I was looking at the 3.7 Mustang engine article in another thread. I noted that the article says the engine has a forged crank. I also saw in the 2011 Mustang tech spec PDF that's online that Ford says the 3.7 has forged connecting rods. So I got thinking about how impressive the BOSS 302 is and thought if the BOSS can make 444 hp from 5.0L what could the 3.7L make if the same efforts were applied to it?
The BOSS 5.0L (4951cc) is rated at 444 hp, but Chassis dynos have shown 416 hp at the wheels. If the driveline has a 15% power loss, that's around 489 hp at the crank.
So if the BOSS is rated at 444 hp and could actually be under rated with 485-ish actual crank hp, the 3.7L (3721cc) could legitimately be tuned to provide 333 hp and may even be able to knock out 367 crank hp. Which would put it on par with the BOSS 302 when looking at hp/displacement.
The real question is would Ford have a market for such a tuned V6 Mustang? I think they might. I read some place, and I wish I could find it again, that a 2011 V6 was tested quicker around a well known technical road course than a 2011 Mustang GT. If Ford developed and sold a "BOSS 227" Mustang for road courses of the world, I think they would sell briskly. And such an effort could establish the V6 Mustang as a legitimate sports car. It could be the modern interpretation of the late 80's/early 90's Mustang 5.0L LX.
There will always be a significant segment of the Mustang buying population that only consider the V8 cars worthy. But things change and I think the technology and draw of the high revving smaller displacement V6 would be very enticing to a growing group of young automobile enthusiasts that may be the future of the hobby.
The BOSS 5.0L (4951cc) is rated at 444 hp, but Chassis dynos have shown 416 hp at the wheels. If the driveline has a 15% power loss, that's around 489 hp at the crank.
So if the BOSS is rated at 444 hp and could actually be under rated with 485-ish actual crank hp, the 3.7L (3721cc) could legitimately be tuned to provide 333 hp and may even be able to knock out 367 crank hp. Which would put it on par with the BOSS 302 when looking at hp/displacement.
The real question is would Ford have a market for such a tuned V6 Mustang? I think they might. I read some place, and I wish I could find it again, that a 2011 V6 was tested quicker around a well known technical road course than a 2011 Mustang GT. If Ford developed and sold a "BOSS 227" Mustang for road courses of the world, I think they would sell briskly. And such an effort could establish the V6 Mustang as a legitimate sports car. It could be the modern interpretation of the late 80's/early 90's Mustang 5.0L LX.
There will always be a significant segment of the Mustang buying population that only consider the V8 cars worthy. But things change and I think the technology and draw of the high revving smaller displacement V6 would be very enticing to a growing group of young automobile enthusiasts that may be the future of the hobby.
