engine design...

[Eric Storhok <alfa@domain.elided>]

This is an interesting debate, about pushrods vs overhead cam.  (and hemi...)

I used to be a OHC person all the way, but since I've been working for Ford 
for 10 years, I've realized a few things.

1) About 90% of our customers don't care what kind of engine is under the 
hood.  This is for the US, BTW, our European buyers are more 
discriminating.  For the average US customer, I'd peg that closer to 75%, 
as the 90% is Ford buyers.
As long as the car starts, drives, and is able to get out of its own way, 
they are happy.  I am totally serious here, I've seen the data, and while 
we continue to go in the direction of my second point, we still manage to 
sell cars.

2) A bad OHC design is always worse than a decent OHV design.  The mention 
of the specific output of the Corvette is interesting- BTW, the ACTUAL 
number is 71hp/l- that engine makes 405hp.  For engines larger than 5.0l, 
and made in quantities of real mass production, anything over 65 is quite 
good.  Our 4.6l OHC is a piece of junk.  A $1B mistake.  Should have kept 
the 5.0/5.7 engine and improved it.  The best the 4.6 4v can do right now 
is 69hp/l.  Tell me that's better than that ancient 5.7L engine from GM???

3)  All of these are with modern emissions, which probably would have 
sapped the V6 of some serious HP.  To make that power and meet modern 
emissions level is amazing.

Eric Storhok
Ann Arbor



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