V6 performance?

[faster_than_ur_v8]

The performance out of Ford's 3.8L standard Mustang engine astonished me! I don't know if it's the weight loss compared to a GT or what? Here is my question. My friend has a 99-04 V6 Mustang. He only has a few mods (cold air intake and a few other minor mods). He doesn't have his rear seat installed either. At our local racing spot, a kid pulled up in his '03 4.6L Mustang GT. I thought the GT would annihilate...but it lost !!! The GT pulled ahead at first but the V6 caught up shortly and won by the end of our approximate 1/4 mile. The V6 doesn't have a supercharger or NOS. It doesn't have that many mods at all like I mentioned earlier.

How is this possible? I always hear V6 owners preaching how their car can compete with the GT with no problem. I thought they all just had big heads, but I couldn't believe what I saw. Granted, the GT wasn't supercharged...all it had was an exhaust, headers, and underdrive pulleys. This same V6 beat a '91 5.0L LX Mustang with an exhaust and headers. I saw it with my own eyes!!!

Can any V6 owners please tell me of any occurences like this or other cars you have beaten. I have to give the V6 Mustang credit now.

[TheStang00]

im pretty sure mine would probably get killed by a gt... did he buy the stang used? maybe it has mods you guys dont know about like a nice cam swap, those are good for some pretty decent power on the 3.8. (or 3.9 in 03/04, same engine with slight displacement increase). as far as weight goes, the 3.8 is about 200 or 300lbs lighter, and if he has some weight reduction that could make a good difference.

the 5.0 defeat doesnt surprise me as much if it was stock, seeing how its kinda old, but the 03 gt surprises me. did the guy mess up driving maybe?

what you need to do is tell ur friend to get a turbo the 3.8 is an invincible block, bottom end is the same way. need to replace the rod and pistons if you go over 11 or 12 psi tho.

[faster_than_ur_v8]

The previous owner said he left it stock (he was an older gentleman). He only put about 25000 miles on it. I'm almost positive the only mods he added were a cold air intake and some weight reduction (maybe a glasspack muffler but that wouldn't make too big of a difference). I know that losing weight is just as good as gaining horsepower, but I didn't realize how competitive that V6 was compared to the V8.

Is it possible that the V6 Mustang is faster than we all think? Usually the only people I see driving one are middle-aged guys. I don't see too many kids driving them (and kids are the ones who will race them). Maybe it's because I've never seen anybody horse around a V6 before. I never really bashed them but I had no idea of what they could do. I do know that the V6 was a stick...so maybe it's just the manual transmission V6s that are quick.

Has anybody else encountered (or owns) a pretty much stock V6 that runs really well? Let me know.

[TheStang00]

you are correct on the stick assesment, they are much faster than the autos, same goes for the gt. i have a stock manual v6, but i dont race a whole lot so i dont have much to compare it to. usually from every source ive seen they say the manual v6 runs mid to high 15s, the manual gt runs low 14s. thats a good difference.

one thing thats possible is that the 03 gt was an auto, and the autos eat hp like its paid to in mustangs. being considerably heavier and the v6 having a few mods maybe thats why he won.

[V6Mustang_00]

My V6 (2000 manual transmission, slightly modded) runs neck and neck with stock GT Mustangs. I have a couple mods, but no supercharger or NOS. However, I can't win against a slightly modded GT, especially if it's a stick. They are fast cars. I don't have any weight reduction. But it is definitely possible that the V6 you saw beat the '03 GT(especially since you said a kid was driving, they are not the best of drivers). However, I am very surprised it beat a 5.0L with those mods. I would put my money on the 5.0L (in this senario).

However, stranger things have been known to happen.

[AltecZX2]

Wow if a near stock v6 can edge out GT's then my bolt-on Escort should be bake to kill one since I beat v6's all day. LOL

I'm saying bad GT driver.

