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Ford Essex 3.8 specs: 232 ci (3.8L) 6-cylinder, 3.80 x 3.40 in (96.5 x 86.4 mm) bore and stroke, 9.3:1 compression. Rated 155-200 hp, 1995–2003.
The Ford Essex 3.8 is oversquare — the 3.8" bore exceeds the 3.4" stroke by 11.8% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.4" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,050 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.739 is in the range most production engines fall in. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 38.7 ci (634 cc).
9.3:1 on iron heads is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 17 engines in the Ford 232ci family, all of them 232 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 9 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 155 to 200 hp across 1995–2003.
| Displacement | 232 ci / 3.8 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.8" |
| Stroke | 3.4" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Configuration | V6 |
| Compression ratio | 9.3:1 * |
| Rod length | 5.913" |
| Rod ratio | 1.739 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.118 |
* Compression ratio from a single source; not yet cross-verified.
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Firing order | 1-4-2-5-3-6 |
| Advertised HP | 155–200 hp |
| Years | 1995–2003 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | net | 200 @ 5000 * | — | 9.3:1 * |
| 2003 | net | 200 @ 4900 | 240 lb-ft @ 3600 | — |
Factory specification sheet. * Not yet cross-verified.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.118 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,400 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.739 — moderate — the range most production V8s fall in |
| Displacement per cylinder | 38.7 ci |
| Static compression | 9.3:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 155 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 1996 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 1997 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 1998 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 1999 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 2000 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 2001 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 2002 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
| 2003 | 200 hp | Essex 3.8 |
1 factory vehicle, 1995–2003. Each year opens that model's engine table.