Quote:
Originally Posted by wbt
Ford has been putting OHC motors in the Mustang since '96.
Mustang is 200lbs. heavier than the Camaro. Not a huge diff. Roughly .2 in the quarter. It is a better 1/4 mile car because of gearing and the SRA; not so much weight.
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Of course, you are correct. I was trying to say that Ford was "even" using OHC engines in their trucks. While GM has stayed with the iconic Small Block. The only OHC V8 GM uses/used was the PV8 in the Cadillacs (XLR, STS, SRX). So the 5.0 is likely an extension of that knowledge and experience for Ford.
And just checked, the 5.0 Redlines at 7,000 RPM and makes it's peak power at 6,500 RPM while the Camaro is making peak power at 5,900. This is generally how an OHC engine makes more power, you can simply rev it higher.
Not even pretending to be knowledgable on drag racing, but physics is physics. And a 200 pound lighter car with a smaller cross sectional area is goiong to have an advantage over the heavier, larger car - all things being equal. Yes gearing will make a difference and so will the powertrains ability to make torque down low (one reason I suspect the Mustang has a 3.66 1st gear vs the Camaros 3.01 gearing). And tires.....obviously getting whatever you have under the hood hooked up is huge.
But the thread was about why the Mustang offered the same engine with the manual and auto. The answer is simply FE plain and simple. And a smaller diplacement engine will usually get better FE. They use a DOHC to make great power on a higher top end which gives them the performance as well. As pointed out, the Corvette uses the LS3 in both manual and auto (unless you get the GS which gets you a "hand built" LS3 from Wixom.
But a good thread non the less with good discussion. I always learn something in these.