Comments on: I think this is interesting. https://habitablezone.com/2013/07/31/i-think-this-is-interesting/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:20:54 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2013/07/31/i-think-this-is-interesting/#comment-25804 ER Fri, 02 Aug 2013 14:43:44 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=36002#comment-25804 Or superficial mods to a basic configuration designed primarily for ease and economy of manufacture, or to take advantage of parts and tooling left over from earlier models. And sometimes, the engineers just get it right and come up with a successful design that is easily adaptable. I've always suspected a major reason for the decline of the US auto industry was when the Boomers all grew up and realized owning a faster car wasn't necessarily going to get them laid. Or superficial mods to a basic configuration designed primarily for ease and economy of manufacture, or to take advantage of parts and tooling left over from earlier models. And sometimes, the engineers just get it right and come up with a successful design that is easily adaptable.

I’ve always suspected a major reason for the decline of the US auto industry was when the Boomers all grew up and realized owning a faster car wasn’t necessarily going to get them laid.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2013/07/31/i-think-this-is-interesting/#comment-25796 bowser Fri, 02 Aug 2013 03:41:45 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=36002#comment-25796 What I find fascinating is that the same engine and transmission is used in Mustang racing cars, Cobra racing cars, sedans, light duty pickups, heavy duty pickups, and small RVs. Some of those would be high speed, lower torque, some of them would be lower speed and higher torque, and some in the middle. A Mustang would weigh about 2,600 pounds, my RV comes in at about 8,000 even, with the rear carrier. I know there are differences, such as camshafts, cranks and so on, but still it seems curious What I find fascinating is that the same engine and transmission is used in Mustang racing cars, Cobra racing cars, sedans, light duty pickups, heavy duty pickups, and small RVs.

Some of those would be high speed, lower torque, some of them would be lower speed and higher torque, and some in the middle. A Mustang would weigh about 2,600 pounds, my RV comes in at about 8,000 even, with the rear carrier.

I know there are differences, such as camshafts, cranks and so on, but still it seems curious

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2013/07/31/i-think-this-is-interesting/#comment-25778 ER Thu, 01 Aug 2013 15:31:30 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=36002#comment-25778 All I can do is relay the advice of Trevor, my old racing mechanic. "I can sell you parts that are fast, cheap, and are long lasting. You get to pick any two out of those three." All I can do is relay the advice of Trevor, my old racing mechanic.
“I can sell you parts that are fast, cheap, and are long lasting. You get to pick any two out of those three.”

]]> By: SteveS https://habitablezone.com/2013/07/31/i-think-this-is-interesting/#comment-25777 SteveS Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:14:02 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=36002#comment-25777 Personally I would keep the same set you have now and not change a thing. I don't think there is a need for a performance engine for your application and performance engines are not as reliable IMO. 74,000 miles on a engine is not very much so if something goes wrong with it rebuilding should not be a problem unless you cracked a cylinder wall or another part of the block. If you think there is a problem I would check the compression of all the cylinders and do a thorough diagnosis. There might be a minor problem that you can fix now so you don't have to spend thousands later. Those Windsor motors are pretty hardy and treasured compared to the Cleveland ones not because of where they were made but because of minor differences in design so staying with it makes sense to me. Personally I would keep the same set you have now and not change a thing. I don’t think there is a need for a performance engine for your application and performance engines are not as reliable IMO.

74,000 miles on a engine is not very much so if something goes wrong with it rebuilding should not be a problem unless you cracked a cylinder wall or another part of the block. If you think there is a problem I would check the compression of all the cylinders and do a thorough diagnosis. There might be a minor problem that you can fix now so you don’t have to spend thousands later.

Those Windsor motors are pretty hardy and treasured compared to the Cleveland ones not because of where they were made but because of minor differences in design so staying with it makes sense to me.

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