My thoughts are to put one in a Focus SVT. I really haven't researched this much, but I know the duratec MTX-75 transmission bolts up. The motor mounts would transfer from a duratec and wiring might also be simplified with a duratec harness.
I guess I can dream.
C'mon guys, a $6k racing crate engine is not very grassroots. What happened to pulling engines from the junkyard, and assembling the ECU from a box of leftover chips found in the dumpster behind ITT tech?
Scottah wrote: My thoughts are to put one in a Focus SVT. I really haven't researched this much, but I know the duratec MTX-75 transmission bolts up. The motor mounts would transfer from a duratec and wiring might also be simplified with a duratec harness. I guess I can dream.
Or just get a Focus ST. That's not likely to break.
nepa03focus wrote: I would want to do a 2wd stepside ranger, kind of like a mini lightening
i laid in bed and thought about this one awhile, not least of all because I just bought a rust free example that runs badly for $300.
In reply to MCarp22:
We are getting lazy. What's your point? 
MCarp22 wrote: C'mon guys, a $6k racing crate engine is not very grassroots. What happened to pulling engines from the junkyard, and assembling the ECU from a box of leftover chips found in the dumpster behind ITT tech?
It is not so much that we are departing from a Grassroots mentality as it is a case of Ford and GM arriving at the party.
Think of this as "Ford's Dumpster" if it makes you feel better.
Have them toss some kitchen scraps in the shipping container if it makes for a more authentic experience.
Does anyone know the outside dimensions, such as width, height, and length?
I wonder if this means Ford will offer the Ecoboost V6 as a crate motor one day...2.7L, 352hp stock...
MCarp22 wrote: C'mon guys, a $6k racing crate engine is not very grassroots. What happened to pulling engines from the junkyard, and assembling the ECU from a box of leftover chips found in the dumpster behind ITT tech?
I would put forth the case that the inherent durability of a motor built on a factory line, with a professionally developed tune from the OEM represents a substantial leap in durability vs used junkyard motors, which is an acceptable tradeoff for the money. Even from a grassroots perspective.
A $6k motor is attainable by mere mortals such as us, and I know people who have grassroots style builds that add up to more money when you consider parts + machine shop + tuning and not equal the power that this has.
Grassroots does not by necessity mean suffering through mashing junk parts together into a working system of awesome. It can also mean choosing your battles wisely into creating an awesome system, or even spending a little more to build a car that is modern and durable as an anvil.
In reply to Apexcarver:
Very true. Try to take a mundane 4 banger, freshen/rebuild it, buy a complete turbo/IC package for it either as a kit or by piece meal, purchase a DIY ECU, assemble it and tune it, build a wiring harness with all the connectors for all of the sensors needed, add up all the time it would take to do all this and suddenly $6k and a couple hundred hours of extra time to spend on the rest of the car doesn't seem too bad.
p.s. Sorry for the long sentence.
I'm a big fan of factory crate engines. They offer a bang for the buck that's difficult to match with the security of a warranty. I've had too many failures of aftermarket Chevy parts, and NO failures of factory crates.
This is the same engine that's being used for the (very slow) Ugly Horse project.
wspohn wrote: The modern turbo engines are easily tunable with software. A $200 tune added to a GM LNF Ecotec gets your from 260 bhp/260 Tq to 320 bhp/340 Tq. And that is only the start!
But first someone has to crack into that software. The GM stuff is partially cracked (figure about 10% of the parameters are editable for an LS engine) and there are something like 17,000 editable parameters in the Ecoboost Mustang from what I've heard. Not all tuners have managed to gain access to all the tables or understand what they do. Looks like the aftermarket is starting to make some headway on the Mustang, though, and there sure will be market pressure for it.
In reply to Keith Tanner:
I know of at least one GM GOodwrench crate engine failure.
But anyway, how cool would it be to stuff a Ford Ecoboost crate motor into Tunatruck? It doesn't fit the theme in any way at all, but it would outperform the 350 by a pretty good bit.
Imagine this engine in the back of a last gen Indy Lights chassis for hillclimbing. Now they've gone to the new car there has to be plenty sitting out there looking for a new lease of life. The old chassis was hardly cutting edge when introduced in 2002, it still had a three pedal layout and manual shifting. One of the biggest issues was the engine rebuild cost for the old Nissan based 3.5L V6. This would be a monster.
In reply to MCarp22:
I look at it this way, you couldn't build a reliable engine your self with those capabilities unless you are a professional race engine shop. You still need the electronics even if you are.
This engine + RX8 with blown engine could probably be done by a DIYer for $10k to $12k. The resulting car would be pleasant on the street, and have a whole, reliable can of Whoop@$$ on track day. What part of that isn't grassroots?
Keith Tanner wrote: ... and there are something like 17,000 editable parameters in the Ecoboost Mustang from what I've heard.
Way, way, way, way more than that.
Not all of them are super important. But when wading through so many parameters without knowing what they are.. well... (it's why I always warn people to know what they are getting with a tune)
Grassroots means different things to different people. I reckon that in some circles, changing sparkplugs makes you a rough-and-tumble back-to-the-earth type 
In reply to HappyAndy:
That is one sexy idea you got there Andy.
tuna55 wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: I know of at least one GM GOodwrench crate engine failure. But anyway, how cool would it be to stuff a Ford Ecoboost crate motor into Tunatruck? It doesn't fit the theme in any way at all, but it would outperform the 350 by a pretty good bit.
I'm referring to brand new GMPP engines, the ones that take a left turn on the assembly line and end up in a box instead of in a car. Rebuilds are a different matter.
I have seen a new GMPP crate replaced under warranty due to a noise. I had a chance to tear into the engine later and discovered that it wasn't a problem and would have self-clearanced in probably another 100 miles. The only reason it was audible was because the engine was in a stripped down sports car instead of buried deep inside 4000 lbs of sound deadening. So I don't count that as a failure. Even then, GM paid for a new engine AND the labor to change it.
Adrian_Thompson said: Imagine this engine in the back of a last gen Indy Lights chassis for hillclimbing.
So, we are all in agreement that this is an exciting opportunity and for $6k provides great bang for the buck. Now who is actually going to plunk down the cash and get one and when will the build thread start?
I can think of several platforms that I'd like to stick one of these in, but I know realistically that I will not and I am just hoping someone here takes the leap so I can live vicariously through the build log.
In reply to T.J.:
My basic Fiesta comes off least in another 18 months. Maybe someone here can pick it up for a song, and make a Fiesta RS.
In reply to alfadriver:
That's a ton of torque to be putting through the front wheels of a light car.
If I can get a little more dimensional information, I've got some ideas...
I think Jumper K. Balls should throw one in his Falcon. I mean ... if we are going to name names.
jstein77 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: That's a ton of torque to be putting through the front wheels of a light car.
Much like the Focus ST. So it's a solvable problem.
alfadriver wrote: In reply to T.J.: My basic Fiesta comes off least in another 18 months. Maybe someone here can pick it up for a song, and make a Fiesta RS.
So, since you'd probably know as well as anyone...will the 2.0T bolt right up? Would it physically fit in the engine bay and/or under the hood?
Not that I'm up to the task, but if we're going to be enablers we might as well be good ones. 
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