SEMA 2009: Ford EcoBoost '34 Hot Rod rocks a V6 in style
1934 Ford EcoBoost Hot Rod - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Putting modern engines into old cars isn't anything new, but this '34 3-window coupe in the Ford display isn't like anything we've ever seen before. Detroit Street Rods has wedged the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 underneath the hood, making it the first rear-drive application for the twin-turbocharged engine. Packing 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft torque, this little coupe has the potential to surprise quite a few people at stoplights.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the car is how the engine is packaged. The dual Honeywell turbochargers have been moved to the front of the motor among various aluminum tubing routing air and exhaust gases, and a single, large exhaust cone exits above the front fender on each side of the car. It's not a rumbling V8, but it looks just as good and is just as fast too. You can read more details about the car in the press release after the jump, or check out our high-res gallery below.
PRESS RELEASE
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 28, 2009 – Hot rodders have always lived by the motto "There's no replacement for displacement," indicating that the more cubic inches an engine has, the better the resulting performance. Ford Powertrain and Detroit Street Rods are out to prove that thinking out-of-date with their EcoBoost™-powered '34 Ford hot rod.
To be introduced at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, the Ford hot rod will be the "first" rear-wheel-drive application of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 delivering an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque – power numbers that easily rival a typical hot rod's 302-cubic-inch V-8 or even a modern-day V-8 of similar size.
"EcoBoost technology shows that there is a viable replacement for displacement," said Dan Kapp, director of Ford Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering, who will be part of a SEMA "Driving Green" technology briefing panel discussion during the show. "As consumers' demand for fuel efficiency continues to grow, and our commitment to delivering best-in-class fuel economy remains steadfast, it's important to show that performance does not need to suffer as a result."
"Hot rod builds provide blank canvases for SEMA member companies and SEMA is uniquely positioned to demonstrate that horsepower and green power can coexist without sacrificing performance or the cool factor," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of Vehicle Technology. "This '34 EcoBoost hot rod is a fantastic example of modern green technology being applied in a manner that any performance enthusiast would love."
The EcoBoost family of engines uses turbocharging and direct injection technology to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.
"The beauty of EcoBoost is that it enables us to downsize for fuel efficiency, yet boost for power," said Kapp. "We're able to decrease the size of the available engine – such as installing a V-6 versus a V-8 – yet boost the power using turbocharging to deliver similar power and torque to that larger engine."
The first EcoBoost engine, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, launched this year on the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and Flex and on the Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT. The EcoBoost V-6 produces 355 horsepower (365 hp in the Taurus SHO) and 350 ft.-lb. of torque.
Ford has recently announced the first four-cylinder EcoBoost engines, launching in global applications beginning next year. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 first arrives in Europe, followed by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 launching on products in both Europe and North America.
Going forward, Ford will shift its powertrain strategy to be built around EcoBoost technology. Under the new system:
* A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 would replace naturally aspirated V-8 engines
* A 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated V-6 engines
* A 1.6-liter EcoBoost I-4 would replace naturally aspirated large I-4 engines
Following the launches of the new EcoBoost I-4s will be the extension of the 3.5-liter V-6 to the first rear-wheel-drive configuration in the F-150 pickup truck late next year. Another global application, the Ford Falcon sedan in Australia, will receive a rear-wheel-drive version of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 in 2011.
The fun-to-drive nature of EcoBoost engines is leading Ford to introduce these fuel-saving powertrains in large volumes virtually across its lineup. For example, by 2013 more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology, and nearly 80 percent of Ford's global nameplates will have an available EcoBoost option.
By 2013, global EcoBoost volume throughout the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle family is expected to be 1.3 million units, with up to 750,000 sales coming from North America alone.
'34 Ford EcoBoost hot rod project
Detroit Street Rods' latest build is a 1934 Ford and is a joint venture with Ford Motor Company and Experi-metal. In this '34 application, the EcoBoost engine is configured for rear-wheel drive and is coupled with a Tremec five-speed manual transmission.
"The decision to use the EcoBoost engine for our powertrain on this project was an easy one in that it gave us the opportunity to combine the iconic '34 Ford sculpted body lines with the advanced technology of the EcoBoost powerplant," stated Robert Smith, president of Detroit Street Rods. "The result is the perfect hot rod marriage of advanced technology for power and legendary automobile design."
While the stock Honeywell turbochargers that drive the EcoBoost engine are used, they were repackaged to fit the engine bay of this all-steel replica body. The engine configuration and turbocharger packaging was dynamometer tested by Ford Powertrain for proper calibration of the engine electronic control module (ECM). In addition to the all-stock engine, other components including the fuel pump, ECM, fuel pump module, fuel pump processor and drive-by-wire throttle were utilized in their original production configuration.
The body is from Steve's Auto Restoration and is the recently released 1934 Ford 3-Window coupe. The complete body and fenders are from brand-new tooling, and are designed, stamped and manufactured by Experi-metal in Sterling Heights, Mich. This "replica" '34 features all-steel construction, full fenders, running boards, electronic power windows, air conditioning and custom bumpers.
The engine was repackaged and fitted with an engine plate adapter to mate with an aluminum flywheel, performance clutch and a Tremec TKO five-speed transmission. The turbochargers were repositioned to the front of the cylinder heads and custom aluminum tubing was used to route the air from the custom air cleaner through the air-to-air intercooler. The exhaust gases are routed from the cylinder heads through coated headers, through the stock wastegates, and pass through large custom exhaust cones located outside the engine bay and just above the front fenders.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ripper 4:44PM (11/03/2009)
Im DYING to hear this one run!!! we need a video of it living!!!
