The Boss 290 engine is special for a number of reasons. To start with, it's the only quad-cam small block V8 engine in Australia for under $100 large. Secondly, it's arguably the most powerful Australian-built V8 on offer. It may be trailing the expensive Callaway-tuned 300kW 5.7-litre mill of the HSV GTS models by 10kW, but it spits out more torque - 10Nm more.
The quad camshafts really do make this mill worth it's weight in gold, which would be a lot, 'coz this engine's massive! But even with an 80-odd kilogram increase over the Falcon's Turbo six, it still moves with lightning pace.
While peak torque of 520Nm doesn't arrive until 4500rpm, the engine is very flexible, offering a large glut of usable torque from as low as 2000rpm. But in addition to the copious amounts of torque, the Boss likes to rev, and all the way until the 5800rpm redline the engine will be baying for more, pouring on speed at an exponential rate.
Peak power of 290kW arrives @ 5500rpm and at this engine speed the clearly audible roar is profoundly moving. With a legit stainless steel exhaust sytem with extractors, this V8 warbles, rumbles and then barks ferociously at anyone who tries to dominate. Try being the operative word here.
The engine has 4-valves per cylinder [32 in total], chain-driven quad overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, a cast-iron block, aluminium alloy head and a 'premium fuel only' 10.5:1 compression ratio.
While the manual gearbox makes better use of the available torque, the auto slusher is still a very nice piece of kit, able to hit almost 90km/h in first and about 140 in second. The sport shift mode works very well with the larger engine [when compared to the turbo six] and puts the power down nice and fluently.
Known internally as the M97-019, the auto 'box is built by BTR and uses improved internals when compared to the standard Falcon automatic. A new low-stall torque converter is also fitted and when throttling off in the upper reaches of the rev range, there's a very V8 Supercar-esque transmission whine that adds to the experience.
The five-speed manual gearbox, supplied by Tremec and codenamed the TR3650, was used on the TS50 AUIII model - it's ability to cope with massive torque one of the reasons behind its implementation.
The shifter itself is a classy Momo stick, and it shifts between gates quite nicely, though the 1st-2nd upchange and 3rd-2nd downchange would sometimes get snagged slightly. There's a little bit of notchiness involved, but generally speaking it's a joy to use.
The feedback from the variable-valve timing capable engine via the gearstick is quite intense, and is a constant reminder of the rampant power on tap.
The clutch is nicely weighted [I was expecting it to be heavier] and engaging gears was seldom a problem, nor even a chore, thanks to a large 280mm clutch plate.
You get a slippery diff as part of the package and beyond the performance aspect of this brilliant engine, the sensory characteristics will put a smile on your face every time you bury the foot.
Ford's bad-boy Boss 290 mill is a real winner. It's got an abundance of power and torque right across the rev range, it's tractable and responsive, it sounds spectacular and it's highly refined, giving it more appeal than other low-tech V8s on the market.
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