ACJupiter

011 Mustang Gets 3.7 Liter DOHC V6

Story by Sam Haymart

Ford skips past the new 3.5 and offers the Lincoln 3.7 engine for base Mustang.


06-14-09: Ford will soon be replacing the aged old 4.0 liter SOHC V6 in the Mustang with a new high-reving 3.7 liter 24-valve DOHC mill. The engine similar to the new 3.5 and 3.7 liter Duratec engines that are found in Ford's front-wheel drive platforms will come to Mustang officially for the 2011 model year.

Ford showed off the 2011 Mustang 3.7 liter V6 at an employee town hall event at their Dearborn Development Center last week. The event was attended by a number of Ford personel and Ford racing personalities like the John Force racing crew of NHRA. While exact specifications of the new 3.7 liter V6 as outfitted in the Mustang are not yet finalized, we can look to the Lincoln MKS for a good idea.

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In the Lincoln, the same exact Duratec DOHC 24-valve aluminum V-6 cranks out a healthy 273 hp @ 6250 rpm with 270 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4250 rpm. This is a significant jump from the lazy 210hp coming from the current mill who's basic architecture dates back to the 1970's. It has a robust 10.3:1 compression ratio and modern variable cam timing to bring the Mustang up to par with its competition.

The much heavier Dodge Challenger has a 3.5 liter V6 with 265hp while the Camaro as we all know has a rip-snorting 300hp base plant. While horsepower comes in mid-pack, the new high feature V6 will make the base Mustang a much more premium piece of hardware.

The engine will likely have slighty different horsepower and torque ratings in the Mustang. Changes had to be made to the front wheel drive version of the engine (shown below) for longitudinal placement. These revisions include a new intake manifold, exhaust manifolds and accessory drive system to name a few. A more free-flowing air intake system geared for performance may also bolster final horsepower.

We will have to wait a short while longer to get more details, but the news bodes well. Now that the naturally aspirated version of the new "Lima" V6 is configured for the Mustang, the 355hp twin-turbo "Cleveland" version cannot be far behind.

VistaGTCS

FordEngineer told us that right here 3 or 4 weeks ago - old news.

pascal

Have you seen a 4.0 lately, I mean, really?
Does the term "SOHC" mean anything to you?!?!

You show me a US made V6 ford engine with over head cams, built in the 70s, and maybe we'll take you seriously.
Although Ford built the 427 SOHC in the 60s, this wasn't a trend yet.
Thanks for your input though...

Mustang Boy

actually the basic architecture of the 4.0 SOHC is almost identical to the pushrod design because the pushrod motor was just modified some to be over head cam

pascal

So...
It's called improvment, better technology.
Look at the GM LS7, its ancestor is the 350 if I recall.

Besides, the power isn't in the block, rather in the flow of heads/intake mostly.
Then you can also stroke it...

wilkinda

HEHEHEHE...He said "Stroke it"...HEHEHEHE

pascal

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhtt.
No one noticed, except you.
Question is, which way are you gonna stroke it?

99RedStang

Why stroke it when you can have it blown?

wilkinda

You present a very compelling argument!!!! Can i get it stroked and blown??

83gtragtop

It's architecture actually dates beck to 1968. Click.

The LS series is not similar to the original SBC. It's a whole new design. The last generation of the original SBC is the LT1, which is known as Gen II.