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videocar.ro 4:48PM (11/03/2009)
"Putting modern engines into new cars" shouldn't it be "into old cars" ?
anyhow, awsome looking and huge exhaust :p
www.videocar.ro
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TonyInMI 4:57PM (11/03/2009)
THAT... IS... A W E S O M E ! ! !
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xpolarx 5:10PM (11/03/2009)
I can hear the traditionalists running for their torches and pitch-forks...but I think it's pretty damn cool. That exhaust has to sound amazing...eardrum-destroying...but amazing.
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TonyInMI 5:12PM (11/03/2009)
I don't know why it's taken so long for US manufacturers to embrace turbocharging - having introduced it in 1962.
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ForgedInternals 11:02PM (11/03/2009)
The 80's and the dismal SVO and Grand National sales. Once gas prices leveled out it was over for any non-V8. Not to mention Turbo's weren't necessarily reliable until the last decade or so.
Farmboy 5:57PM (11/03/2009)
Okay, I just crapped myself over the beauty and pure amazement of this.
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Howard H. 6:25PM (11/03/2009)
They should have used the engine from the GT500. An extra 175 horse would be much better.
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StickShift 8:04PM (11/03/2009)
....which would have been 100 pounds or more heavier, and considerably less fuel efficient, and several inches longer. Besides, it wouldn't have been such a good advertisement for Fords fancy new technology.
Besides, a Modular motor in a street rod has been done before. This is certainly different and should encourage hot rodders of the future to take new technology and run with it rather than doing the same old, same old.
mike 6:55PM (11/03/2009)
Six cylinders are lame in stuff like this. Also I'm tired of the stupid name "EcoBoost". Why don't they just say turbocharged instead of acting like something it isn't. Direct injection and turbocharged .O.K. great. Drop the dumb name. Its probably the same morons that put PowerStroke on all of the diesel trucks. GIVE ME A BREAK.
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Matt 7:54PM (11/03/2009)
Shoulda had a V8.....
If you are going to install an engine with V8 mileage...shouldn't it be a V8?
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gearhead18 2:07AM (11/04/2009)
Holy crap not only do you fail on most levels of Autoblog, you can't do math either! At least according to your avatar you ccan recognize shapes. Let me know how far that gets you...
Mr.TiredOfEconomicDownturn 12:02PM (11/04/2009)
Oh hi there, almost missed you.
You're always negative about Ford. Some do make sense, but now you're running out of things to say.
It's a V6 with V8 power, but V6 fuel economy.
Matt 1:15PM (11/04/2009)
"It's a V6 with V8 power, but V6 fuel economy."
No...it;s not. That is a lie told by FMC so all the sheeple will believe that they are saving the polar bears when they drive it.
There are full-size, V8 powered cars out there that get the same 17/25 that the TwinForce engine gets.
It's a V6 that gets V8 economy.
gearhead18 4:57PM (11/04/2009)
Matt, ever seen an EPA window sticker or taken a test drive of an EcoBoost car (wait scratch that, the car would problem spit you out and reject you like a poor organ transplant). THis are car that get the same fuel economy as the "regular" Duratec V6 but make over 100hp more. V8 power... V6 economy. This isn;t some impossible thing to wrap your hea ahead. It is justperchance Ford has made a great engine that you have to resort to making up your own numbers to lambast it. Give it a rest man, just exept it as a good motor and ignore the Oval if you have to.
PS: I am face to face with and SHO and a "normal" Taurus everyday at work, and some Mustangs. You figure things out quick when you are around them in person instead of holed up in your basement on the computer *cough* *cough*
Matt 5:26PM (11/04/2009)
So what you are saying is that Ford make gas guzzling V6s. Good to know.
Ecoboost is a lie...it does NOT give 20% better fuel economy, and it does not give V8 power with V8 mileage. REAL WORLD mileage puts the gas guzzling Flex (and the half-hearted Lincoln rebadge), the Taurus (and the half-hearted Lincoln rebadge) in the 18-19 range. And the EPA numbers match what Hyundai can get out of a more powerful and bigger 4.6 V8.
gearhead18 9:40PM (11/04/2009)
No one said 20% better economy. It is the same economy as the regular Duratec. THE SAME, but gives you and extra 100hp on regular and 150hp on premium. It'll run just as well and efficiently on both. And as for your V8 comparison. The Taurus SHO makes 365(405 on premium)/350 on while the BMW 3-series makes 415/295. It's up on HP but down on torque. And a Carroll Shelby once said "Horsepower sells cars but torque wins races". The economy of the "lowly" Taurus is 17/25 while the beemer drinks a dismal 14/20. This is what the Ecoboost is for, to be competitive while easier on gas. No one said you have to take everything to heart like Ford builds to chap your ass. Now settle down amateur.
Matt 3:08PM (11/05/2009)
Uhh...FORD said 20% better economy.
www.media.ford.com...it's under the "technology fact sheets", then scroll down until you see the "green" category (even though there is nothing green about Egoboost)
Here's the direct link:
http://media.ford.com/images/10031/EcoBoost.pdf
Right at the top...
And you are WRONG about the SHOWs numbers. It makes 365HP on premium...355 on regular.
Know the facts before you debate me.
RLQ 9:33PM (11/03/2009)
This is the best nonV8 30's hotrod so far.
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