therealmrmustang

LINK: 2010 FORD SVT RAPTOR ENGINE ENDURES EXTREME TESTING TO MEET OFF-ROAD ENTHUSIAST Features of the new 6.2-liter V-8 engine include: - Cast-iron engine block and four-bolt main bearing caps, with additional cross bolts, for durability. - Aluminum cylinder heads, with two valves per cylinder head and two spark plugs per cylinder to more efficiently burn the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. - Single overhead camshaft with roller-rocker shaft drivetrain, which creates a stiff valvetrain that allows optimized camshaft lift profiles and results in better low-speed torque. The roller-rocker shafts allow valve angles to be splayed, resulting in optimized intake and exhaust port layout for better engine “breathing”. - Dual-equal variable cam timing means intake and exhaust valve opening and closing events are phased at the same time to optimize fuel economy and performance throughout the engine speed range and throttle positions. - Core to the improvements is using a larger bore and shorter stroke. This approach to creating power has its roots in storied Ford racing engines from the past. The large bore (102 mm) allows for larger intake and exhaust valves for improved engine breathing, and the shorter stroke (95 mm) allows higher engine speed for increased horsepower. Still, peak horsepower is generated at a relatively modest 5,500 rpm. Piston cooling jets squirt oil on the underside of the pistons to keep the piston crowns cool under extreme operating conditions. - Crankcase breathing is also improved to reduce windage losses and oil aeration levels at very high speeds. “That really helps get a robust lubrication system for the engine,” said Harrison. “It allows us to endure a lot of time at extreme high speeds.”

Jeep sold almost 100,000 Wranglers in 2007. Though that figure has dropped significantly because of the economy, a third of those sales would be significant. A new Bronco based on the Defender platform would have been perfect. I would venture to say that in a robust economy that a Defender like Bronco could generate 30,000-45,000 in sales annually... not including cross over sales from Jeep. The potential for 75,000-90,000 units annually is there. The Wrangler sells well because there are so many options. Street Wranglers to Rubicons, Sports to Unlimiteds... there's a Wrangler to fit everyone. Not unlike the best selling truck in America, the F-Series. Should Ford decide to market some hokey uni-body FWD/AWD vehicle, they shouldn't call it a Bronco. EVER.

I had a Dodge Dakota work truck with the 2.2l 4cyl and a manual 5-spped, and the damn thing would not hold a cruising speed in 5th going down the freeway! Get it up to 60 or 65 and slip it into 5th and the truck would start slowing down with your foot to the floor! Also had a GMC S-15 work truck with a 4cyl and a 5-speed, and everytime that I would go over railroad tracks where you would get a little amount of suspension compression and the clutch pedal would get stuck to the floor. The first time it happened I thought it came out of gear. I looked down and the clutch pedal was stuck to the floor. This would happen everytime the front suspension compressed under the weight of the truck going over undulations in the road. These were work trucks that a previous employer owned... Not mine. I've owned mostly Fords and have never encountered crap like this!

I'm not saying that Ford should spend the money right now. I do think that it would be viable when they are over the hump and profitable again. Look at the Wrangler again... The vehicles that you mention are not comparable. While they may be classified the same, they are different vehicles. You can't compare a FJ to a Wrangler. If Toyota had done the wise thing and produced a new FJ according to the original, the Wrangler would have serious competition, and the aftermarket would rush to support it. That being said, should Ford choose to design and build a new Bronco to the original formula with todays technology, they wouldn't be able to build them fast enough and Wranglers sales would drop by a third.

Thanks for having my back on this one... I was going to say the same thing.

Which is exactly what is being done with 30 year old Bronco's. But we're running out of good, buildable tubs. Jeeps are still in production.

I would have to agree with this statement. Just as long as they do it. The Wrangler needs competition. The Ford faithful are running out of old Bronco's... Have you seen what a nice '66-'77 goes for these days?! :blink:

Pound what ever you're driving over into submission! I think that he was refering to the fact that the Excursion had solid axles... thus making it a true off-road vehicle. Pre torsion bar (i.e. TTB) Rangers & Explorers are great off-road vehicles... Later models? Not so much. I think the Raptor will be great... especially with some suspension tuning and a lower low range, for crawling that is.

x2 :reading:

More information... I've been following this particular thread for three years now... yes, it's 3 years long! CompetitionPlus: What about a COMPETITIVE Ford in Pro Stock! Also... Yellowbullet.com: NHRA Pro Stock Fords? CompetitionPlus: Burnevik replaces Ness building Mustang SpeedTalk: Darin Morgan Pro-Stock Ford Head...

Link: First Look at Morgan's 2010 Mustang

After reading that, it really make me wonder just how long it will be before a turbo car breaks the 5-second barrier... Wow!!

