I know. I never understood why the other V engines couldn't be done like that. Why did Ford have to go and hang the other intakes over a valve cover where they are in the way of things?
Im guessing because of the taller deck heights of the V8s/I6s and the 3.0 being slated for low hooded tauruses it was pry for clearence issues.
Good to hear your 2.9 runs good. I take flack for it all the time but ive always felt the 2.9 even in stock form could hold its own against even the "mighty" 4.0. I guess to me the 4.0 was always kinda dissapointing considering its displacement advantage over the 2.9. For being 1.1L bigger i always thought it shoulda been wayyy ahead of the 2.9, and to some it is, but ive never really seen it. A 2.9/5sp its a tough little combo to beat, and wayyy above the crap it was competeing against (2.8 GM, Nissans 3.0 and yotas V6 of that time), replacing it with the 3.0 really was a step backwards.
Ive driven a few 3.0/5sp trucks, and just letting up the clutch and stabbing the throttle from an idle roll doesnt give that "snap" the 2.9 does. I never drove a OHV 4.0 with a 5sp, but the auto ones, while admittingly stronger then the 2.9/autos, just were kinda, meh.