Ford Axes Explorer And Econovan

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by chief

Well I wonder now if the Territory will get a V8 now. I heard that Ford didn't want a V8 Territory because it will slow the sales of the Explorer. Now with no Explore the Territory I think should get a V8.

nothing to do with that, the V8 simply does not fit into the territory

[SpoolMan]

Territory well have the turbo soon, but thats another story..

[csv8]

MADNC 8 CAPRA has fitted the BOSS 260 to the Territory. It can be done

[Perana]

The CAPA Territory V8 had falcon suspension etc.. Its not possible with the current territory suspension since the steering shaft would have to go through where the right bank of the V8 is...

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by Perana XR8

The CAPA Territory V8 had falcon suspension etc.. Its not possible with the current territory suspension since the steering shaft would have to go through where the right bank of the V8 is...

thanks for the speedy post there Perana.
was just about to point that out:P

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Ghostdriver

Re: death of Exploder.

Good riddance.

The last thing Australian streets and roads need is more dopey truck-based 4wds,

Like the Landcruiser, Prado, Pajero, Patrol, Pathfinder?

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

thanks for the speedy post there Perana.
was just about to point that out:P

Yeah and Ford also said the 4.6 Modular V8 wont fit in to the Falcon.... (only the bigger 5.4 version does! hehe)

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Yeah and Ford also said the 4.6 Modular V8 wont fit in to the Falcon.... (only the bigger 5.4 version does! hehe)

5.4 and 4.6 are exactly the same size. The only difference is the crankshaft stroke, rod length and piston size. The 4.6 V8 would not fit in the Falcon AU engine bay, as Ford said, but the BA's engine bay was re-designed to fit the 5.4. And the DOHC version ended up being taller then they expected, hence the last minute buldge on XR8 and GT, which turned out to be a nifty styling feature, much to Ford's relief.

[Perana]

The 5.4 has a taller deck height than the 4.6... Hence it is wider and taller than the 4.6 Take a look in a BA and an AU engine bay... even better measure them up... there is little if any difference in width... Piston "size" isnt any different either... bores are exactly the same diameter, im not sure on the skirt size or piston pin height though.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Perana XR8

The 5.4 has a taller deck height than the 4.6... Hence it is wider and taller than the 4.6 Take a look in a BA and an AU engine bay... even better measure them up... there is little if any difference in width... Piston "size" isnt any different either... bores are exactly the same diameter, im not sure on the skirt size or piston pin height though.

By size I meant height, they have identical bore with a longer stroke, the 5.4. AFAIK, the truck block 5.4 is taller deck, but our engines are based on a 4.6 block, as the taller one doesn't fit. Not 100% sure though.

[chevypower]

My point was that Ford said the 4.6 wouldn't fit, I know the 5.4 is the same as the 4.6 with a longer stroke, i thought block size was the same. And we saw the AU 300+ coupe with a 4.6 and now BAs with 5.4, Ford also said the V8 wont fit the Territory, and CAPA proves that wrong, we can knit pick, but i am sure if Ford AUs really wanna sell a V8 Territory, they will do it.

[LUXO_8]

im pretty sure they didnt mean it "wouldnt fit",
you can fit anything into anything with a grinder and a welder..


what they would have meant was, you cant fit the 4.6 or 5.4 into an AU from underneith (production line remember) as the rails were too close together.

this was changed on the ba, so the engine will now go in from underneith

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by chevypower

My point was that Ford said the 4.6 wouldn't fit, I know the 5.4 is the same as the 4.6 with a longer stroke, i thought block size was the same. And we saw the AU 300+ coupe with a 4.6 and now BAs with 5.4, Ford also said the V8 wont fit the Territory, and CAPA proves that wrong, we can knit pick, but i am sure if Ford AUs really wanna sell a V8 Territory, they will do it.

The V8 WON'T fit in the Territory unless you transplant an entire V8 Falcon front end into it, like CAPA did. You can't make a CAPA Terror-tory without an XR8 or GT donor car.

[Perana]

Originally Posted by Steffo

By size I meant height, they have identical bore with a longer stroke, the 5.4. AFAIK, the truck block 5.4 is taller deck, but our engines are based on a 4.6 block, as the taller one doesn't fit. Not 100% sure though.

Nope... our 5.4 Block is identical to the truck block.. In fact the 220 motor is a crate motor from the states that they use in the F-series.

[XR Martin]

EA-BA engine bay is pretty much exactly the same width across the towers, the only modfication that was done to the BA engine bay was the lower part of it so the 5.4 could slot in from underneath on the production line.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by Ghostdriver

Re: death of Exploder.

Good riddance.

The last thing Australian streets and roads need is more dopey truck-based 4wds, let alone poorly-built dopey truck-based 4wds.

I'm just about to trade in the XR8 for a Limited Explorer after doing plenty of research because l had read similar things to your comments re dopey truck - mainly from Wheels mag who seem to hate anything remotely seppo.

Anyway, after test driving it and having my wife test drive it (she drives an IS200 which is a great handler, albeit underpowered) we were very happy with it. Great on the road and definitely superior to a Prado, Landcruiser or Patrol. Even drives much better than my neighbour's late model Discovery. Off road is another story, but I need space and comfort with some get up, not an dedicated off-roader.

Great value for money and looks much tougher and has more presence than the Territory - not a big fan of small softroaders though.