I thought Brian Wolfe was running the show at FRPP? Even though the nitro burning Boss 500 has to fall within NHRA rules (i.e. Chrysler Hemi bore centers, etc.), it is still uniquely developed, partially FRPP financed, and will soon be sold through the FRPP parts cataloge. Technically... those that choose to run the Boss will be running Ford power, and that's closer to a factory powered Fueler than the current crop of qualifiers. In 2004 there was a resurgence of interest in an alternative engine, and those interested (Walt & Pat Austin) were looking to a Ford design. NHRA quickly closed the door on those ideas with the current rules that limit fuel burning engines to a 4.84" bore centerline. The Ford Lima (429/460) has a 4.90" bore center. Link: Ford Forums - NHRA bans Boss 429 engine

Link: Enders returns to full-time racing with Ford Pro Stock entry Link: Ford Racing's New 500ci NHRA Pro Stock engine Link: Pro Stock vet Larry Morgan will switch to Ford for 2010 season Link: MORE ON THE FORD IN MORGAN’S FUTURE Link: Ford New Official NHRA Vehicle!? Link: One man’s quest to make Ford a player in NHRA Pro Stock Link: FORD DELIVERS CUNNINGHAM'S MUSTANG BODY Link: GLIDDEN UNLEASHED - 6/24/2009

I was thinking the exact same thing... I think there are future plans ahead. Doesn't make much sense to have the Focus, Sport Trac, or Ranger for that matter. I'll let the Fusion and the Edge slide. BTW Why not the Mustang GT?! :missing: The Trac Pac is very much a performance oriented machine.

Thanks for the information. Airflow is where it's at... Which makes me even more curious as to how the new TrickFlow 2v heads will perform when I get them installed. They're supposed to flow 240cfm @ 0.550" lift oput of the box. LINK: Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Street/Strip Cylinder Heads for Ford 4.6L/5.4L 2V

Ditto... :reading:

:burnout: You bet!

I know that... I was being facetious. :rolleyes: 3,041 in Dark Highland Green to be exact... as well as 1,818 in Black and 723 in True Blue. Even though there were more Bullitts built in the special green, Dark Highland Green Mustangs only account for 1.7% of total production.

What other color is there? :shades:

Not saying that I hate Cobras at all... Nothing sounds better than a 4v Modular at full song. Especially with an off-road x-pipe and Borla mufflers! I will also admit error... I thought for some reason (...my error, I need to get my facts straight!) they were rated at 305hp. Oops!! :rolleyes: I now know that they were rated at 320hp. But, truth be told it's actually closer to a 40-45hp difference on top. The Bullitt has more usable power from 1500-4500 rpm than the comparable Cobra. To give you a little Bullitt history: Ford's official rating for the Bullitt was 265hp. A lot of bad press went out about the fact that it was only 5hp more than the standard GT. Ford then sent out a press release indicating that the Bullitt was rated at 275hp. Actual dyno numbers indicate that the latter was in fact true... some indicating and corrected closer to 280hp. Because of the unique aluminum intake (...still one of the best for a 2v Modular) and dual 57mm throttle body, the Bullitt has a much broader and flatter torque curve. Hence the reason a Bullitt is only a tenth to two tenths slower in the 1/4 mile than a Cobra. If there were a full 55hp difference, that margin would be much larger.

I think the '03-'04 Mach I was another great performance buy. They definitely got the engine right! For some reason, they didn't handle quite as well as the Bullitts though. They were all Mach I in every sense... I'm not so sure that I would consider an '01 Cobra a performance bargain. I seriously considered both the Bullitt and Cobra when I bought the Bullitt in '01. The Bullitt handled better, stopped shorter (...with the same brakes), and was just as quick. The Bullitt may have been 20hp down from the Cobra, but it had a much more usable power band. The Bullitt had more torque where you could actually use it. You have to drive a Cobra like you hate it in order to get it to beat a Bullitt in the 1/4 mile.

True. The '08-'09 Bullitts are "tribute" cars to the full extent. They're just aren't the bang for the buck that the '01's were at the time. That's the point I was trying to make...

You're right. But if Joe Somebody wanted to upgrade his GT with all the parts, it would cost a chunk. The '01 Bullitt was a great bang for the buck. Hence the reason I bought mine... I couldn't build it for the same cost. As I mentioned earlier, I didn't feel the '08-'09 was not the same performance bargain. The current Track Pack option on the 2010 happens to be a great bang for the buck... even more so if Ford should happen to offer it for 2011 with the 5.0l.

I would have to agree with you there... the current '05-'10 platform is by far the best Mustang. The '99-'03 is basically a refined, reengineered Fairmont. I might add, not much different than the GT-350 and Boss 302 that I mentioned earlier... refined, reengineered Falcons. $7k would only cover the Bullitt specific mech. hard parts. If I remember correctly, a loaded '01 GT stickered at almost $26k and the Bullitt at almost $28k. $2k for more than $7k worth of perfromance goodies, with special interior and paint... and a limited build? Quite the bargain if you ask me. I didn't feel that the '08-'09 Bullitt gave me the same bang for the buck. I'm having second thoughts about the '10 with the Track Package though... even more so now that the 5.0l Coyote is confirmed for '11 and a rumoured 400hp. Where do I sign?!