SVO FACTS-- many many SVO specs

[Kendal Coker]

I know this will stir up a stink but the reason the 85.5 had 5 more hp was it had 1 more pound of boost than the 86. Also most of the 86 svo's had E-3 manafolds too.

[Ken Potter]

No stink here!

I had been told by John Bleakley Ford's guru mechanic on all their SVO, Saleen, and McLaren's ( at that time) that it was also more boost / computer programming / timing than the 86's. He was working on mine after it had fried the second injector and harness. He said Ford had backed it off due to worries on warranty claims / engine fires.

[svobud]

Originally posted by Kendal Coker
I know this will stir up a stink but the reason the 85.5 had 5 more hp was it had 1 more pound of boost than the 86. Also most of the 86 svo's had E-3 manafolds too.

Sorry ... same boost levels - same computer - same everything except a 3rd brake light and a side emblem. As much as people love to continue the "5 hp" difference in order to set aside the 1/2 year 85s as something other than lowest productions .. it just isn't true. FYI - 1 lb of boost on the our motors equals much more than 5 bhp.

I had been told by John Bleakley Ford's guru mechanic on all their SVO, Saleen, and McLaren's ( at that time) that it was also more boost / computer programming / timing than the 86's.

Tommy H was a common wrench turner back in those days. Guru? Not sure about that, but he had/has talent in turning a wrench. He worked on my 86 in the late 80s as well. But again, trying to lead people to believe that with 3 adjustments of more boost/programming/timing gained a mere 5bhp is just more stretching of the truth-shop talk guys.

You can put two identical cars on the dyno .. and "squeezing" 5bhp out of one over the other can be gained with VERY little means. Marketing - that's all it was .. I wish you guys would finally just accept it.

[Ken Potter]

Sticking to my documentation...

I guess it's just a matter of perspective. I'm just going by all my info from Ford / magazines / literature / documentation and what other people have told me about 205 versus 200. Now if we could find mint original examples with low miles of one of each and do dyno runs then we could possibly have something to compare. Someday I'll take the 2R down and see what it's making after being drilled / daily driven for 103,000 miles.

[Kendal Coker]

I have to agree with Ken, I have to go back and look it up but the 85.5 had 15 lbs of boost and they backed it down to 14 for the 86. Also dont you think it is interesting that the 85.5 made all that horsepower with a E3 manafold instead of the E6. Something else to ponder. later Kendal

[GAboySVO]

Also dont you think it is interesting that the 85.5 made all that horsepower with a E3 manafold instead of the E6

I believe most of the 86 SVO's came with the E3. I have personal knowledge of 4 or 5 '86s that had E3s on 'em in stock configuration.

[Kendal Coker]

I agree on the E3's on 86's too, I know of several 86's and maybe most of them came with E3's. Ford was good about using up existing parts. (Bean counters you know) later Kendal

[Ken Potter]

First let me say I've done a search by "manifold" and it brought up 16 pages. I don't have time to read through all that. I also tried just E6 or E3 and that isn't possible... So here is the uneducated question for the day : I assume the exhaust manifold is cast with either the E3 or E6 in the part number somewhere. Is it in an easy location to see without having to jack the car up or pull anything apart? Since I have two 85.5's I'm now curious as to if they're both the same. As far as dyno reporting I was speaking in very general terms. I understand testing procedures probably better than most since I've been dealing with aircraft materials / testing / certifications / fabrication to OEM specifications for almost 30 years. Just the variables between the different types of dynos and the operators themselves could give different numbers for the same car under the same weather conditions. Once I did my run I would just add back the normal 25% to 30% parasitic drivetrain loss to get an approximate HP at the flywheel. Not to mention the head or even the valve cover has ever been off my 2R so I'm still running the complete original factory long block and valvetrain. I'm sure I'm not making 205 anywhere...

[KevinK]

My 84 came out with some high numbers the first dyno test. In fact it was putting out at the wheels what is was factory quoted at the flywheel. A test about a year later, same dyno and operator showed somewhat poor results. I'm still trying to get back to those first numbers. What I can tell you the first time I had 94 octane fuel and the second time I had a minor exhaust leak and probably less than 1000 miles driven between runs. Waiting on the next dyno test date.

[sar4497]

From everything I've ever heard or read, the '86 had 15psi, not 14.

The rumor for what makes the power difference between 85.5 and 86 hp is the computer. However, they both have the PE computer. Now, what I'd like to know, is if anyone has ever read the code from the 85.5 and 86 PE computers to see if they are in fact the same. I've heard of other Fords with the same computer designation, but with slightly different code.

BTW, my '86 has an E6 manifold, and I'm fairly certain it came that way. I talked to the guy who owned my car in 1990.

[Kendal Coker]

I got out my 85.5 sales brochure and looked at the hp rating per J1349 and it says 200 hp at 5000rpm and 240 fps of torque at 3000rpm. The exact same as the 86 brochure has. The boost level for the 85.5 says 15psi and the 86 does not say. Ken, the E3 and E6 is on a casting just below the intercooler close to the front of the manafold along with the rest of the casting number, you can see it from the top. My 85.5 sill has the E3. I am the second owner. later Kendal

[svorich]

My 86 with a build date of 10/25/85 and I drove off the showroom floor on 11/05/85 has an E6 casting on the manifold. Unless the dealer changed the manifold under warranty while in for another repair and didn't tell me, then thats what it came with.

The rumor back when I bought my 86 was the computer was dialed back because of detonation due to octane ratings of the gasoline available back then.

I think Bud hit the nail on the head. Ford couldn't advertise a 4 banger with more HP than a V8.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by svorich

The rumor back when I bought my 86 was the computer was dialed back because of detonation due to octane ratings of the gasoline available back then.

I think Bud hit the nail on the head. Ford couldn't advertise a 4 banger with more HP than a V8.

The calibration number tells it all as far as the PE is concerned. There's only one calibration number for a PE, whatever the year. The 5 HP loss between the 85.5 and the 86 came from the marketing department, not any dyno numbers.

[SVOeric]

The only differences between the 85.5, and 86 were listed by Bud. Both were PE, and both used the same boost controlers. It was all marketing hype.

[Kendal Coker]

Well you need to update your site, on the history page you have the 85.5 rated at 200hp and on the facts page you have it at 205.
Like I said earlier if you look at the 85.5 brochure it rates it at 200 per J1349. Where I work when we have a mil spec to go by such as J1349, you go by it. You dont make up something that you like and then say that is so. There are lots of opinions on this site including mine, but so far I am most impressed with Mike Flemming. Just some more thoughts. Kendal Coker