E36 V8 Swap Part 7: Replacement Engine Prep

"MikaelVroom" (mikaelvroom) 05/30/2016 at 10:42 • Filed to: None

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BMW M3. Ford 5.0 engine. T5 transmission. All of the major players were ready, now it was time to get that lump of outdated, underpowered, worn out American cast iron ready to shove into place.

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Fünf Null Part VI: Replacement Engine Acquisition –or- “More Bad Decisions”

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Fortunately, I’m not the first person to put an Explorer engine into an E36 BMW, so I was able to do some research and get some advice from someone who has already been there, like getting makeout tips from your older cousin who has made out with...like...four chicks. Except less creepy and not quite as vaguely homoerotic.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! outlines what’s needed to get an Explorer engine to work and also includes a smattering of incorrect information like you’d expect from any internet forum. I was able to put on my online-forum-waders and navigate that stream of disinformation to snatch out the wriggling bits of information I needed, then hold the bit of information by its head, scrape off its scales, insert my knife into its anus near its tail, then cut towards its head, extracting the relevant information and discarding the leavings.

Step 1: Replace the oil pan. The stock Explorer engine comes with a beautiful, lightweight cast aluminum oil pan.

...that’s too low for the E36's front subframe and steering rack. So I replaced it with a cheap pan and pickup from Summit.

And while I was in there I took at look at the cylinders to see what kind of shape they were in.

It’s hard to get a good picture given a smartphone camera that wants to focus on anything but the thing I want it to focus on, but you can see the decent crosshatching still on the cylinder walls. Everything rotated freely and there was no oil sludge or buildup anywhere.

With the bottom end put together, I decided to build an engine stand that would let me easily roll the engine around without fear of the thing snapping apart and crushing my leg, foot, or son (as the Harbor Freight stand threatened to do after reading the joke a couple posts back).

Including the bellhousing on the stand allowed me to mount the flywheel and starter so that the engine could be cranked over.

To really monitor the health of the engine, I wanted to be able to measure a couple of running parameters, so I replaced the stock oil pressure switch with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The stock Ford oil pressure sender is 1/4-NPT and the new sensor (like most aftermarket sensors/senders) is 1/8-NPT, so I grabbed a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from a local home improvement store.

And I placed an identical sensor in the fuel rail to monitor fuel pressure. The fitting size into the stock Ford fuel rail was hard to determine and I ended up buying the wrong adapter once or twice before I finally figured out that it’s 1/16-NPT, so I scoured the internet and finally managed to find !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

The other big modification I performed (and I may be getting ahead of myself here) is the addition of LS ignition coils enabling me to run true sequential ignition in a coil-near-plug setup. I grabbed a set of LS truck coils complete with brackets and pigtails for $100 from eBay and got busy mocking them up on the engine.

Then I welded some nuts onto the valve covers so that I could secure the brackets in place.

Note the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the former EGR port.

I watched a few YouTube videos of people in Explorer 5.0s doing 0-60 runs. I both love and hate that these kind of things exist - on one hand, it was a useful resource for me to really prepare myself to be underwhelmed, but on the other hand, the existence of type of people that would not only do, but also videotape and put on YouTube, a 0-60 run in an old Explorer makes me nervous for the future of society.

But the important info that I gathered from the videos is that the Explorer, at full throttle, shifts at a mind-boggling, reality-bending, Earth’s-rotation-altering 4800rpm. So I was going to need new valve springs if I was ever going to be so bold as to sneak the engine over 5000rpm.

And since the valve covers were off, why not clean them up a bit and add a bit of visual horsepower?

Then I did a little port matching on the intake to mate it to a new 75mm throttle body, oriented for maximum hood clearance.

Because the Explorer came with an automatic transmission, I had to get a pilot bearing to fit the crank and accept the T5 input shaft, which was pretty easy to pound in place. I grabbed an FX Racing Stage 2 clutch and aluminum flywheel (look for a future post detailing why you should NEVER buy this jun) and bolted those in place, then shoved the transmission where the sun don’t shine.

