well, I ordered my MII kit, so I could put in a DOHC v8 engine...I was fixated on the Cobra/MarkVII/Marauder engine for a long time, but recently other ford(or ford related DOHC V8s have come to my attention....first up we have an 03-05 Lincoln LS V8...very tempting engine...its 3.9L DOHC 4 valve engine rated at 290ish HP with equivalent torque...the lincoln LS came RWD with a 5 speed option so the tranny would be easy enough to figure out, also I can find them used for $500-$800 with decent mileage
Next up we have a 4.2L version of the same engine...this time used in the Jag xk8 rated at 310HP/300TQ, if I look hard I can find a decent mileage example for $1000-$1200(also available in supercharged versions up to 500HP for about $3000)
Next we have an 05 Volvo XC90 engine...DOHC 4.4L V8, produced by yamaha for ford(similar to the SHO engines..I am dismissing the SHO v8 from this list simply because its discontinued and doesnt make enough power...also hard to find one that the cam gears aret already messed up on) anyway this engine makes 320HP/340TQ....but has the issue of being a FWD/AWD setup...meaning to make it RWD I would need to do some adapter plate/bellhousing work and still have to figure something out for a pilot bearing....a lot of work....another issue with this engine is its expensive...$3500 if you can find one
Another engine I have been considering is the new 3.7L DOHC V6 Duratec engine...rated at 275HP/270TQ....the main issue being very hard to find since this engine is so new(09+ models)
And then of course the tried and true 4.6L DOHC V8 from the Cobra/MarkVIII/Marauder varying from 280-300HP(roughly the same torque) the mark VIII versions are fairly cheap and can be found for roughly the same cost as the LS v8 engines
what do you guys think? right now I am depating between the Mark VIII engine and the LS V8 engine...virtually identical in power output and cost...I can however find LS v8 engines with lower mileage easier and I am thinking the smaller displacement of the LS v8 engine would make it somewhat lighter...though I would have to either get a tranny to fit it, or adapt the t5 I have....which might end up costing more, but would probably come out with better gear ratios
Next up we have a 4.2L version of the same engine...this time used in the Jag xk8 rated at 310HP/300TQ, if I look hard I can find a decent mileage example for $1000-$1200(also available in supercharged versions up to 500HP for about $3000)
Next we have an 05 Volvo XC90 engine...DOHC 4.4L V8, produced by yamaha for ford(similar to the SHO engines..I am dismissing the SHO v8 from this list simply because its discontinued and doesnt make enough power...also hard to find one that the cam gears aret already messed up on) anyway this engine makes 320HP/340TQ....but has the issue of being a FWD/AWD setup...meaning to make it RWD I would need to do some adapter plate/bellhousing work and still have to figure something out for a pilot bearing....a lot of work....another issue with this engine is its expensive...$3500 if you can find one
Another engine I have been considering is the new 3.7L DOHC V6 Duratec engine...rated at 275HP/270TQ....the main issue being very hard to find since this engine is so new(09+ models)
And then of course the tried and true 4.6L DOHC V8 from the Cobra/MarkVIII/Marauder varying from 280-300HP(roughly the same torque) the mark VIII versions are fairly cheap and can be found for roughly the same cost as the LS v8 engines
what do you guys think? right now I am depating between the Mark VIII engine and the LS V8 engine...virtually identical in power output and cost...I can however find LS v8 engines with lower mileage easier and I am thinking the smaller displacement of the LS v8 engine would make it somewhat lighter...though I would have to either get a tranny to fit it, or adapt the t5 I have....which might end up costing more, but would probably come out with better gear ratios