Construction to expand both plants began in Spring 2000. Essex Engine Plant has received a 22,500 m(2) (250,000 ft(2)) building expansion that includes a new production line for the final assembly of the new 3-valve 5.4-litre Triton V-8 engines, as well as a new crankshaft machining area.
Although full production occurs in 2003, plant manager Aaron McKey has confirmed that limited assembly of a three-valve V-8 engine for the Ford Falcon range in Australia is already under way.
"Canadian-built engines are powering the impressive new Ford Falcon a world away in Australia. By next year, our engines will also be powering the next generation of the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup. These are significant pride points for the 2,000 men and women employed at Essex Engine Plant," said McKey.
The new Triton(TM) engine represents the first V-8 power plant produced at Essex Engine Plant. It will be added to Essex' current production of the split-port 3.8-litre V-6 engine for the Ford Windstar and Mustang, and the split-port, 4.2-litre V-6 engine for the F-150 pickup.
Across town, Windsor Engine Plant has increased in size by some 25 percent, having received a 48,000m(2) (530,000 ft(2)) facility expansion.
The 2,400 employees at Windsor Engine Plant are primarily involved in the assembly of Ford's Triton family of 4.6- and 5.4-litre V-8, and 6.8-litre V-10 engines and the precision machining of several engine components such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, camshafts, crankshafts and connecting rods. The recent expansion provides for the assembly of 650,000 sets of cylinder heads and camshafts, plus the machining of additional cylinder heads, for the new 3-valve 5.4-litre Triton(TM) V-8 engine.
The new 5.4-litre Triton(TM) V-8 engine that will power Ford's next-generation F-150 pickup is designed with three valves per cylinder, variable-cam timing and a host of other features that provide increased power, refinement and fuel economy.