I promise I cleaned the flywheel surface before putting them together.

With all of that reassembled and the car ready, it was time to shove it in there and smash everything with a hammer until it fit, or as I like to call it “Wednesday night.”

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Catch my build thread here on Oppo with a new installment each Monday (even on holidays, apparently), or if you like spoilers check out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the latest updates. Twitter me !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Instagram me !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I’m trying to cut back on pictures of me frolicking in front of a brick wall.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 11:23

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Did you give yourself time and a half for publishing this on a holiday? Haha

minardi > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:05

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BTW, with the iPhone (if you have one), tap on the screen where you see the subject of your picture and focus and lighting will lock on that spot.

MikaelVroom > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 05/30/2016 at 12:06

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I'm just hoping enough people are bored at family gatherings that they're checking the Internet for entertainment.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:15

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Haha well I’m at work and appreciate the article and your work

lone_liberal > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:16

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You’re going to have the purists hunting for your scalp. Not the BMW guys, the Ford boys angry that you didn’t paint the valve covers Ford blue.

jhota42 > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:18

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Why no roller rockers? They’re not that expensive, and if you want more revs it certainly helps.

RodRAEG > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:21

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Underpowered engine and a glassjaw transmission: A match made in heaven.

horse-pony > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:25

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I admire your dedication.

I love cars and driving, but I’m a mechanic’s son and saw my dad kill himself doing this stuff all day. I know I can’t do it.

That said, once we get more electric cars you'll probably see me coding and editing software to increase performance.

J. S. > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:30

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Pipe threads and plumbing! Haha. At least Whitworth threads aren’t involved in your build.

Howie > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:36

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What is the stock Exploder T-body size? 55 or 60mm? Seems to me a 75mm T-body is a bit overkill but since its a positive pressure fuel system air velocity isn’t a big deal (on another not the Ford 5.0 intake is pretty sensitive to that channel that feeds the plenum as it messes with air distribution as it exits into the plenum - Edelbrock made a big deal about this when they designed their various 5.0 and 5.8 fuelie intakes). Pretty cool though, you got the good engine with the P heads it looks like (or is it earlier and is a GT40 head engine) and it should be good for something approaching 300 horsepower with a cam and an equal if not more amount of torque.

D > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:37

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I claim complete ignorance so bear with me. Why would one replace a BMW engine with a Ford one?

InfinityAero > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:48

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Seems like an opportune time to swap to higher compression pistons and a hotter cam...

sklooner > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 12:54

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What do you mean there is disinformation on internet forums ? I thought they were always correct !! As I try to adapt an AWD Volvo M66 to fwd

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 13:23

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Great write up! I haven’t read all your posts regarding this build so I apologize if this question is apparent... besides the shear challenge or you possibly already had it, what made you choose to use this engine?

Zack > minardi 05/30/2016 at 13:24

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Wait, the iPhone can do that??

noringnocare > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 13:55

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A good friend of mine owns BimmerClinic and he did an LS swap into an E36. Big task for sure.

I would have done an M62 nonTU into that chassis. When I have the funds and time, I’d put in the M62 into my Bronco and ditch the 302.

Munalum > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 14:09

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Why the explorer V8?

OttoMaddox > InfinityAero 05/30/2016 at 15:00

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A decent cam and roller rockers is a pretty cheap and easy swap while the engine is out.

8166uy > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 15:21

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So basically a very heavy front in a car that powers the rear wheels? Must be very tail happy!

MikaelVroom > lone_liberal 05/30/2016 at 16:32

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Just wait until you see the full color scheme next week!!

MikaelVroom > jhota42 05/30/2016 at 16:34

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The original install was as bare bones as possible. I’m now considering some 1.7 rollers as a contingency plan until I can get a real cam. And heads. And pistons. And on and on.

MikaelVroom > horse-pony 05/30/2016 at 16:36

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I know that if this was my daily job, I couldn’t bring myself to do it as a hobby. But with a boring, soul-sucking daily job, stuff like this keeps me going.

