EZ, yes, the V8 was Yamaha designed as well. Not sure how much of the actual building they did (maybe just the top end) in comparison to the V6 (which was sent complete from Japan).

Paul, the bubble Taurus that came out in 96 was the first year of the V8 SHO.


Dave, I have always wanted to go to MO/KAN. I have talked to a few guys in Miami (where I work) that frequent there. I will try to get a few friends together and make a trip up there. Feb would be great with the cool weather. Just in case my SHO doesn't have what it takes, will you race me in one of the Stangs that will be coming

 

I don't think they look THAT bad

 

Need I say something about nothing?

 

I owned a 96 SHO and now I own a 2002 Maxima. I can say without a doubt the 2002 Maxima would absolutely blow the 96 SHO away. Now some of the older manual shifting SHOs would be a much better test than the automatic SHO that I owned. The torque and power that I get from the Maxima reminds me of the my once owned Mustang Cobra. When I accelerate in my Max I am just awed on how smooth and powerful this engine develops its power from 6 cyls. I just thought I would add my two cents since I have owned both vehicles.

 

The 96 - 99 SHO is equipped with a 235HP 32 valve V-8 engineered for Ford by Yamaha. If memory serves correctly, the production block was cast in Windsor Ontario and shipped to Yamaha for all the goodies. I could be wrong on the location of the production of the block.

 

I have also owned both. I had a 94 SHO with an automatic. Not my dream car but the dealer had a $7000 discount on the car and I could not resist. I needed a "family car" since my wife and I expecting our first kid. I must admit that I loved the SHO and think that it would give a Maxima a run for the money. However, I sold it after six months due to several minor problems (warped rotors, short in the dash, loose bolts on the door...). Now my Maxima on the other hand is now 18 months old and has never had any problems what so ever. In short the SHO may be close in performance but how long will it last?

 

lol, that's between 3 cars tho, there's some max owners with over 230 000 miles on 1 MAX! Sorry, but i just had to point out the obvious. BTW, nice collection of SHO's

 

I raced 3 SHO's when I was stock here in town. These were the early SHO's, 89-92~. They wanted to see how they compared to my 2k1 5spd. Well they saw my tail lights each time by 1 1/2 cars.

 

BriGuyMax and I were coming home from the University of Iowa about a month ago and this younger man in a V8 SHO tried to race (75-120) us three times,each time he lost. He hung well till about 100, but then I passed him. He had a bewildered look on his face, which was priceless.

 

 

the SHO is nuttin compared to da MAX!

 

Sweet videos. That was a great pair of races. I just now got to watch them finally. I got to tell you Yo, that unless that SHO was well modded, or unless you have made some mods since then, a race against me would not be to your liking as I am a full second quicker than most V8 SHO's. Sorry

 

A 5spd swap? You use to have an auto trans? Was the swap difficult, or a direct fit? I wish I could mount the 3.2 SHO engine right up to my manual trans, but it is not that easy. BTW, N2O is cheating

 

I can't believe someone used this as a basis for an arguement!

so, hp per litre ratio depict a "good" or a "sucky" engine?

Not knocking the engine (cause they are strong engines), just the item you use to defend it. Hp per litre ratio doesn't really prove anything.

 

It does if you're a Honduh fanatic

 

Hmm I always though Mazda rotaries made the most hp/liter. 255hp on the 1.3liter 13b turbo. About 190hp on 1.3liters na.

 

The originals had 225 HP, I believe.

Trevor

 

The auto trannies in the regular Taurus' and SHO's suck. BIGTIME. Almost as bad as Chryler's transmissions...

 

So, you're saying SteVtec uses the hp/L arguement?


I always love stupid people. Thanks for participating another adolescent post to the already declining attitude of the thread (with the constant FORD hate posts).

Since i'm not a honda, sorry <In best redneck twang> Honduh fanatic, however, I will post the stereotypical Honda...crap, Honduh... remark:

civic Si makes 100hp/L (too bad it averages at high 15s).

The SHO has a great engine. I don't see why people are knocking Fords... yes, they do have their crappy models (Focus, Escort, Probe of yore, Pinto being the worst of all), but, so does Nissan... need I remind people of the Stanza or the horribly underpowered 240sx (granted, good with an engine swap, but, crap stock wise).

