XR6 v's XR8

[NEG]

Hey guys im looking at buying an E series XR6 or XR8, but I can't deside which one. I want to supercharge or turbo it and was origanaly set on getting an XR8 but they seem to be a fair bit more expensive and harder to find then the 6. Iv also been told you can get more power out of the XR6. So any advice or opinions would be much appreciated. Also would the standard 5 speed and diff hold up to around 300fwkw?

[mcflux]

You should post this in the E-Series section mate! (but here is good too)

Either way you go, you're a winner. The 8 might be a bit more pricey to mod, as you'd either need to go for heads/intake upgrade (plus MAF, t/b, and maybe the cam + rrs if you're keen), or whack on a blower & be done with it, assuming the engine isn't due for a rebuild. I'm personally opting for all of the above :P

You could also stroke the 8, which is something you can't do with the 6 due to it pretty much already being maxed out with its crank size. For an NA 300fwkw Windsor, you'd either want a VERY grumpy/hot 5.0, or a warm stroker (331, 342, 347). 300fwkw would be much easier and cheaper to obtain with a blower.

Then you could turbo/twin turbo the windsor! Keep in mind that the block is the weak point, but if you're aiming for 300kwkw, the block will be safely within its loading limits.

Now for the I6.

The six breathes well to begin with, so you don't really have to worry about spending moolah on a better head & intake. You can get around 230fwkw out of the I6 with NA mods (has anyone bettered this?) for well under 10 grand.

You can supercharge or turbo (or twin turbo) the six too and achieve 300fwkw. There's a guy with a turbo ED with 460rwkw on the forums ;) "TUFED6" I think?

Do a search in the E-Series section, as well as the Ford 6s and Windsor sections.

Whatever XR you get, they're a great car!

Oh, and the standard T5 (and clutch!) might not like 300fwkw... You'd have to drive very conservatively if you want it to survive!

-Dave-

[XRated]

Turboing the six is probably cheaper and more viable in the end. Plus there is room to strengthen the bottom end and increase the PSI. Not to mention, there is already plenty of turbo E-Series I6s getting around with very impressive results.

I don't think you'd want more than 200 @ the rears for the standard T5.

[parawolf]

Remember, it is torque which kills the transmission/clutch not so much the kW.

Torque = twisting force
kW = power = force/time

[LTDHO]

I'd go xr8 manual. Howevery there isn't alot of engine bay space so an XR6 Manual could be easier.

[NEG]

Thx for the help guys.
Just one more question, Turbo or supercharger?
Iv been looking at the CAPA kits and Snort Performance, the turbo seems to be better value? Or can anyone recomend any other kits? Thx.

[Swordie]

The 6 is probably the best. I wonder if it's worth considering a modified 351?

[geckoGT]

A couple of general points without going too deep. XR8 is generally more expensive than six, money saved is money for mods. 6 will take more mods to produce desired power (because it starts with less power). Both 6 and 8 will handle 300kw, there are plenty out there putting out this power but the eight will take less mods to get there. So the 8 vs 6 question comes down to budget, price the cost of modding both to get the power that you want. Also remember that sound is often important to those that mod cars, 8's nearly always sound better with less work done than a six will (8's have soul IMO).
Turbo vs SC, not clear cut. 6's tend to suit turbo because there are a lot of these mods already done so the knowledge is plentiful and there are lots of components available. The down side is turbo's tend to require revs to get into the boost zone (some more than others). 8's tend to suit SC as they accompany the low down torque of the 8's better, lots of power from down low means a very flexible motor for good accelleration from any speed and any gear when compared to turbo. There are exceptions to these generalisations but that is the fun part of design. The down side of turbos on 8's is often cost as you have to fork out for two turbos but the rewards are huge. In the end it would probably cost you similar money to do a SC 8 with 300fwkw as it would a turbo 6 with the same power. The difference is likely to be the 8 will produce power lower in the rev range and will also be less effected by things such as heat.
Comes down to what you like, where you want the power and what you want to use the car for. Expense is likely to be fairly similar between the two, do the research and work out what suits you best, there is no clear "whats best" answer and anyone that tells you there is doesn't know what they are talking about.
Personally I would go SC 8 as a budget power house with low down grunt and an awesome exhaust note, but that is me.

Good luck and don't forget to show us the end product.

[ef5l]

sorry gecko but i disagree
the centrifical supercharges usually used on the 6 and 8s, require the same or if not more revs to create boost and power if you are thinking of roots style etc they produce low end boost and heaps of torque, if it is going to be modded just by whatever comes up and appeals to you there is pro's and cons about both motors. i got an 8 cause i love the sound and the torque of v8s but i would have a six anyday..

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by ef5l

sorry gecko but i disagree
the centrifical supercharges usually used on the 6 and 8s, require the same or if not more revs to create boost and power if you are thinking of roots style etc they produce low end boost and heaps of torque, if it is going to be modded just by whatever comes up and appeals to you there is pro's and cons about both motors. i got an 8 cause i love the sound and the torque of v8s but i would have a six anyday..

I agree with you on the blowers, I was actually referring to PD SC and remember I was talking general terms (there are variations according to design, eg XR6T produces torque earlier than XR8). Everything else is pretty much what I said. The end message is work out what you want, do the costing and work it out from there. Such a broad topic is impossible to answer with a stroke of the keyboard over a forum.

