Ford's Latest Engine Design: The Boss

Ronnie Tanner
February 17, 2009

Set to replace the current Triton V8 engine currently powering Ford trucks today, the Boss 6.2 liter engine is the newest project for Ford Motor Company. The all new large displacement V8 engine was put on hold in early 2005 but is being brought back in hopes of providing serious competition for the Larger Dodge Hemi and General Motors 7.0 liter Vortec engine. The hope is that the new Boss engine will infuse the sluggish Ford Truck market with some seriously needed new, vibrant blood.

Ford showed off its latest design at the 2008 SEMA show. The engine will make its debut appearance in 2010 in the F-150 SVT Raptor. Originally dubbed the Hurricane, the name was changed to the Boss after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the Louisiana and Mississippi coast line in August 2005.

Rousch Racing has had a hand in the field testing of Ford’s latest engine creation. It was run as an experimental large displacement version of the engine code named “777”. It was run at the National Mustang Racers Association on e85 biofuel.

The Boss will have design characteristics similar to the modular V8, its predecessor. Fans of the modular V8 will recognize the deep skirt block with cross bolted main caps, overhead camshaft arrangement and crankshaft driven oil pump. The bore centerline is the single biggest difference between the Boss and the modular V8. The Boss bore center line will be 4.53 in (115 mm) wider the older V8. In order to attain the 379 cubic inches of displacement, the 6.2 Liter Boss utilizes a 4.015 inch (102 mm) bore diameter and a 3.74 (95 mm) stroke. The intake valve is reportedly 2.10 inches and puts the exhaust valve at 1.65 inches. The Boss will also have single overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder, and two spark plugs per cylinder. The fuel economy will be increased and emissions reduced utilizing cylinder deactivation.

With the financial difficulties facing the auto industry, Ford Motor Company included, there has been some concern that Ford has once again decided to shelve its latest engine design. However, Ford has shown every confidence that this latest technology is just what is needed to turn things around. The latest reports reveal that production of the engine is on schedule and will be offered in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. The word now is that modular V8 in production now will be offered in the first few months of production for the 2010 Raptor and then midyear the switch will be made to the new Boss engine. The Ford F-150 Raptor should be available with the 6.2 Liter Boss engine no later than the winter of 2009.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at http://www.swengines.com He writes about used ford engines and choosing this as an alternative to costly car purchases.

Source: Amazines.com