this is fourcams comments on if he believes the 400 crank horsepower pj mustang is capable of 400 rwhp with some additional mods. he also talks about the 3 valve heads. notice the part on ford working on a new 3 valve head! this should be in the bullitt...


and his comments on the pj motor...

 

I have little doubt that Ford will sell them. From Ford's perspective, it probably makes perfect sense if viewed using a cost/benefit metric. But that's not really the issue here. The issue - as Galaxie correctly pointed out - is that there is a gaping hole performance-wise between the GT and GT500, and the Bullitt could have/should have/might have filled that void, particularly with the Mustang faithful clamoring for just such a car to help stem the ubiquitous tide of Shelby-mania that we're all witnessing (growing sick of...?).

Instead, we get another badge & sticker job (and from the sounds of it, not even a very interesting one) with the sort of HP increase anyone can do to their GT. Sort of a GT/CS +.

Like I said, glad I didn't wait for such a lackluster offering...I prefer my particular GT much more.

 

Given the cost constraints, I don't see them as bad, just not fully unlocked in their potential.

There is a great article in 5.0 Mustang that describes the process they used to get to that power level in the PJ/Saleen engine. There actually were a couple of comments regarding some of the positives of the stock engine set-up. As an example. they reuse the stock valves and springs. They clean up some of the porting on the heads, drop the intake runner flaps, and do their own cyliner honing to accomodate Saleen-specific pistons.

Thanks for posting those comments. I have previously read what he has written on the SVT Performance forums but have not check it in awhile.

 

You know, I think Ford got the rest of the car right, but failed miserably in the engine bay. There is a huge gap between the regular GT and the GT500 that could have easily been filled with a larger engine or a substantial increase in the claimed 312hp for the 2008 Bullitt. I would hardly call this a "Bold Move" by Ford. Ford has forgotten that what made the Mustang so popular was Ford's willingness to venture into areas of performance that set the pace for others to follow. Since the Camaro and Challenger aren't out yet Ford feels no need to intercept potential competition with larger horsepower numbers. If the Bullitt were to be released in the midst of these two cars, things would be totaly different. Ford feels the GT500 can handily do battle with the Camaro and Challenger, but the GT500 is expensive (and heavy). There is a gaping hole that Ford is simply not filling here. Ford doesn't realize that the worst sale missed is the one you don't know you missed out on.
I own a 2001 Bullitt and was prepared to buy a new one, but not now with what I hear is to be the actual power output. The lack of suitable power was the only complaint I had with the 2001 model. I'm not looking for a badge and meager power increase in a new model. I want the whole package, and am willing to pay for it.
But Ford, if you're listening, it's not too late to save face. All Ford would have to do is offer a "go fast" or "power-pack" option on the order sheet that would allow dealers to install the needed components from the FRPP catalog to increase power. Whether it be a supercharger or improved heads doesn't matter, as long as it's available to the customer who wants it. And that would be a "BOLD MOVE"!

 

You know, I think Ford got the rest of the car right, but failed miserably in the engine bay. There is a huge gap between the regular GT and the GT500 that could have easily been filled with a larger engine or a substantial increase in the claimed 312hp for the 2008 Bullitt. I would hardly call this a "Bold Move" by Ford. Ford has forgotten that what made the Mustang so popular was Ford's willingness to venture into areas of performance that set the pace for others to follow. Since the Camaro and Challenger aren't out yet Ford feels no need to intercept potential competition with larger horsepower numbers. If the Bullitt were to be released in the midst of these two cars, things would be totaly different. Ford feels the GT500 can handily do battle with the Camaro and Challenger, but the GT500 is expensive (and heavy). There is a gaping hole that Ford is simply not filling here. Ford doesn't realize that the worst sale missed is the one you don't know you missed out on.
I own a 2001 Bullitt and was prepared to buy a new one, but not now with what I hear is to be the actual power output. The lack of suitable power was the only complaint I had with the 2001 model. I'm not looking for a badge and meager power increase in a new model. I want the whole package, and am willing to pay for it.
But Ford, if you're listening, it's not too late to save face. All Ford would have to do is offer a "go fast" or "power-pack" option on the order sheet that would allow dealers to install the needed components from the FRPP catalog to increase power. Whether it be a supercharger or improved heads doesn't matter, as long as it's available to the customer who wants it. And that would be a "BOLD MOVE"!

