Can anybody tell me why the 5.0 Mark VII is listed with 25% more HP than the TBird?
Yessir, sure can...The Mark VII has the HO, while the Bird/Cougar only got the SO from the factory.
Kinda strange, ain't it?-:bs: :screwy:
The Mark probably cost 25% more when new, too...
...Oh, and the 88-92 Mark actually has more like 50% more HP (225 vs 150)
The Mark VII was a high end, "performance" luxury car, of course it's gonna have the HO. And yeah it was probably considerably more expensive than a V8 thunderbird.
personally, i think if ford had put the 5.0Ho and god forbid the T5 into the tbird and cougar it would have severly offset the sales for the turbo coupe and somewhat the mustang. the mark vii just plain deeded the extra power and wasnt a threat in sales too the tbird, cougar or mustang...
Yeah if they woulda put a HO in the Thunderbird, betcha they woulda charged more for it too!
Definitely woulda been cool for there to be a 5.0 HO thunderbird with a 5 speed, 16" wheels, and all that good stuff. Woulda been pretty sweet.
So we can actually gain a whole lot by looking for Mark VII parts as well as for the Mustang stuff!
Of course there are a fewer of them produced but I bet they would be in better condition.
Any idea what the HO consisted of?
(sorry my % math has always been a bit strange :yuck: )
HO consisted of different upper/lower intake, head-('87 up used E7TE, pre '86 and earlier used E6's), different pistons, cam, injectors, computer, and I think the compression was a bit higher as well. And the firing order is same as a 351W.
I'm sure there are a few other differences between the SO and the HO that I forgot.
Doesn't take a whole lot to switch from SO to HO, either.