MikaelVroom > Howie 05/30/2016 at 16:47

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The stock Explorer throttle body is 65mm. I needed to relocate the TB directly on the intake manifold for hood clearance, and the intake’s opening is about 70mm, so the 65mm would have been a restriction. I went 75mm for future proofing purposes. No adverse effects so far.

MikaelVroom > D 05/30/2016 at 16:48

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Check my previous posts! Cheaper, lighter, better weight distribution, more powerful, easier to upgrade, easier to find parts, etc.!

MikaelVroom > InfinityAero 05/30/2016 at 16:49

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If the heads ever have to come off, I’m going all in, but until then I’m sticking with bolt-ons.

MikaelVroom > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 05/30/2016 at 16:50

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I’m a cheap ass. $450 all in for the engine and transmission. A rebuild on the BMW engine is several thousand dollars just in parts.

MikaelVroom > Munalum 05/30/2016 at 16:50

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Check my last post!

MikaelVroom > 8166uy 05/30/2016 at 16:51

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The Ford engine is lighter, more compact, and sits further back than the BMW 6.

horse-pony > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 16:51

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As long as it keeps you going!

Working with your hands is awesome, but I suck at getting the smell of oil off of me when I do and I always bust a knuckle because I get inpatient.

God speed and good luck lol

doubleshotpower > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 17:36

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If you’re doing this kind of work regularly, how can you not own a bore scope?

Easily picked up for $100-$150 today.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 17:41

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Makes sense, plus I like weird quirky engine/vehicle combinations, so this is cool!

Kaiserserser > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 17:57

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Pro tip: don’t buy a cheap clutch on ebay. Otherwise you’ll finally get your 240z 302 swap finished and three weeks later the clutch will warp and shake the shit out of the car every time you shift.

lone_liberal > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 18:20

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Please tell me you painted the block pink.

D > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 18:23

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Makes sense. Thanks!

MikaelVroom > doubleshotpower 05/30/2016 at 18:47

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1. Who said I’m doing this kind of work regularly?

2. Looking at and touching the cylinder walls seems like more fun than looking through a tiny camera and a little screen. I do own one.

MikaelVroom > Kaiserserser 05/30/2016 at 18:48

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Mine shook and shuddered from day one, then lasted 2000 miles before completely taking a dump.

05SSSC > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 19:09

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First off, you are a fantastic writer and this build is similar to what I dream of doing... and E30 M3 with an LS1 swap... so bravo to you sir. I have a question though- Do you plan on keeping the car and fixing all the small things like rust, paint, cracks, etc? or is this more of a “for the time being” ride? Either way, good luck, Ill keep updated on it!

doubleshotpower > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 20:03

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As someone that's regularly tearing apart racing engines, I find it much more efficient to use a bore scope than to drop the pan and analyze from the underside. Especially when you're walking a fine tuning line and am looking for the slightest evidence of detonation.

drdude > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 20:16

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Neat, but the performance and lazy me asks... why not a GM LS V8 swap? More power, cheaper. Easy to tune and mod. Smaller. Lighter.

timgray > Kaiserserser 05/30/2016 at 21:03

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Pro Tip. if the part is hard to get to for replacement, you spend the absolute most money you can spend on it.

timgray > doubleshotpower 05/30/2016 at 21:03

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I bought one for $16.00 on ebay. USB plugs into a laptop or even a android phone.

MikaelVroom > 05SSSC 05/30/2016 at 21:04

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It changes day to day. I checked for hood clearance by slamming the hood shut and seeing where dents popped up. Then I went and fixed all of the rust on the front fenders and rear quarter panel. WHO KNOWS.

MikaelVroom > doubleshotpower 05/30/2016 at 21:05

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Oh yeah! Seeing the top of the pistons would be super useful in that instance.

timgray > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 21:06

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Find a shop that does CNC engraving, you can get them to deck that intake smooth and engrave in it “BMW M3 powered by FORD” and it will confuse the hell out of the kiddies at the cars and coffee.

