Cheaper to build and no rel competition these days. Even diesels are greatly detuned since , with low compression, ******** from previous technology, injection timing, but more fuel and then urea injection to boot.
If I was young man again I would be enthused about power again and install an after market big block engine of perhaps 572 cubes.Chevy led the way but you can get engines with Ford tech or Chevy or Chrysler heads. Aluminum heads, and higher compression go together, though you might want to run premium fuel. Superchargers, on correctly built engines and so on. It is entirely possible to put a thousand or more hp under your hood that will live these days but figure 15 to 25000.00 and a beefed up or different trans, and rear differential, possibly. We are not likely to see the glory days of big block power again since the the auto makers agreed to go along with California's new draconian emissions standards. Cheaper to do that than two sets of standards. Auto Administration relaxed the California/Obama regs to something less unreasonable, but Automakers are going to let California dictate to the rest of the Country.
The 3 valve Ford engines have an inherent problem with nylon shoe chain adjusters but we are hanging on to our 05 5.4 and if I can find one reasonable with the computer etc when this one goes I hope to have installed a 6.8 four or larger valve four cam after market crate engine.Spec correctly it should make over 600 hp and no nylon chain adjusters to wear out or two ring cast pistons and EPA junk. Current engine has way over 200,000 miles and doesn't idle smooth because of worn nylon chain adjuster shoe.
