02 engine versus 03.

[phantomf4]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Not true, I've had 9 coils replaced on my 02. Just be happy Ford is taking care of your car's coil replacement free of charge, 02 owners are not that lucky.

Charles, there is an engine update available for the 02 birds. You might want to check with the previous owner or have your Ford dealership pull up the records on your car to see if it has already been done. If not, I highly recommend it, there is a signicant difference in engine performance after the update is done. It is not free, Ford charges around $100 for the update, but it is well worth it.

[phantomf4]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Just had my 02 computer updated with the latest software. Engine and transmisson performance improved.

[Sealy]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Out of the hole, the '02 is faster.

The '04s would never let themselves get into a hole. The Merlots are especially adept at maintaining an advantage.

[Chuck]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

There is a definite issue with at least the '03s. They were the 1st fly by wire, there is no physical connection between the intake system and gas pedal. There were also issues with the transmission, there is a programming upgrade available which I think together with a throttle body replacement eliminated some of the hesitation, at least on mine it did. The way to eliminate all this stuff is put the Borla exhaust on, a CAI and then go for the XCAL - My '03 chirps the tires when shifting between 2 & 3rd

[tbird6t4]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Are you sure the faster one isn't painted black? They're faster, regardless of year model you know.

Yep, I can confirm that!

Not sure if it is my heavy foot, but the grass doesn't grow under my car anytime it hits the open road.

[jerrym3]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Black cars are definitely quicker.

Stop better, too.

[acar]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Black cars are definitely quicker.

Stop better, too.

Also LOOK BETTER! I've seen so many times when you could have 2 cars totaly alike and the one way out preform the other. So many variances timing could be a degree or two different,valve lash, etc and then the drive line ya just say go figure.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

As the owner of both an "02 and an '04 I can tell you that finding that 28HP difference in stock trim is awfully hard to detect to me. Seems like a stretch.

Then again I doubted the numbers on these engines over all.

252HP is a far more believable number for all Retro-Birds. The whole notion of anything close to 280HP is hard to believe. The car simply doesn't have that much "hustle". Then again those torque numbers really do come in very high up in the torque curve for a modern engine so maybe.

Horse power isn't really the best predictor of Street power and performance all by itself anyway.

The T-Bird is relatively heavy and would have benefited greatly from an engine with less focus on high tech and a little more of the basics like cubic inches. These cars need "Grunt" down low that they simply don't have enough of, IMO.

I think of a 275HP 350ci 95 Camaro I owned more than 10 years ago now and the difference between that car and either of our T-Birds is really pretty incredible in terms of acceleration.

The difference comes down to that old saw. "No replacement for displacement"

Big fat Torque that comes in under 2000RPM and lasts through 5000rpm is far more useful, on the street, than the torque/HP profile the T-Birds have.

On the street power is needed down low. The engine that does that simply feels stronger. The T-bird feels better out on the Hi-way than in town simply because it doesn't begin to really make it's torque until the engine is spinning harder, above 3,000RPM and even so it never does make the same amount of torque as the Chevy LT1.

So why such similar HP numbers?

Ah........now we're getting into how horse power is figured and why it can be very mis-leading.

The T-Bird's high tech 21rst century engine makes power with 4 cams, 32 valves and variable timing.......this engine just spins FASTER than the older design Chevy that despite computer controls and fuel injection still relies on the brute,primitive principles of displacement vs high tech/ gee wiz stuff in the T-Bird.


Horse power is figured:

So.....the T-Bird actually needs less torque to make the same peak Horse power.

It's a shame Ford hadn't figured a way to shed some weight from the T-Bird and give us a standard transmission right from the start. Failing that, a few more cubic inches and torque in the revised '03 version rather than a focus on HP alone was what we really would have benefited from when those first reviews of the '02 kept coming in with criticism of a weak on power V8.

[007Cruiser]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

That's why Ford makes a Mustang.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

MY 05 INCA GOLD WAS BUILT ON THE LAST DAY OF PRODUCTION, IT IS FASTER THAN ANY OF THE ONES I HAVE. IT ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT EXHAUST SOUND. IF ALL MINE RAN LIKE IT, I WOULD BE HAPPY. THE 04 IS ALSO FASTER THAN THE OTHER THREE. ABOVE THIRTY MILES AN HOUR YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OTHERS VS THE 02.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

That's why Ford makes a Mustang.

........ but who wants one of those? (Uh,oh........now I've done it!)


More seriously though. The T-Bird is a cruiser. You shouldn't have to spin the engine hard to find some power, IMHO.

[Lindy]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Since I have two (an '02 and an '05) I thought I'd toss in my two cents worth here. My 02' already had the PCM update when I bought it, from the previous owner. It is has ample torque and "seat-pull" (G-force). However, in the '05 you stomp on it at about two or three grand and she goes and generates RPM and HP much more aggressive than the 02, and the OEM exhaust system does seem to have a stronger growl as 3LOWBIRDS43 alluded to; which is probably due in part to the re-engineered intake plenum in the '03-'05's. My '05 was made in Feb. 2005 and was made with the latest computer (PCM) update. Personally, I prefer the OEM exhaust over the Borla cat-back exhaust system, at least from the perspective of riding in the cabin of the T-Bird. Interestingly, the '02 chirps her tires between 1-2 shift, but my '05 has not, at least as of yet.

[jerrym3]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

I wouldn't mind having a new Mustang, if my left leg could still handle the duties of a clutch.

Again, this is just me speaking for me and me alone, but, if I could afford another trophy car, I'd pick a Mustang GT fastback over a second retro. (Has to be a Bullitt look alike.)

What's better than a nice cruise in a classy convertible one day and a blast of horsepower with a few speedshifts thrown in on a second day?

Local cruise car shows are drawing many new Mustangs (and Challengers), and they are drawing more lookers than my TBird and/or Galaxie.

Of course, there's always exceptions, but the younger car crowd seems to be drawn to performance over class.

[rmarshal]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

Local cruise car shows are drawing many new Mustangs (and Challengers), and they are drawing more lookers than my TBird and/or Galaxie..

Yeah, but every rip roaring, power snorting Camero, Corvette, Mustang, Challenger coming up from behind slows to look at the '02 'Bird I'm driving.
I vote for Class over Burning Gas, any day.

[Rondor]

Re: 02 engine versus 03.

I don't think Ford really intended the retro bird to be a performance car but rather a little of everything with a more practical approach. All in all it ain't a bad car and for the type who buy them it's more about that feel than anything, even tho it's different for different people. I have had some of almost everything but this is a great car at this time for me, but my wife has pretty well taken it over, so I will likely buy another