Ls v8 VS. v6

v8

Remember the v8 was a Jaguar motor. I might add the Jaguar motor was much worse for the timing chains. They used a different tensioner and there were many that had engines replaced under warranty. Many more after the fact. I had a shop that specialised in Jags and we did lots of timing chain replacements. The tensioners would loose the plastic on the runnners causing the chains to have too much play and then bang! You need an engine. Watch for ticking noises that was the sign in the Jags that you needed timing chains and tensioners.
 
My opinion V8 vs V6 in Gen I 2000-2002

V8 3.9L
______
Pros:
252HP Jag v8
Message Center With MPG, System Status, Miles Till Empty
More Torque
Cheaper Cooling Parts
Less stress on engine due to Weight vs Piston/Power ratio

Cons:
Weak Timing assembly. (Such as Tensioners are Nylon, Guides Wear down. Chains Stretch)


V6 3.0L
______
Pros:
.. I dont think there are any real Pros to the v6? Lol

Cons:
EXPENSIVE Cooling component parts.



V8 & V6
_______
They get about the same MPG. The V8 more than some have timing chain issues that need to be replaced about 100k miles. V6 Cooling Crossover tube is expensive and needs to be replaced when brittle at about 100k. V8 Thermostat housing wears down at about 120k miles needs to be replaced. V8 Obviously has more features such as Message Center, more Torque and what have you. Both models have coil issued. Such as oil getting in coil packs, water ext.. Both Trannys are GOING to go out just a matter of when. V6 Pro is that it came with a 5 speed. So yep.

Its really a matter if you want the Horse power and Torque and neat message center Feature. Your going to run into problems with both engines its just a matter of what and the cost. IMO Id rather have the V8 driving both the V6 and V8.. Funner Accel. and you feel the muscle when you really ride out.
 
ALSO. Did I mention how horrid the fan systems are on both Models! If not.. yeah Look up Hydraulic Fan in the search.. Yepp haha..
 
Yeah, I think mine does better than your average v6 owners like (hondas, dodges, audis without turbos)... With That being said. I'm happy with the way my v6 performs stock. Buy would love some upgrades, like a cam (e303) if possible in a v6, headers, cold air intake, so on and so forth.

Question 1 about COPs

Coil Over Plugs
____________

If your COPs fail youll notice that basically it is misfiring. Youll have the Check engine light on that flashes indicating this. Take it to Pep boys on 23rd and they will do a free Diag test on it and it will tell you wich COP it is. Go on ebay search in Lincoln LS Coil Pack. I bought mine for 17$ Each and work like a champ still to this day..

Number 2

There are not alot of mods you can do with the V6. Obviously you can do cosmetic mods such as LSE Bumpers Side skirts what have you just like any other model of the LS. BUT When it comes to true preformance I DONT Beleive that SCT which i ALSO Believe is the only company that makes a real programmer for the LS. SCT last time I check only makes a programmer for the LS8. Which specs wise doesnt jump it up a whole lot But it is enough to notice a complete change. You can also download more tune files to change up stuff.

I know there are some people who have done Turbo kits on the V6 but you have to remember. Most this engine work being done to these LSs arnt just bolt on kits you can buy from a company such as Summit Racing or Ebay or what have you. From my knowledge you cannot just buy a Super charger for the LS and just bolt it on and say here we go tht another 100 to 150 more horses. Nope.. If you check out QuickLS he has a super charger build form. Alot of Custom work done in his LS to make a Super charger fit.

So with both the V6 and V8 , V8 has more capability with Mods and what have you and the V6 is really limited to what you can do.

About the most you can do with your V6 is add a complete Cat Back system to it. get some Magna High Flow Cats, Grab a K&N Airflow kit and cold air it. And to my knowledge thats about all the bolt on ebay sh1t you can get for it. When it comes to the V8. Alot of innovations are still in way on trying to fine tune SCers and what have you.

V8's can add Cat back system, High flow cats resonators all that good stuff. intake kit. SCT Programmer , Custom SC build and some other cool parts such as ignition wise.

A LS isnt like a Honda.. You can just buy a turbo kit for it anywhere.
Or like a mustang where you can just grab a kenne bell SC and slap it on and there ya go..

Alot of CUSTOM work has to go in these engines to get them top notch high horsepower.

IMO if your going to put that much money into it. Just grab you a LS2 or LS7 do a engine swap and tranny swap and there ya go..
 
v6 plus

For me the huge plus of the v6 is the getrag manual gearbox. Amazing transmission. Shifts are awesome. The only thing I have driven with a better shift is a Miata and those are famous for the shift feel and action. I have driven many, many cars, even a gallardo.
The steering in the manual to me is better than the auto. I'm not sure if it is the weight issue or something else but as I said my dad had an auto (sport v6) and it didn't steer as well to me. Maybe it is just production tolerances but my car has better steering. I have not really noticed a difference in steering with passengers and I had 5 people in my car last week! It did seem a touch lighter in the front with all those people but I had three adults in the back seat!
 
Ahh Your one of the lucky ones to own a V6 Sport Man Tranny.

