3V V8 dead?

xtremerus · 13-08-2007, 07:17 PM

From the Drive.com.au site tonight

quote:
" Glenn Butler, drive.com.au, 13/08/07

A Ford engine plant closure in Canada has forced Ford Australia to end production of the V8-powered Fairmont Ghia, Fairlane and LTD, reports GLENN BUTLER.

Ford Fairlane G8

Ford Australia has announced it will no longer offer a V8 engine option in any locally built sedans, wagons or utes outside its sports-oriented XR range.

The decision to drop the three-valve 5.4-litre V8 engine from the Fairmont Ghia, the Fairlane G220/G8 and the LTD was not a hard one, says Ford boss Tom Gorman.

"We were selling 10 a month. We're not talking big numbers here."

Ford has referred to this engine as the Barra 220 and the Barra 230 in recent years.

The move to drop V8-powered Falcons will no doubt have some Ford fans on edge, given the negative publicity Ford endured throughout much of the 1980s by not offering a V8 across its range.

However, Ford points out that this time around the V8 shake-up is very different, because it will still offer some V8s on its sports-oriented models.

The four-valve 5.4-litre engine offered in the XR8 is not affected. It makes the Falcon XR8 sedan and ute the only V8 models in Ford's entire line-up. FPV models are not affected.

Ford Australia's hand was forced by the closure of Ford's Essex engine plant in Windsor where the three-valve 5.4-litre V8 was produced. Gorman says Ford Australia has stockpiled the engine to ensure it has enough to meet demand up until the arrival or Orion in the first-quarter of 2008. "

Dr Smith · 13-08-2007, 08:29 PM

Maybe if the Barra 220/230 actually put out more power then the XR6T then more then 10 per month would have been sold. When the stock "base" Holden V8 is 270kw what exactly does Ford expect....it should have been at least at the power output of the turbo or slightly higher to have been competitive.

Dave_au · 13-08-2007, 10:13 PM

By the sounds of it Ford Aus have stockpiled enough parts for the Boss 260 and 290 to continue, but I guess this also means that Orion will introduce a new V8 - probably the 6.2L Boss edition coming out in 2008.

This is also bad news for the Australian assembly of a v8 going forward.

Paull · 13-08-2007, 11:18 PM

Pardon my ignorance but don't theBoss and 3V use the same bottom end? Thus reinforcing what has been said ^^^^ .

shaq32 · 13-08-2007, 11:48 PM

Last time i looked, Yes

vztrt · 14-08-2007, 08:33 AM

The 3V was always gonna be dropped. This descision was made long before the announcement of the closure of the engine plant.

fou_bleu · 14-08-2007, 08:47 AM

Why did they bother with it? It was useless in the first place! /rolls eyes

vztrt · 14-08-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordman6

Why did they bother with it? It was useless in the first place! /rolls eyes

I'd place it on the fact that they needed a motor for these models so this one would do the job. Bringng in a motor already designed and all the engineers need to do is to get it to run in the car is alot cheaper then designing the motor from scratch like how the BOSS motors were done.

FORD3V · 14-08-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordman6

Why did they bother with it? It was useless in the first place! /rolls eyes

Mine isnt useless mate,maybe in stock form they are lack lustre but things liven up a fair bit with mods.

A stock xr8 or gt feel fairly "useless" compared to my 3V.

JAYBA · 14-08-2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD3V

Mine isnt useless mate,maybe in stock form they are lack lustre but things liven up a fair bit with mods.

A stock xr8 or gt feel fairly "useless" compared to my 3V.

someones a little touchy on the subject,
not that many people buy cars just to mod and even then modded vs modded the 3V is behind, sad to see it go but fair point it didnt sell and didnt have what it took against the rivals, plus side tho it may make the previous base falcons with v8's hold their value a little better?

im worried about there being no v8 option on the fairmont/ghia's!

BF ghia v8 :sm_drool:

Powdered Toast Man · 14-08-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAYBA

someones a little touchy on the subject,
not that many people buy cars just to mod and even then modded vs modded the 3V is behind, sad to see it go but fair point it didnt sell and didnt have what it took against the rivals, plus side tho it may make the previous base falcons with v8's hold their value a little better?

im worried about there being no v8 option on the fairmont/ghia's!

BF ghia v8 :sm_drool:

Yeah, it's a sad day for lovers of Ford V8's with good low down grunt on a tight budget. Hopefully Ford will endow the Orion V8's with a more even spread across the rev range. But, I didn't make sense comercially to keep it, selling 10 a month. Oh well.

I wouldn't go hoping for better resale on 3Vs because of it though. It's not like base model V8 AUs are earning good money nowadays compared to their XR8 bretheren.

And I was offered a paultry $2000 trade in on my modded 5 litre EF Gli when I bought my BA. Suffice to say I didn't trade it in.

Maybe there will be a turbo Fairmont Ghia to replace the 3V :sm_drool:

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Look at the amount of Berlinas, Calais and Statesmen / Caprices Holdens sell with the V8. Id take a guess that atleast 50% of Calais and Caprice models have the V8 fitted...

Thats because Holden's V6 sucks! I'm pretty sure that 50% of Commodore variants sold to private customers are V8. Although gotta say I wouldn't turn down a new 6 litre Calais V. Very nice looking car.

vztrt · 14-08-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

Maybe there will be a turbo Fairmont Ghia to replace the 3V :sm_drool:

If you want one, start saving now.

FORD3V · 14-08-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAYBA

someones a little touchy on the subject,
not that many people buy cars just to mod and even then modded vs modded the 3V is behind, sad to see it go but fair point it didnt sell and didnt have what it took against the rivals, plus side tho it may make the previous base falcons with v8's hold their value a little better?

im worried about there being no v8 option on the fairmont/ghia's!