MikaelVroom > drdude 05/30/2016 at 21:07

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More powerful? Yes. No replacement for displacement and all that. But cheaper? No. Smaller? No. Lighter? No.

drdude > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 22:22

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The external dimensions of the ls v8 is smaller, than that ford v8. It’s lighter... and if you pull one from a truck it’s the same price.

MikaelVroom > drdude 05/30/2016 at 22:46

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No.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/pdfs/…

http://bdturnkeyengines.com/engine-dimensi…

The 302 is 20.75" tall, 27.5" long, and 18.75" wide.

A car-based LS is at least 22" tall, 27.5" long, and at least 23" wide.

A 302/T5 combo is around 525lbs, an aluminum LS/T56 combo is well over 600lbs. Iron blocks push 700lbs.

My engine cost me $300, my transmission cost me $150. I dare you to find a T56 for less than $2000.

05SSSC > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 23:10

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Fair enough. Keep the updates coming man!

InfinityAero > MikaelVroom 05/30/2016 at 23:35

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That’s fair, I’d be the same way... at first. The temptation to tune would be too strong, especially with a megasquirt.

Those motors are capable of monstrous HP, like 450 NA. They also sound great, very throaty. Terrifying cacophony at high HP/high RPM. Heavy, but good choice.

Kruiser > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 01:15

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Have you done a single write-up yet on this project where someone hasn’t recommended a LS? Damnit conform like everyone else with your BMW to American engine swap.

Gubbin > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 01:25

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V8 >> I6

I hear V8 Z-cars handle verrry nicely.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 07:19

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I’m all for doing different engine swaps (especially as LS swaps are so played out) and I always balk at people who say ‘why not put x engine in instead’ when I talk about engine swaps.

Quite often the reason is simply’ because this is the engine I want to use’.

Vazfx > drdude 05/31/2016 at 07:22

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I did the GM LS1 into my BMW E34, but now there seems to be a premium on the LSx motors. Prices have really jumped. At this point, I can see why one would choose a different lump. Here’s a link to my swap if anyone is interested in checking it out. VazFX LSx E34 BMW Touring Swap

MikaelVroom > InfinityAero 05/31/2016 at 08:08

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I keep eyeing 347 stroker kits, and building my own long-tube headers actually sounds like fun. One of these days...

Also the 5.0 is smaller and lighter than the cast-iron I6 I pulled out.

MikaelVroom > Kruiser 05/31/2016 at 08:11

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I’m getting ready to re-gray the next person that suggests it.

m3x1c0 > drdude 05/31/2016 at 08:32

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302's are just as easy to tune and can be found in your local garbage dump if so needed. Also, some years came with forged pistons and will take boost quite nicely.

InfinityAero > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 09:31

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Interesting, I thought the 5.0 that you used would be about 500 lbs, versus 350 or so for the Bimmer motor... An LS1 would be at about 390 lbs, another 80 or so for the LT1s. I think the S2K mill weighs about 300 lbs, for comparison’s sake, so it’s not *heavy* heavy for a 5.0, but not as light as the Bowtie motors...

Dugg-117 > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 09:32

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Is it coming to Club Loose when you’re done? That is the important question.

Voodoo81 > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 09:44

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I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the 302. Not the strongest engine out there, not the most powerfull, or the higest reving engine for that matter, but the damned things sound sooo good. I am moving back to the states soon. I have been away from home for way too long and my first project car will be a Foxbody. It will be slow, but it will sound amazing.

MikaelVroom > InfinityAero 05/31/2016 at 09:47

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302/T5 combo is 525lbs., the LS/T56 combo is over 600lbs. The BMW M52/ZF trans is 548lbs.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthre…

MikaelVroom > Voodoo81 05/31/2016 at 09:52

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It will be slow, but it will sound amazing.

That’s my mantra right there.

angrytetsuo > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 10:02

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doesn’t it always seem that anytime anyone says anything about an LS it’s always half the weight, no matter the engine

MikaelVroom > angrytetsuo 05/31/2016 at 10:17

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I hear its PCV system uses helium to lift the engine up and reduce its weight.

jalopwarg > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 10:42

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All I can say is:

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/…

ApriliaFutura > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 10:54

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Ultimate lightweight V8 swap would be a ‘busa based 3liter.....but who would drop $35k making mmmmmaybe 300hp when you can do 400HP pretty easily for 1/10th?

