Working in the USA has given me the opportunity to drive a few V8 cars (Old and New) and without any doubt, the best V8 presently on the market is the 4.6 modular engine fitted to the Mustang/GT Mustang. This engine is a short stroke V8, with Quad Cams, and still retains both torque and rev's well. In standard Cobra Spec it produces 385bhp (Can't remember the torque). It's a fantastic reliable engine that with simple traditional naturally aspirated form, can with simple mods produce the magic 400bhp, and remain reliable for years and years. Spend a little more (About $2000 US Dollars) and you can have a shorrocks supercharger fitted, which at a sensible boost level (About 8-10PSI) this engine will again produce a reliable 450 - 500 bhp. Spend a little more, and strip the engine and fit low comp pistons along with the same supercharger and end up with 500 + bhp all day long.

This is without doubt the best V8 which is readily available as a "crate motor" and easy to purchase from any of the Ford Specialist Tuning Companies in the US. It wouldn't cost much to get one shipped over either.

This conversion crossed my mind so many times, and I did contemplate doing it, but in the end I decided to stick with the cossie engine and keep the car as it was meant to be.

It is a very worthwhile conversion, and if anyone is contemplateing spending 5k + for a 400 - 500bhp cossie engine, then for the same money the could consider using the US V8 4.6L Unit. It could be done for the same money, but with the added advantage of total reliability. Obviously a cossie should remain a cossie, but for anything else, if money was no problem and I had the time to accuire all the bits needed, then the V8 is the way to go.