 

I'm disappointed (greatly) in the lack of power, but I'm also very disappointed in the brakes and suspension. Mustang brakes are crap, everybody knows that. Ford had a chance with the Bullitt to rectify that, and they didn't. From what I read, the FRPP suspension is suitable only for a smooth track, and rides very rough on the street. So why would I want to pay extra for that? It's not like the DHG paint is going to make up for those shortcomings, at least not for me. The DHG paint would have been some very nice icing on the cake, had the cake been sweetened up with the right ingredients.

Lack of power = strike 1.
Lousy brakes = strike 2.
Rough suspension = strike 3.

Sorry, Ford, you're out as far as I'm concerned. On the other hand, they'll sell. the 97% of the people who don't read these forums, or the ones who don't care about mechanicals will buy them. The color and badging alone will insure that.

 

IMO Ford has no need to fill the gap between the 300hp GT and the 500hp GT 500 yet. If they do plan to fill it they are smart to wait until the Challenger and Camaro hit the streets and provide an alternative to the mustang. Right now the mustang is the only game in town.

I think the Bullitt will sale fine and be very popular with the general masses. It's a cheap way for Ford to keep the mustang interest up 5 years after S197 public debute.

Flame away.

 

Gotta agree with gofast, this Bullitt, while certainly a nice enough car -- hope I'm not pandering too much here -- is hardly a "Bold Move" as promised broadly by Ford's ad men.

Decent, if very modest and tepid upgrades to the mechanicals, certainly but nothing "Bold" here. Basically a stock Stang GT with a few easy existing pieces grabbed from the FRPP catalog.

12hp gain-why even bother? Added an X-pipe but no throatier muffler to at least replicate the sound of a big-block in lieu of its actual presence. 3.73s in the rear? That's about as cheap and easy a performance gain as any pimply 16-year old would come up with - will give a bit more kick but probably result in a gas guzzler tax since its not paired with a contemporary six-speed tranny.

Suspension is the same overfirm FRPP bits applied to the same pedestrian (front) / Neolithic (rear) suspension producing the same acceptable smooth track handling / atrocious real world road handling. Chassis bracing is nice, but kind of guilding the lilly as the Stang already has a pretty stout and stiff structure. The same insipid brakes, if daubed with a bit of red lipstick to make 'em all nice and purty.

Cosmetic upgrades, similarly modest though that is quite appropriate given that the Bullitt really is a minimalist design rather than a rolling clown show of fake scoops and childish stripes, so perhaps a bullet was dodged here given the reflexive proclivity to festoon any SE with about every goofy performance-styling cliche imaginable. Love the DHG paint though, great color. Wheels, nice Bullitt style, very appropriate for the car, unfortunately waaaay overused on about 3-trillion other Mustangs thus obviating any possible stylistic uniqueness here.

Basically, there's simply just not much real "there" there and nothing even remotely "Bold."

 

The previous Bullitt didn't fill the horspower gap between the GT and the Cobra before and was only a FIVE rated horsepower increase over a GT, so its absurd that people are slamming it for not "filling the gap" now.

There was another special edition car that was mid-way in terms of horsepower between the GT and Cobra, the Mach 1.

Now if this 312 hp special edition was called a Mach 1, then there would be genuine cause for complaints.

Weren't there rumors about a Mach1 prototype being developed by Roush?

 

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA!!!

 

Looks like news blogs are catching up to the Bullitt drift:

TheMustangNews.com

05-16-07:

When the 2008 Bullitt Mustang was announced last fall by mark Fields, we would have thought that we would know more about the car by now. It was widely expected that the car would be unveiled at the New York Auto show, but instead we were shown yet another Shelby Mustang that most people won't be able to afford once the dealers rape and pillage the public.

Recently some unofficial information has surfaced on the internet that gives more insight into the coming special edition Bullitt Mustang. What we have seen and heard points away from rumors that have been out there for a while that the next Bullitt would have a naturally aspirated DOHC “cammer” engine pumping out 400 hp.

