In 2000, the LS 3.9 made 260 hp, 252 from 01-02, and 280 from 03-06. The 2000-2004 Mustang GT made 260hp with it's 4.6L (jumped to 300hp in 2005). That's a pretty respectable comparison IMO.
that same old tired SOHC motor also made 30ftlbs of torque from lighter smaller simpler heads that went into a lighter car, then you look at the other versions of mustang motors like the 4 valve made even more than that out of a very similar setup...
then ford deciding to be so high tech that they decided to add variable timing in the mid 2000s when other companies were doing it in the mid 90s... I'm just not that impressed.
Wasn't the 3.9/4.0 AJ V8 one of the top 10 engines of 2000?
yeah, but so was Ford's 5.4 SOHC Triton motor that is known for blowing spark plugs right out of the head, a nissan maxima motor, a v6 Northstar motor, and a toyota tundra motor...
now if ford/jag could have pulled off what honda did that year with 118 HP per liter and given us a 460 hp motor, then I dont think anybody would be complaining...
all in all, it just wasn't really a great year for awesome motors...
It makes pretty decent power for it's size. I think it's pretty comparable to many modern sedan engines, 15 years later, on everything besides fuel economy, which can be attributed to changes in technology.
except for all of those 15 year newer motors (we'll leave out all of the turbo motors cause that just wouldnt be fair...) make way more power, out of an even smaller motor, AND then add in the part where on top of more power, they get way better fuel economy...
it wasn't the best motor choice then, and it sure aint a great engine choice now...
, hes switching to a ls1 because its alum. just shook my head with all the coyote engines in the junk yard for cheap.
To each there own I guess.
except for chevy LS motors are cheaper than coyote motors, they are a lot smaller, they are lighter, they are much simpler, and can be built up for a fraction of the cost...
its actually pretty easy to see why LS swaps are pretty much becoming the standard go to for fast... even the some of the import guys are wising up and going small block V8 instead of their torque less 4 banger...