The saying is
"There's no replacement for displacement."
It's partially true, based on the idea two engines are of the same basic design.
The 99 Cobra's are making about 340hp with the fix. They are smooth as silk, and completely docile in everyday driving. They even get good fuel economy when driven moderately.
A redesigned 351? I'm not seeing how that is moving forward at all. Unless the engine is fitted with Cleveland style heads, they will be limited to below the DOHC heads' potential.
The fact is, there has NEVER been a 351W to roll off the assembly line and be placed into a production Ford car producing as much HP as the 281ci 4.6L DOHC engine.
1995 Cobra R 280hp
1969 351 4v 290hp (gross)
Ford could have taken the old Windsor block recast it in aluminum, completely redesigned the heads, made a cam for it, an intake for it, and then slapped it into a Mustang. It probably wouldn't have any more power than the current Cobra (which is severly detuned), it probably wouldn't get as good of fuel economy as the current Cobra. It would have more low end grunt, but it wouldn't have any more potential either. It wouldn't respond as well to forced induction, it wouldn't take up much less space.
I guess the bottom line is they could have built a "look out" 351, or they could just release a "look out" 4.6L DOHC producing 400hp pretty easy.
It would have necessitated a complete and total redesign of an obsolete engine to get a less obsolete engine, at a huge cost no less. Ford put the money into the 302 because it was compact, fuel efficient, and it was versitle. It made good power over a wide powerband and it was more suitable to meet emissions and cafe standards.
I'm certainly not saying the "Ultimate Mustang" would have a 302 in it. It certainly wouldn't have a 351 in it either. For production engines, the 5.4L DOHC engine will crush both of those old windsors.
|