I would Love this.. :,)

But anyways to me the V6 Auto steers like a dream. Driving my Girlfriends care compared to mine. Mine since it is the V8 and Sport model the steering is alot stiffer.. Feel like I have to slow down more along corners than hers.

One thing I do like about the LS steering though is how it actually gets more touchier the faster you go. Its actually in the owners manual. Says basically with more speed the steering will get more responsive . Pretty cool Ey?
 
v6

I guess that 1% weight balance difference really makes a difference. I wonder how much lighter the manual is? Usually an auto adds about 100lbs so the v8 would be 200 to 300 lbs heavier than mine. i don't have all those extras goodies and those add weight.
Yes you are right about the speed sensitive steering but it is not a new thing. My other car (1992 tbird SC manual) not only has the speed sensitive steering but it also has automatic ride control. There are many sensors and if needed it firms up the shock absorbers.
I could go on but if you're curious just do some research on those cars. They were ahead of their time in my opinion.
I also had a mkz as a company car and I have to say in some ways those went backwards. No heat for the windshield wipers. The windows will only open, not close when you hold the key or remote. No power steering wheel adjustment. No service light. No cabin filter. I could go on.
 
Question 1 about COPs

Coil Over Plugs
____________

If your COPs fail youll notice that basically it is misfiring. Youll have the Check engine light on that flashes indicating this. Take it to Pep boys on 23rd and they will do a free Diag test on it and it will tell you wich COP it is. Go on ebay search in Lincoln LS Coil Pack. I bought mine for 17$ Each and work like a champ still to this day..

....

If you are very lucky, the COP fails completely and what you say about finding it is true. However, most LS COPs don't fail completely. They become marginal. Marginal ones often don't trigger a check engine light and the free Pep Boys (never go to Pep Boys for anything but parts) code reading won't find it. It takes doing a stress test with an oscilloscope to find marginal coils most of the time. (Sometimes you can get lucky and find it by looking at the misfire counts, but that only works if you have a Ford specific scan tool.)

Here's how to stress test a COP.
http://www.themustangsource.com/galaxie/tsb/tsb05_22_08_missfire_rough_running.pdf
 
I have an 04 with a V6 and I am quite happy with the motor. I test drove both V8 and V6 and for some reason off the line the 6 felt livelier but the 8 felt a lot faster overall. As for MPG's I average 23 overall (I get at least 400 on a tank) with a mix of city and highway from work and back. The extra HP in the 2nd gen V6 definitely helps it feels much quicker than the first gen V6.

I wish I did have a message center however. Other than that I have all the options I really wanted like the heated and cooled seats, wood trim, rain sensing wipers etc etc. I even added the SST so I am not missing out on that.
 
There are not alot of mods you can do with the V6. Obviously you can do cosmetic mods such as LSE Bumpers Side skirts what have you just like any other model of the LS. BUT When it comes to true preformance I DONT Beleive that SCT which i ALSO Believe is the only company that makes a real programmer for the LS. SCT last time I check only makes a programmer for the LS8. Which specs wise doesnt jump it up a whole lot But it is enough to notice a complete change. You can also download more tune files to change up stuff.

I know there are some people who have done Turbo kits on the V6 but you have to remember. Most this engine work being done to these LSs arnt just bolt on kits you can buy from a company such as Summit Racing or Ebay or what have you. From my knowledge you cannot just buy a Super charger for the LS and just bolt it on and say here we go tht another 100 to 150 more horses. Nope.. If you check out QuickLS he has a super charger build form. Alot of Custom work done in his LS to make a Super charger fit.

So with both the V6 and V8 , V8 has more capability with Mods and what have you and the V6 is really limited to what you can do.

About the most you can do with your V6 is add a complete Cat Back system to it. get some Magna High Flow Cats, Grab a K&N Airflow kit and cold air it. And to my knowledge thats about all the bolt on ebay sh1t you can get for it. When it comes to the V8. Alot of innovations are still in way on trying to fine tune SCers and what have you.

V8's can add Cat back system, High flow cats resonators all that good stuff. intake kit. SCT Programmer , Custom SC build and some other cool parts such as ignition wise.

A LS isnt like a Honda.. You can just buy a turbo kit for it anywhere.
Or like a mustang where you can just grab a kenne bell SC and slap it on and there ya go..

Alot of CUSTOM work has to go in these engines to get them top notch high horsepower.

IMO if your going to put that much money into it. Just grab you a LS2 or LS7 do a engine swap and tranny swap and there ya go..

Hate to burst your bubble there buddy but you have it backwards. There's greater aftermarket for the v6. You can actually by premade connecting rods and pistons for the v6, I've yet to find them for the v8. There's nothing for the v8 that can't be done to the v6. Roots style superchargers included.

Let me set the record straight on the v6 SCT error that being reported here. SCT DOES in fact support the v6 engine. I know this for a fact at least on the gen1 v6.

You're right about the custom part. There was never an aftermarket for the LS like many other cars, but with enough money it can be done.
 
Well I guess I really havent checked up on engine upgrades for the V6. Ive just never seen a V6 Super charged. only a twin turbo custom build.

But like you said. With money.. anything can be done
 

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