I still want one though. And I miss my E30

Big Block I-4 > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 11:25

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What are the end power figures that you are looking at? Not sure if this is an E36 M3 or some other E36, but no thought on going turbo or supercharging the original I-6 (if it came with one)?

MikaelVroom > Big Block I-4 05/31/2016 at 11:38

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The realistic top end of a 5.0 is 450hp. A well-built 347 stroker can hit that N/A no problem. I still haven’t decided if that’s the direction I want to go.

The car came with a blown engine. Rebuilding the engine would have been far beyond the cost of the 5.0/T5 setup. Not to mention that the I6 is much heavier than the 5.0, and throwing on a turbo means adding about 100lbs right at the very front of the car. So much for perfect weight balance!

InfinityAero > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 12:09

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Wow, very meticulous, good work! Apparently those good old T5s are surprisingly light, and that ZF transmission must be a tank...

Had always heard the LS’s were lighter— clearly not true.

carzcarzcarz > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 12:10

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Nice write up, keep them coming. Reminds me of the 5.0 swap in did in my old 2nd gen RX-7. I’ve got a brand new block still if you ever want one for building up another engine.

MikaelVroom > InfinityAero 05/31/2016 at 12:28

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The T5 is about 75lbs vs. the T56 at ~130lbs. The 5.0 is weak enough that a 300ft-lb-rated T5 is fine behind it. But any worthwhile LS will blow through that, so you have to get the T56, which puts you at a 50lb weight disadvantage right off the bat.

MikaelVroom > carzcarzcarz 05/31/2016 at 12:29

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With as much crap as I’m getting swapping out a heavier I6 for a lighter V8, I can’t imagine was the rotary swap guys go through. I know the RX-8 forum is outright hostile to the engine swap guys, even in the dedicated engine swap section.

HarriH0oner > doubleshotpower 05/31/2016 at 12:43

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Plus you can do your own colonoscopies. Save money and maybe make some $$ on the side/rear.

Big Block I-4 > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 13:00

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I thought the original car had a blown engine, I have been following this a bit but forget from part to part what all has/is happening. Looks cool, good luck, I will be paying attention.

InfinityAero > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 13:06

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That makes sense. I know that some in the 280zx turbo community were putting out 400+lbs of torque through that stock T5... but I would imagine it’s breaking point would be somewhere near that... the 3 spd auto was known to hold more power and be the better option for the strip....

carzcarzcarz > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 13:39

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Yeah, there wasn’t much love from the forums, but the local rotary group never seemed to complain. It’s good to see the old 5.0 getting some love again. I remember sourcing the explorer accessories too for a tighter package, and also looked into the thunderbird intake cause it was lower than the others. If possible, I’d get rid of those stock headers and get some shorties, help that engine breathe more.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 13:57

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Does your 5.0 have alloy heads? if so then it is lighter than an M50! Wouldn’t have called that.

If it’s iron heads then it’s a good 42kg heavier from my sources...

MikaelVroom > carzcarzcarz 05/31/2016 at 14:30

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No off the shelf headers will fit, both because of the E36 steering shaft placement and because I have the GT-40P heads with their odd spark plug angle.

There are a few vendors selling LS-swap headers that fit pretty well, but there’s nothing out there for the 5.0.

I hope to grab some aluminum heads someday at which point I’ll whip up some long tubes of my own that fit. The headers and cam are clearly the biggest restrictions on this engine.

MikaelVroom > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/31/2016 at 14:32

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This guy puts the 302/T5 at 475lbs. with aluminum heads, which would be 525lbs. with iron heads. He weighed a fully dressed M52/ZF at 548lbs.

The M52 also puts much of the engine block way in front of the front wheels, the 302 keeps most of that behind the front wheels.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 15:06

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Definitely the V8 has advantages putting the weight further back in the chassis (and probably lower down).

