another S/E ("possibly a Mach"). No info on the drivetrain other than that at least one has the old Terminator-style blown 4.6 in it with ~365hp. He did say it was NOT a Terminator motor transplant but a blown 4.6 with different internals, etc from the Termie mills.

Lastly, he said we will see one of these cars no later than the NAIAS with it possibly being a late '08 or early (as in mid-summer) '09 production model. No word on potential pricing.

Wonder how much ADM these will bring?

If you see a car like any of these, try and get a pic! I can not verify this but my friend has been fairly accurate in the past. He did say that they can not even take cell phones back into the 'secret' area to ensure that NO pictures are taken.

Man, I HOPE he is accurate!

 

Very interesting.

 

I would go for a terminator engine in an s197!

 

5.4 N/A Boss, Now that's what I've been waiting on.

 

About what I expect. Also make perfect sense that it would be the basis for a GT350 from Shelby. I was hoping that it might have an all aluminum block instead of the iron block (Ford GT block with starter lugs) to keep the weight down.

As for a 365HP Terminator 4.6 that would seem kind of wasteful seeing that the FFRP SC can already give the 3V 400 HP.

 

Yeah, I thought so too. It might be just to keep the horsepower levels by model farther apart - 300, 330, 365, 400, 500, etc?

No doubt the 3V can make 400hp with the FFRP SC but if Ford does that, the 400hp NA boss may not sell as well?

It's gonna be interesting for sure.

 

They could easily drop the boost back to make any HP they wanted. But there would be no reason for different internals as the FFRP SC is good to 500 HP on stock internals (with intercooler). Expensive way to add less than 100 HP also.

Wouldn't surprise me to see the 5.4 at 370+ HP and then a SC at the 400+HP level. That would make more sense to me.

 

Wow!! This is some great info!

 

While this is the long-rumored and widely anticipated direction for the Boss Mustang, it is disappointing that Ford can't step up and at least offer an all aluminum alloy 5.4L in the Boss. A Boss Mustang should be about balanced performance - stellar handling and braking coupled with excellent linear NA horsepower. Handling will be less than stellar with the heavy iron block 4V engine up front. Come on Ford, how about a real "Bold Move"?

 

considering that the 03 svt motor only turned out 390hp i am not shocked that ford 3v blown motor will have less than that. specifically since he stated,, we can assume this motor will be a blown 3 valve with internals different than the mustang gt. with emissions, safety, and warranty's to worry about ford will not put undue stress on a 3 valve motor that does not breath too well(3 valve heads were not meant for performance, and flow well below those on the recent 4 valve motors).

 

Kinda funny....
everyone complains that the Bullitt isn't the SE they want with a motor and HP bump to satisfy them...
...and then they get word that theres a 400hp Boss with 5.4... and they still complain.

I'm happy that at least we get something cool, considering other than that, we have no idea WHAT else is done to it.

 

My ideals:

Boss: 4.6 4V = 375hp; six speed; Brembos; Recaros/Sparcos in stipped down, very serious interior; GT500 nose/tail; IRS (yeah, right) or at least a much better developed suspension and steering than in the current Stang GT/Shelby GT. This would replicate the high-winding, decent handling Trans-Am inspired Boss 302 of "69-'70.

Mach I: 5.4 4V = 400-425hp; six speed or ATX; requisite stripes, scoops, spoilers and other surface bling; drag-pack suspension (tuned for the strip). This would replicate the spirit of the big-block 428 Mach I of '69-'70 with a big, brawny motor and flashier appearance for stoplight and strip racing.

Either would be in the low-mid $30s. These would be very complementary cars, so even if the peak HP is only 25-50hp apart, they would be very different in character and buyer. Of course, such a course is painfully obvious, so of course, Ford will find some rationalization not to do it (and we wonder why they're in such a desperate hole, not-so "Bold Moves" and all?)

 

Ford needs something with a few more cojones, If GM slaps an LS3 into the F5 Camaro and it is within 100 pounds or so of the Mustang then 400 to 410 hp wont mean squat, those 4v 5.4's need to be in the 420 to 450 hp range in order for Ford to trump the F5 if it comes equiped with the LS3 (which is pretty much a sure bet).

 

This could make things interesting... thanks for the info.

Guess only time will tell if this is all correct.

 

Well apparently there are a load of Grabber Orange GT's sitting at Shelby automotives for conversion for something no one in the know can talk about right now. Stay tuned.

 

Won't a 5.4 in the proposed Boss/Mach have the same front-heavy weight issues that have plaqued the Gt 500? Strip out all the unecessary razzmatazz stuff and give us an aluminum block instead. Who needs leather, high-buck stereo, spoiler, etc. when you can have an aluminum block instead?

 

Leaving the supercharger off will cut around 100lbs off the front weight.

 

I agree and would go one step more - if Ford can't build the Boss in the format you outlined (or with a stroked 5.0L version of the 4.6L) they should hold on bringing a Boss Mustang to market until an all-alloy version of the upcoming Hurricane/Boss engine is ready. The possibility of a Boss 351 equipped as you described above with a 400+ hp all aluminum V8 engine would awesome. Just for the record, the H/Boss engine is rumored to appear in two sizes initially a 5.8L Mustang version (351 cid) and a 6.2L truck/SUV version both with a 2V OHC design.

And as JonW pointed out, a 5.4L powered Boss Mustang with an iron block an aluminum heads would be nose heavy.

 

A Mustang GT can be optioned out in the low-mid $30's. High $30's would be a better bet, IMHO...

 

Not to mention all the associated plumbing, IIRC all that stuff plus the S/C adds 160 lbs to the car. If the 3v heads could handle 400+ HP, you could save some weight there too, the 3v heads are lighter and more compact than the previous 2v heads which was a nice plus (also IIRC the 4v heads weigh about 60 lbs more than the old 2v castings). A 400+ HP 5.4 with 3v heads and a cast iron block would be lighter than an S/C'd aluminum 4v 4.6 (not to mention also possessing a lower center of gravity) and probably nearly the same weight as a 4v aluminum 4.6 .