 

Just curious..I don't know alot about Civics..What years did the SI make 100 HP/L? The current model uses a 2.0L engine, but only puts out 160HP...The RSX, however, does achieve 100HP/L.

 

ha..I have those videos too. I would say that it was more of a tie with the SHO pulling in one of them. Both are quick cars.

to the new max owner; good choice. If I ever wreck the SHO, I am going to replace it with a Maxima..I think

Ian
93 SHO

 

umm...any reason I shouldn't be here? I attend maxima meets on a regular basis and have many friends in the community. Do you have a problem with me being here?

Ian
93 SHO

 

Hey...there's more to a car than the 1/4 mile. The Gen3 SHO (V8) has a lot of power, great handling and is a great highway cruiser. It will compete with cars twice its cost.

As far as 1/4 miles, juiced gen3's are running 13's. They are still capable cars.

The only reason I would never own one is the lack of a manual tranny.
Ian

 

Where exactly is this information? Not to sound rude, but I never heard it before and I have been on SHO lists since the beggining of time.

Ian

 

a forum without diversity is boring, i'm glad we have people with different cars on here and often wonder why there aren't more, i don't think we have ANY truck drivers here though

 

 

Not to say that I am up on my Ford stats...But I highly doubt that the V8 motor offered in the SHO was a Yamaha design. I'm pretty sure it was a variation of the Duratec family of engines. I find it highly unlikely that it was a V8 version of the original Yamaha engine based on the fact that the original engine had around 225HP and the V8 had 235...Except for the torque ratings, it wouldn't make alot of sense to change the engine design, but to only give it 10 extra HP, especially in light of the fact that it would be in a heavier car.

Trevor

 

You're right. The 1/4 mile is only an indication of acceleration. However, I found the Maxima interior to be better, reliability to be much better by reputation, and the VQ engine to be too good to pass up. The Max was also cheaper (I bought it used in 1999 and bought it at more than 1/2 the original price with low miles!!!).

I believe there are Maxima's running 13's with a supercharger and some evening running 12s.

 

The 3.4L V8 found in the gen3 SHO is related to the 2.5L Duratech block found in the Contour SVT (which is related to the bored out 3.0 block-yes, this is an upgrade for the contour SVT guys). The block in the SHO is obviously longer with 2 extra cylinders tacked on. The bottom end is Ford; the top half was designed by Yamaha. Exacly who manufactured what to whose specs is a mystery. The cam sprockets on these cars are failing at a huge rate; a failure from something so stupid as a press fit cam sprocket seems like something that would develop out of one company producing something in an unfamilar fashion to them. It is already known that Ford manufactures cams like this in other cars, but they don't fail. I wouldn't jump to blame Yamamh either..anyway..I am straying..

Ford had stated that the motor would put out roughly 250hp. People were extrememly miffed when it was produced and its output was only 235 hp.

anyway..yes..the SHO V8 is based on the Duratech. However, I am questioning the information that stated that the SHO V8 produced over 300 hp, outperformed the Cobra and was detuned and coupled with an automatic tranny. Sounds a lot like many of the myths that surround the V6 motor; those I won't go into..

Ian

 

99-00 Civic Si. 1.6L, 160hp, and a very powerful (for an electric tool) torque of 111ft-lbs.

Too bad the honda hasn't made any interesting cars since 95 (the NSX is overpriced, and I would never pay more than $25K for a Honda...even a S2000). The RSX is a faster Paseo. The ITR was just ugly and overrated. The Civic Si was a good deal, but, the 160hp engine should have been available for the hatchback. The CL-S/TL-S are just faster, more expensive Accords...Blah.

Nissan, hurry up and get the 350z out!

 

This is far from the basis for my argument. It is simply one aspect of the remarkable Yamaha engine. Specific output is certainly not the end all of engine performance, or else I would be driving a model airplane, but it does say a lot about the effectiveness of a particular design. Believe me, if engineers were not concerned about specific output, we would all be driving 7.0l 250 hp engines around. The Yamaha design has many things going for it, the specific output is just one of them.

 

No, the V6 Yamaha, all years, all sizes had 220 hp.

 

I used to have a 93 SHO which I totaled on a wet road. I just got a brand new Maxima SE and I love it. I'm planning to keep this car for a while. And to think I almost bought a Jetta GLX.

:

 

*Gasp*!!!