Interesting with the link. It looks like he’s weighed a lot of parts individually and added them all up to the total. I’ve seen that done on other engine weighing forum posts and for some reason or other it’s usually different to a complete engine (no idea why).

Saying that, people’s scales can be out of whack and people can weigh engines plus or minus various bits and pieces so it’s a complete minefield of inaccuracy.

If I got minted, one of the first things I’d do is go around eBay buying complete engines and weighing them all in exactly the same state of dress one exactly the same scales.

MikaelVroom > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/31/2016 at 15:39

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Yeah - taking different weights from different sources never turns out right, but at least he used the same scales for the 5.0 and the M52. Plus people (myself included) are more likely to post the numbers that make me look better.

chicagoE36 > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 15:47

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Why not.an LS?

I’ll show my self out... :)

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 16:14

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Might have to throw a turbo on the 5.0 to correct that balance. . .

carzcarzcarz > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 16:33

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Yeah, I checked out your other sites and saw the video and it looks like a very tight fit as is. Looks like you did a nice job welding up the rest of the exhaust and got it all to fit pretty well. I always wanted to build a 331 stroker that would rev out and not fall on its face after 5k rpm. Good luck on building a set of headers, I’d be interested in seeing that done.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 17:30

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All true :)

Although the main takeaway here is that both are lighter than an all-alloy LS.

LS engines are light for their displacement, and light for the power that they can make, but they’re not light engines overall.

AutoSavant > MikaelVroom 05/31/2016 at 17:42

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While you’re at it, get a hardened oil pump shaft and a good high volume oil pump. The stock shafts snap like a pretzel.

Howie > MikaelVroom 06/01/2016 at 13:56

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Gotcha, man I’m surprised the stock T-body was that large for a stocker but then again the pushrod V8 in the Exploder was a pretty good engine, Its a shame it never showed up in a factory Mustang before the 5.0 was replaced by the 4.6

MikaelVroom > Howie 06/01/2016 at 16:38

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The ‘93-’95 Cobra had similar GT-40 heads and the Explorer intake is considered equivalent to the Cobra intake, so you could say the Explorer had the Cobra 5.0 with a worse cam.

Howie > MikaelVroom 06/05/2016 at 11:21

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Indeed, another nice feature with the Exploder V8 was dumping the distributor which IIRC allowed a bit more freedom in the runner placement or volume on the intake. Its always bothered me that Ford didn't use this engine in the Mustang, especially since the first 4.6 motors in the Mustang were so damn weak.

MikaelVroom > Howie 06/05/2016 at 14:55

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I’d go so far as to say every SOHC 4.6 was “so damn weak.” The DOHC Cobra engine was making 305hp in 1996, but the SOHC 4.6, even in 3-valve form in 2009 (THIRTEEN YEARS LATER), was still only making 300.

Howie > MikaelVroom 06/06/2016 at 18:00

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The PI engines were a step in the right direction with the 2v (and they should have had that engine from day 1 if they were going MOD) and Ford had the market all to itself in 2005 when the S-197 was introduced and despite the LS1 F-car engines only having “300" horsepower on paper (odd how you could get a 4th gen Camaro rated at 300 horsepower with ZERO drivetrain loss) so they didn’t need to wow anybody - the S-197 4.6 3v car was competitive with the LS1 powered GTO which was probably part of the reason GM went with the LS2 in the final GTO (that and on-hand supply I’d guess as well). Ford guys have a lot to thank GM for when the 5th gen rolled out. Although the Coyote was already said to be in development when the 5th gen was introduced I suppose the writing was on the wall so to speak with rumors of a new Camaro before that and just a cursory look at what GM had in the engine parts bin.

Now if only Ford would take that 5.2L Voodoo V8 and put a cross-plane crank in it and make something like a 475hp V8 for the GT as the current 6th gen Camaro is not only lighter but the engine appears to be about 20 or so horsepower shy of its actual output despite what GM puts on paper.