Mildly modded 5spd v6 w/ good driver..maybe low 15's on a good day, more likely mid 15's.
Stock GT (auto) mid-14's, (5spd), low 14's.

Not really a competition.

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by V6Mustang_00

My V6 (2000 manual transmission, slightly modded) runs neck and neck with stock GT Mustangs. I have a couple mods, but no supercharger or NOS. However, I can't win against a slightly modded GT, especially if it's a stick. They are fast cars. I don't have any weight reduction. But it is definitely possible that the V6 you saw beat the '03 GT(especially since you said a kid was driving, they are not the best of drivers). However, I am very surprised it beat a 5.0L with those mods. I would put my money on the 5.0L (in this senario).

However, stranger things have been known to happen.

the 4.6 has more power than the 5.0, not to mention the 5.0 old and probably had high milage. it shouldnt be any more surprising that he beat a 5.0

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by AltecZX2

Wow if a near stock v6 can edge out GT's then my bolt-on Escort should be bake to kill one since I beat v6's all day. LOL

I'm saying bad GT driver.

Mildly modded 5spd v6 w/ good driver..maybe low 15's on a good day, more likely mid 15's.
Stock GT (auto) mid-14's, (5spd), low 14's.

Not really a competition.

i agree with you, but you have to keep in mind what kind of v6, the manual is much quicker than the auto.

i know youve talked about your escort before, but i forget. did you ever run it at the track. dont worry im not tryin to discredit you... im just curious.

[V6Mustang_00]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

the 4.6 has more power than the 5.0, not to mention the 5.0 old and probably had high milage. it shouldnt be any more surprising that he beat a 5.0

The 5.0L Mustang may only have 225 HP. You are definitely correct, the '03 GT has more horsepower. But the 5.0L had an exhaust and header package. I think with that package the 5.0L would probably win against the '03.

[faster_than_ur_v8]

V6Mustang_00 is right. Later that night the 5.0 and the 4.6 raced...the 5.0 won (not by much, but won).

[neatofrito1618]

stock 99-04 v6's run mid 15's with a average driver and low 15's with a good driver. a bolt on v6 5-speed should be able to run high 14's. 99-04 gt auto's run mid to high 14's stock and if the driver is shitty enough then maybe it could run low 15's. a fox body with exhaust and headers should run high 14's with a 5 speed and probaly low 15's if its a auto. so its definatly possible

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by V6Mustang_00

The 5.0L Mustang may only have 225 HP. You are definitely correct, the '03 GT has more horsepower. But the 5.0L had an exhaust and header package. I think with that package the 5.0L would probably win against the '03.

i am aware that those two mods alone do a lot for the 5.0, but you made it sound like the 302 is god so i just had to clarify things.

[neatofrito1618]

Originally Posted by faster_than_ur_v8

V6Mustang_00 is right. Later that night the 5.0 and the 4.6 raced...the 5.0 won (not by much, but won).

the 99-04 gt driver must of really sucked

[AltecZX2]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

i agree with you, but you have to keep in mind what kind of v6, the manual is much quicker than the auto.

i know youve talked about your escort before, but i forget. did you ever run it at the track. dont worry im not tryin to discredit you... im just curious.

I'm not a good driver myself (cant break into the 15's do to the fact im fat and can't launch), but my friend's made a few 15.2-.3 passes in it with the setup in my sig. The only parts on it NOT stock are the wires and pully.

I have no problem admitting im not a good 1/4 driver.

[V6Mustang_00]

Originally Posted by TheStang00

i am aware that those two mods alone do a lot for the 5.0, but you made it sound like the 302 is god so i just had to clarify things.

Sorry I made the 302 sound like God. It definitely wasn't intentional. I am a fan of the 5.0L but I also love the 4.6L. I've just been around cars and racing my whole life. I've seen so many different Mustang set ups (of all years) I can usually tell which car has the edge given the mod list for each car. In this case I was right. The '91 5.0L did in fact take the 4.6L. It just comes from being around Mustang set ups all the time.