By G.R. Whale
Ford may be able to keep secret the location of F-150 development mules that might be running around with the Baby Power Stroke 4.5-liter turbodiesel V-6 under the hood, but you can already buy one of these engines at many Ford dealers--in commercial-duty LCF (low cab forward) cargo haulers. And our pals at the Vista Ford Commercial Division in Oxnard, California (805/983-6511; www.vistaoxnard.com) kindly loaned us the keys to one.
The engine in the LCF is an International-built VT275, rated at 200 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque--basically a 6.0-liter Power Stroke V-8 with two cylinders lopped off. It's backed by a floor-shifted TorqShift five-speed automatic--the same one used in Super Duty pickups. The sequential twin turbochargers sit in the block valley and feed a forward-facing intake. All filters are up high and identical to 6.0-liter Power Stroke part numbers for easy serviceability. From our initial look and unofficial measurements, there's nothing here to suggest the 4.5-liter TD wouldn't comfortably fit under an F-150 hood.
International VT275 V-6 Turbodiesel
On our drive, it quickly fired cold and idled like a lumpy, noisy 6.0-liter, neither of which was a surprise. Fewer cylinders means more apparent pulses, something that could easily be reduced with different motor mounts, and, compared with a midlevel or luxury pickup, insulation on a commercial chassis is questionable. We'd expect a much quieter version in a pickup or SUV; besides, in the LCF, you're sitting right on top of the motor.
A short drive demonstrated quick spoolup, and we saw no smoke at various throttle positions, even cold. On boost, where the turbos mask exhaust pulses, it sounds much closer to the larger 6.0-liter in character, pulling strongly in the 10,000-pound empty cargo-box truck we test drove. Immediately, our minds, always thirsting for backcountry adventure, turned to putting this powerful version in something like the H3. Since commercial engines are often de-rated for durability, it wouldn't surprise us to see the VT275 rated at 240-255 horsepower in light-duty trim, with the torque limited to the same 440 pound-feet of torque to avoid scattering U-joints or ring-gear teeth.