[NEG]

thx again guys, I think i'm even more confused about what to go for now than befor haha :nutsycuck . I'll keep looking around and see what happens.

[sbcb]

Get the 8, whatever you do to the 6, not matter how fast it goes, it won't be an 8.

[Gambit]

Originally Posted by sbcb

Get the 8, whatever you do to the 6, not matter how fast it goes, it won't be an 8.

I think up until the el2 xr8 the xr6 was the quicker car. Also if you want any decent power out of the xr8 before the au you will have to get rid of the heads & manifold (manifold not necessary on el2 xr8).

[Quadcams]

V8 V8 V8 V8

As you can see I like V8's

[Paris Hilton]

If choosing an i6...

Does starting with an XR6 give you and advantage over starting with a Gli/Futura, considering that the engine is going to be pretty much overhauled?

[geckoGT]

LSD, trim spec, ECU,body work, suspension and the ability to be a member of any of the XR clubs, damn straight it does!

[tick5.0]

Originally Posted by geckoxr8

LSD, trim spec, ECU,body work, suspension and the ability to be a member of any of the XR clubs, damn straight it does!

Also resale value, street cred, attractive alloys, easier to find in manual and they also look nicer imo! :

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by tick5.0

Also resale value, street cred, attractive alloys, easier to find in manual and they also look nicer imo! :

No brainer really! :

[Swordie]

Try this Forum for research. It has heaps of technical stuff.

FordMods

[XR Martin]

Problem with the V8 is that to get 300kw+ you need to replace heads, cam, upper/lower intake at a minimum, now we're talking $5k+ just there if you get the good stuff. The stock parts are terrible on the 165kw windsor. Sure you can find slightly better components going cheap from an AU, but they still arnt really much chop for high hp.
So not only will you have to pay more for the car, you need another $5k just to get it up to standard.
A supercharger kit on a stock 165kw Windsor wont yield you more than about 220kw at the engine, wouldnt matter how much boost you're running, the engine just wont flow more than that.

Good thing with the 6 is you dont need to replace those items to yield 300kw or more, many people have made 300kw at the wheels with the stock I6 and a turbo kit.

Now this low down torque rubbish is something only small engines suffer from lag, the Falcon 6 has a load of low down torque already, due to its massive amount of stroke, and a turbo is not going to take that away (sure maybe if we're talking a 1000hp turbo)

Other than the sound, there is no advantage with the Windsor, and IMO its a disadvantage.

[EDXR8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

A supercharger kit on a stock 165kw Windsor wont yield you more than about 220kw at the engine, wouldnt matter how much boost you're running, the engine just wont flow more than that.

A Vortech CAPA kit on a 165kw engine will produce around 220-240rwkw, or around 300fwkw. Boost overcomes the restriction in the heads and intake to a point, but it 300fwkw is about the max.

As for xr6 v xr8, it comes down to preference, budeget and what sort of power you want. But yeah, turbo 6's are easier and cheaper to get big power from (250rwkw+).

[Video_Guy]

Get the V8 just for the sound of the exhaust - a six just does not have the character and muscle 'sound' of a V8 - a bad sounding V* still craps on any six exhaust note

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Video_Guy

- a bad sounding V* still craps on any six exhaust note

Id rather listen to a M3 or Porsche exhaust than a 253 'thong slapper'

[XCH45R]

haha the good old 253, only thing there good is for a boat anchor!

Why not just by a standard EF/EL 6 your only paying the extra for the odd bits and peices u get with an XR!

[DentEd XR8]

After driving my own car and my mates ED XR6 (manual) extensively I much prefer mine over the XR6 and to be honest will never go back to a 6 again unless 8's dissappear off the face of the planet. The character of each motor is heaps different, the 6 tends to be more rev happy but doesn't have the same pulling feeling as the 8, I also think the 8's handle a touch better with the extra weight over the front.

In the end it will all come down to how much you want to spend, if you want heaps of power obviously money isn't going to be much of an issue and I'd get the 8, if there is a budget invovled and it's pretty limited the 6 will gain the best results for least amount of money spent. And if it's going to be pretty much stock the best bet is to go out and drive both and make your own judgement.

And as far as which one is faster, my XR8 is completely stock and it hasn't lost to my mates ED XR6 which has been slightly modified (exhaust, inlet manifold, intake, EA geared T5)

[RavenLS1]

Originally Posted by Video_Guy

Get the V8 just for the sound of the exhaust - a six just does not have the character and muscle 'sound' of a V8 - a bad sounding V* still craps on any six exhaust note

I disagree,the six with the right induction mods sounds very meaty indeed,should come hear mine with a flat right foot thru first and second and see if you think that the six has no character.

[Racecraft]

you havent mentioned how long you intend on keeping your rocket.. Initial outlay becomes a negating factor if you intend on keeping the buggy for a while. My personal opinion is if you are keen on heavily modifying a Falcon forget the XR, a boosted GL is worth the same as a boosted XR, people pay for the output and 1/4 times, not the cosmetics. You might have some more 'bragging rights' but it doesn't make your pennis any longer and to me isn't worth the extra upfront cost when most of the mechanical goodies will be upgraded or changed anyway. i won't tip into the 6 or 8 debate because it really comes down to what model E'series you are looking at.