Comments on: Ford Reopens Windsor Plant

By: lionspointe1

lionspointe1 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:58:50 +0000

the 5.0 went to windsor on paper for now maybe just to help get a contract done with the CAW soon. also the 4.6L and 6.2L are two seperate lines at romeo there is no construction the 6.2L line is almost in but demand has been cut from 250,000 a year to 92,000 for the 6.2L which will probably only be around for one year as the tax incentives ford received required roughly the same amount of engines to be built on the new line to to get the tax breaks then all bets are off. romeo is going down to one shift in the next few weeks as 4.6L demand is down 30%. why build the 6.2 and 5.0 in two different plants doesn’t make sense something will change in the future one will stand one will fall but who?

By: Banned User

Banned User — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:02:48 +0000

Nobody in Ford management said what engine it would be.
There was a lot of speculation by people on the radio.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:55:35 +0000

Police cruisers? Sounds like the Panther chassis will get a swan song before its (proposed) death.

By: Brendon from Canada

Brendon from Canada — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:25:15 +0000

A radio interview with management yesterday (Monday) here in SW Ontario, indicated that the engine would be the 5L V8 – targetted for “working” trucks, police cruisers, and hoonage afficianados (in that order).

By: Banned User

Banned User — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:02:47 +0000

The idea is to build a 5.0l engine eventually. The plant was never really closed, and they installed a new crankline that can build 5.0l and 6.2l cranks. So it looks like the new 5.0l is a smaller version of the 6.2l. Anyways the plan is for Essex to build 6.2l cranks for Romeo Engine Plant when they switch over to the new 6.2l. And they are restarting the old 4.6l equipment up so maybe they will be building 4.6l engines while Romeo is under construction. In reality there is nobody that really knows what will happen since no human can figure out what Buzz is thinking(if that is what you call it)and the future market for V8’s looks pretty dismal.

By: RobertSD

RobertSD — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:01:39 +0000

Ford’s Ecoboost line will run on 87 Octane. That’s right, a 250-275 hp 2.0 on 87 octane thanks to modern injection control techniques.

Rumors are the the 1.6 version they’re working on pushes 200 hp on regular and can run up to 300 hp on E85 and averages close to 30 mpgs in a Fusion on 87.

As for Windsor, everything I’ve heard points to the 5.0 slated for the Mustang and some truck applications. It’s supposed to be DI, but I’ll believe it when I see it. However, I’ve heard it is a good performance engine and is, in fact, more efficient than the outgoing 4.6.

But, saying that, it will probably turn out to be the EcoBoost line. I guess we’ll find out in a few months.

Just to clarify – Ford’s Ecoboost engines are very different from Mazda’s MZR-turbo’ed engines.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:29:05 +0000

quasimondo: yes, but there’s nothing “eco” about needing premium fuel to feed your turbo’d mill. Unless Ford really will de-tune these things to run on the cheap stuff.

I’m still not buying that Ecoboost can let you have your cake and eat it too. Only a 6-speed Corvette gets highway mileage worthy of that distinction.

By: hltguy

hltguy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:29:10 +0000

The gobvernment is contributing $55K per worker to create the job? I hope the bureaucrats got some sort of guarantee Ford will not close the plant within a year or so.

By: Roadster

Roadster — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:49:37 +0000

One of their affiliates already has such an engine. It’s in the Mazdaspeed 6.

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:22:12 +0000

Implying turbocharged sixes are eco-friendly? Calling it ECOboost? I mean, that just invites derision.

Not if you stop and think about it. Direct injection lets an engine run at a leaner air/fuel ratio. A low-pressure turbocharger that spools quickly gives that same engine more low-end grunt for a more brisk acceleration. Toss in variable valve timing, and taller gears in the drivetrain and you have a little engine that performs like a big engine without a thirsty appetite for fuel.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:04:09 +0000

@ Sajeev,

Well they’ve been developing the “hurricane” for the last 6 years or so, so it should be ready…

By: Rix

Rix — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:48:32 +0000

Implying turbocharged sixes are eco-friendly? Calling it ECOboost? I mean, that just invites derision.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:47:25 +0000

IIRC, they already make Modular V8s there so I’d expect the big-bore “hurricane” 5.0 Mod motor (be it eco-boosted or not) has found its home.

By: thalter

thalter — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:37:44 +0000

Isn’t a fuel efficient 5-liter an oxymoron?