[CougarGT]

Advantages/Disadvantages - Thanks to Brad Noon for these.

Advantages for the 2001+ 3.0L are:


-The injector position is better in the 2001 intake/head design.
-The plastic intake conducts less heat to the incoming air charge.
-The water pump placement is similar to the factory 2.5 water pump placement, meaning fewer modifications to the hoses.
-The high velocity oval port design used along with revised intake cams provide better midrange power without the drop off produced by the older design at the RPM when the secondaries opened.
-SVT cams swap right in.

The Disadvantages for the 2001+ 3.0L are:


-The plastic intake can't take very much porting without fear of cracking.
-The heads don't accept the 2.5L intakes without an adapter plate.
-They're more expensive to buy initially than the older 3.0L would be.


Advantages for the '98-'99 3.0L engines are:


-Cheaper price (most expensive one I've gotten was $500 delivered for this year of 3.0L full engine assembly, including harness) allows you to purchase better than stock parts to replace worn parts for about the same price as the 2001 would cost initially.
-The 2.5L intakes fit the 3L heads without modifications.
-Using the 3.0L heads would require an electric water pump. Could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. For this case, it's good that you got a cheaper price on the engine itself, so that you can pay the $300 for the water pump and controller (never pay list price, LOL!). Plus you can have fun with the extra 5-7 HP that it saves in parasitic losses over the factory pump.


Disadvantages for the '98-'99 3.0L are:


-Higher mileage blocks may require more machine work to return to the road.
-Use of aftermarket water pump may be required, which involves a custom installation.