BF ghia v8 :sm_drool:

How was that touchy? Im just stating the facts,I did say they are fairly poor in stock form,but in my opinion so are gt's and xr8's.

Arnt you considering buying a 3V ghia?

And you did start a thread about modding 3V's in the ACE section last week.

JAYBA · 14-08-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD3V

How was that touchy? Im just stating the facts,I did say they are fairly poor in stock form,but in my opinion so are gt's and xr8's.

Arnt you considering buying a 3V ghia?

And you did start a thread about modding 3V's in the ACE section last week.

just seems as soon as anyone has anything to say about a 3V that ISNT talking them up there is a defensive quote straight after stating how 'modded they are great' and throwing times around and that a modded one can beat an unmodded boss

Stating facts are great and the fact is the 3V doesnt cut it.
records, figures and sales prove this.

yes am considering buying a 3V ghia(mainly for luxury and presence) but that doesnt make them any better performance wise in comparison to a ls1/2 or boss. they are still numero 2.

KBBossedXR · 15-08-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FORD3V

Mine isnt useless mate,maybe in stock form they are lack lustre but things liven up a fair bit with mods.

A stock xr8 or gt feel fairly "useless" compared to my 3V.

I havent been in a 3V but i have heard this car at a service station in Adelaide and i havent heard to many Boss engines sound as tough as this one.

FORD3V · 15-08-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stroked67

I havent been in a 3V but i have heard this car at a service station in Adelaide and i havent heard to many Boss engines sound as tough as this one.

Cheers mate, I can thank Craig@ACE for getting the exhaust custom built by Di Fillipo.

Smoke Pursuit · 14-08-2007, 09:22 AM

Look at the amount of Berlinas, Calais and Statesmen / Caprices Holdens sell with the V8. Id take a guess that atleast 50% of Calais and Caprice models have the V8 fitted...

Ford needs to sort itself soon...

sleekism · 14-08-2007, 01:41 PM

Hold on isn't the BOSS just a 3 valve with a DOHC top end on it??

So are they still making 5.4L Modular in America???

I'm pretty sure the only other Modular plant is the Romeo, Michigan one but I think that makes 4.6L for the Mustang and Crown Victoria.

Isn't Ford NA's entire SUV and Pickup range based on the 3 valve V8??

Does this mean the Windsor plant is being retooled????

Paull · 14-08-2007, 01:55 PM

Also, does this mean that in 20 years time, people will be clamouring all over themselves to get a late 2007 V8 Falcon, Fairmont, Fairlane and LTD?????

Read - August 1982 XE Fairmont?? last of the V8 Falcons? hmmm, I think not!

sleekism · 14-08-2007, 02:03 PM

No we still have the BOSS so it wont really go up in value.

It's like people clammering to get the Cleveland 302 powred XY's........not going to happen.

falzoony · 14-08-2007, 02:07 PM

The 3V V8 isn't dead.....it's just resting.

lukep · 12-10-2007, 06:47 PM

ford3v i have an xt 3v and when looking to get a set of headers put on an exhaust shop told me that he put some on a boss and put it on a dyno before and after and it made 2kw and when my car was stock i was all over a 255 ls1.ive got a flash tuner and a cai from a.c.e since then and what a difference induction sounds awsome.soon to have defilippo headers and cats cant wait.

broken_suave · 13-10-2007, 02:03 AM

Hasnt Ford shut down production of the turbo six as well? Hopefully they've stock-piled a bunch of those engines. Otherwise the suggestion of a turbo monty ghia will be just a pipe dream.

Powdered Toast Man · 13-10-2007, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken_suave

Hasnt Ford shut down production of the turbo six as well? Hopefully they've stock-piled a bunch of those engines. Otherwise the suggestion of a turbo monty ghia will be just a pipe dream.

Where'd you hear that? The I6 doesn't stop production until 2010 so why would they stop building the turbo? They would be stupid to if they have.

The 3V was made in the US and they stopped production. The I6 is aussie designed and manufactured.

FPV70 · 13-10-2007, 05:22 PM

I have always thought that Ford needs to bring back the Cleveland or another Large Pushrod motor that just creates bucket loads of torque.
Noone that buys a V8 is actually interested in hi-tech V8's. We want number crunching, head throwing into the headrest kind of grunt that you just simply do not get from hi-tech OHC motors.
Fine if you really want to rev the tits off it but lets face it, nobody is going to drive to the city or coast or even to their friends house at 8500 Rpm.

my 2c

sleekism · 13-10-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken_suave

Hasnt Ford shut down production of the turbo six as well? Hopefully they've stock-piled a bunch of those engines. Otherwise the suggestion of a turbo monty ghia will be just a pipe dream.

Aren't the Turbo sixes made at FPV not at Geelong??

Maybe they have stopped making the 245kw engines and are getting ready for the 270's

:

Bossxr8 · 13-10-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleekism

Aren't the Turbo sixes made at FPV not at Geelong??

Maybe they have stopped making the 245kw engines and are getting ready for the 270's

:

All made down here in G town, and production is still going for all 6 cylinder versions till 2010. If anything turbo 6 production numbers have increased lately.

Thunder Kiss · 14-10-2007, 07:35 PM

Bring on the turbo XT

TD088 · 14-04-2019, 04:34 PM

Hi Guys, new here but have enjoyed so much from this forum for some years. The Ford 5,4L 3V V8 is a good engine. The key I think is maintenance and the way you use it. I have restored a 2007 Ford Fairlane G220 V8 and the car is a dream to drive, it is what it is a luxury cruiser with some grunt. I love the 3V and have painstakingly kept it OEM. Cheers TD

TD088 · 14-04-2019, 04:42 PM

The other comment is I bought the original FoMoCo australia manual for the car. This is invaluable.