Instead, the information that has been leaked this week shares a more pedestrian 310-315 hp version of the standard Mustang GT’s 4.6 liter 3-Valve engine. Just like the Shelby GT and Shelby GT-H, the Bullitt will have a Ford Racing type cold-air intake and a computer reflash to pick up the extra ponies.

In fact the rest of the list of features to be added to the 7700 special edition Bullitt Mustangs sounds suspiciously parallel to the 2007 Shelby GT. This will include a lowered suspension package with tighter tuning, a strut tower brace, up fitted exhaust and a number of other tweaks.

The Bullitt will be available in Highland Green or Black, with a host of exterior modifications to fit the character. These will include a plain jane grille, Bullitt identification emblems, a unique rear cap emblem and of course painted red brake calipers. The Bullitt will have 18” wheels too. Inside Bullitt aficionados will find the familiar accoutrements such as a special gear shift surround and a short throw shifter. Unique seats will also be added along with special Bullitt sill plates.

As mentioned above, most of the mechanical modifications will be virtually identical to that of the 2007 Shelby GT and GT-H Mustangs. This makes it highly likely that they will be built much in the same way by an outside up fitter such as Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas, or in Michigan by Saleen or perhaps Roush. Our bet is that the Bullitt will be up fitted in Las Vegas, alongside the Shelby GT’s.

In any case, the enthusiast body has expressed a mixed reaction to the news of the next Bullitt. The crew over at the IMBOC forums seems to be split. Some are embracing the continuation of the Bullitt nameplate while others feel that more of them dilutes the identity and perhaps the collectibility of their 2001 models.

What is universal is the slight disappointment that the Bullitt coming to a dealer near you isn’t something more than just another parts kit special. People have been hoping and expecting for something more. Granted there are a dozen or more fully and half baked Shelby Mustangs available now. Well okay maybe not a dozen, but it sure seems that way.

For the mainstream Mustang budgets, Ford seems to be in a rut lately of delivering nothing more than a lot of hype, stickers, and emblems for the Mustang enthusiasts.

Where’s the beef? If the information coming out about the Bullitt is true, Ford had better start doing better than aftermarket parts kit specials by 2009 or the Camaro and Challenger will be having a good breakfast.




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Rather it's a rare car or not, Ford will sell them. The question of how quick - will be determined by the expected level of greed on the local dealer! God help up all again.

 

Right on! Comparing pricing on a SGT, I wonder what Ford, and the dealers expect to get for this baby.

 

Well said.

 

If, as rumored, Shelby Autos get their hands in the cookie jar all assumptions of a reasonably priced Buliitt is out the window. And so will its demand. The early estimates for the Shelby GT was in the $35K range which was even confirmed by our very own Shelby Minister of Propaganda.

In such a scenario a low $40K window sticker could be a reality rather than an impossibility and that's before Ford dealers get their paws on them.

 

 

I say its worth it to be a little bit unique. As long as the mark up isn't what the gt500's is/was (100% or more in most cases)

 

This is just a thought: Would it be possible that Ford "leaked" the info on the Bullitt in an attempt to test the waters on public perception/approval of the model before they actually went through with the production of the car? That way, Ford would get a feel for what they needed to change before they wasted their time making a car that nobody wanted(or would not sell). Sometimes companies do this in an attempt to get a true reading on buyer's acceptance of upcoming products.
I'm just let down on what Ford had initially said about the Bullitt, leading me to believe it would be a "complete" car with all the right stuff and not some badged-up puff of what could have been.
Remember that in 2001, the original Bullitt had no gap to fill, as the Cobra pushed around 320hp and the regular GT was 260hp (we won't include the elusive 385hp Cobra R, as so few were obtainable) and the market was looking for a SE model, which the Bullitt fit quite nicely. But now the horsepower gap between the GT500 and the GT is massive. The gap of almost 190hp from the GT500 to the Bullitt is more than triple that of the 2001's deficit. To be more precise, in 2001 it was 55hp from the Bullitt to the Cobra. Now it's 188hp! What happened, and what is Ford doing here? We need a real Bullitt!
Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Nope, that's it.

 

If it has the full FR Power Pack, it will have the Mufflers in that package which are more aggressive and will be complimented with the X...