In the latest Mighty Car Mods episode they put a turbocharged 4 liter Ford 'Barra' straight six engine in a Toyota Cresta to go drag racing. It's an interesting engine I didn't know much about before - it looks like it would be a fun thing to import and use for something. 
Came here to post this very info. I thought it was odd they chose that engine over a 2jz, but at least it was different and did make good power. I'm kind of surprised they made 600hp and only Changed the valve springs.
Stumbled on it last night.
Did I really see a 9.9?!?!
I really like those guys! I'd like to have a week with them and Freiburger some day. We could get my junk running!
They make a LOT of power, with minimal work. It doesn't hurt that they have a 1/3rd more displacement than a 2jz, and I believe they come stock with a gt3540. Low cost 11sec daily driver sedans (xr6 turbo) are pretty commonplace here, and it's not unheard of to run 10sec on the stock turbo and motor (aside from valve springs) in a full weight daily.
Fordsix has a few australians who use the 4.0, it seems to be rather robust from the factory.
So, for 600hp they just up the boost on the stock turbo? I don't even think a 2jz can do that! Why is this the first time I've heard of this miracle engine? (Side note- that engine looked TALL. I imagine it has a really long stroke.)
Did we got some variety of that engine in us or canada?
In reply to physician:
no we just got the 300 i6 as the last i6 in the US from ford.
In reply to physician:
The closest thing the US/Canada got to that is the old 144/170/200/250 "Falcon Six", not to be confused with the 240/300 "big six" that was mostly found in trucks. Ford of Australia did their own thing with the Falcon six until they got to this beast. IIRC many parts interchange with the US engines before they went to OHC/DOHC, like the nice crossflow heads.
BrokenYugo wrote: In reply to physician: The closest thing the US/Canada got to that is the old 144/170/200/250 "Falcon Six", not to be confused with the 240/300 "big six" that was mostly found in trucks. Ford of Australia did their own thing with the Falcon six until they got to this beast. IIRC many parts interchange with the US engines before they went to OHC/DOHC, like the nice crossflow heads.
Aussie land also got the big 6. the best heads you can get for the 300 are the rare aussie heads
How common is said Barra? I sort a want one. For...reasons.
It was Ford's answer to the V8 Commodore. Pretty common down under from what I recall.
mndsm wrote: How common is said Barra? I sort a want one. For...reasons.
If you don't mind the shipping time from down under, they are common as dirt on eBay.... just hold on to your wallet.
I guess we were not allowed to have such nice engines because they would have out shone the SBF?
The Newer falcons here were also available with a v8, so I don't think that was it. Everything from 302s to factory supercharged 5.0 coyotes. The 5.4 naturally aspirated mod motor in the falcon had 422hp in its last iteration. Aussies definitely like their modern muscle cars.
So has anyone put boost to a strait six 200? I had a 79 zephyr wagon with one and that car would have been so much better with some boost.
Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: The Newer falcons here were also available with a v8, so I don't think that was it. Everything from 302s to factory supercharged 5.0 coyotes. The 5.4 naturally aspirated mod motor in the falcon had 422hp in its last iteration. Aussies definitely like their modern muscle cars.
It was the answer to the V8. I remember from reading the magazines of the era that it was also viewed as a bit of a poor cousin, and there was much rejoicing when the V8 Falcon returned. It is funny that Aussies love the muscle sedan, but they're so uptight about speeding these days. It was a little more relaxed when I lived there in the late 80s.
Why do the names Falcon and Commodore sound so much cooler than things like Impala to me?
Wish they'd include a final price/cost in those segments. Prolly breathtaking.
Sounds like we need to "overnight parts from Ozland..."
BrokenYugo wrote: In reply to physician: The closest thing the US/Canada got to that is the old 144/170/200/250 "Falcon Six", not to be confused with the 240/300 "big six" that was mostly found in trucks. Ford of Australia did their own thing with the Falcon six until they got to this beast. IIRC many parts interchange with the US engines before they went to OHC/DOHC, like the nice crossflow heads.
The old 300 big six was actually a pretty good engine - they were mainly meant to run forever in a truck, but you could get some performance out of them as well. A buddy bought a new F-100 back in 1978 with a 300 six, he swapped the head (I believe from the 240 six) to increase compression, and put on a Clifford four barrel manifold and exhaust header, and it ran pretty well.
Of course, there's no comparison to the new tech of the Barra engine.
Keith Tanner wrote: Why do the names Falcon and Commodore sound so much cooler than things like Impala to me?
Because you're Canadian?
In reply to mndsm:
Common, although Turbo motors less so and are priced accordingly. but an NA Barra can be had for a couple of hundred dollars if you feel like opening it up and swapping pistons, rods and the head gasket.
If anyone seriously and genuinely wants to get hold of one of these, I'd be willing to help facilitating such shenanigans. Same goes for most Aussie market only stuff.
In reply to dean1484:
I've seen a few boosted 250 crossflows, so I'd say it's a similar process for the 200's
daeman wrote: In reply to mndsm: Common, although Turbo motors less so and are priced accordingly. but an NA Barra can be had for a couple of hundred dollars if you feel like opening it up and swapping pistons, rods and the head gasket. If anyone seriously and genuinely wants to get hold of one of these, I'd be willing to help facilitating such shenanigans. Same goes for most Aussie market only stuff.
We need to get a quote on shipping a dozen to the States. Seriously. Just so we'd know how much it would cost. I think one of those in a Fox body Fairmont/Zephyr would berkeleying ROCK...
dean1484 wrote: So has anyone put boost to a strait six 200? I had a 79 zephyr wagon with one and that car would have been so much better with some boost.
several, the most infamous being lincs bone stock build. blowing through the stock one barrel he managed to get the car into the 11's in the 1/4 mile at 28psi. Car finally lifted the head at 32 psi. Alot of mild 8-10 psi builds around fordsix
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