even the superchargers? my next door neighbor has a 2002 taurus and its a 24v . i dont know the liters but i dont understand why the 3800 is so low.

It'* really all about displacement and valve size. If the valves are big enough, why have more? I don't know the displacement of the Taurus, but I can tell you there isn't one out there that can hang with even a NA Bonneville. Doesn't say much for their 24 valves, does it?

Ok, what gives? I've got a second opinion from someone else.....my engine looks more like a 94 than a 92, I redline at 5600, not 5200, and I have roller rockers. Did Pontiac start running the 225hp SC part way thru the production run in 93? I know they pulled a switch like this in 1988. Both of us are pretty sure I've got a 225 in my 93, and all indicators point that way. I don't think we have any other active members with a 92 or 93 SSEi, do we?

Somebody else with a trained eye take a look under my hood:

http://home.attbi.com/~bill.wren/

Yes, it'* impossible to tell by just looking, but then compare to the specs I listed above.
What the hell do I have?

I didnt understand why our valves are 12. I do know that my engine is equipped with 205hp @ 5200rpm 230 ft lb torque

Our engines are pushrod, cam-in-block, with just one intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder (12V total - since there are six cylinders). Very simple setup, but very effective, cheap to produce, small to package, and reliable. It does the job well for what it was intended for, which is maintaining the best mileage and driveability (with low-end torque) for a passenger car.

Just because an engine is 24V or DOHC or makes more HP/L does not make it better. It all depends on the application it'* being used for.

This gets even better. Chiltons #28200 page 1-11 (SFI-*=Sequential fuel injection, supercharged):
________________________________
Year Vin Inj type hp torque
1992 L SFI 170 220
1992 1 SFI-* 205 260

1993 L SFI 170 220
1993 1 SFI-* 205 260

1994 L SFI 170 220
1994 1 SFI-* 205 260

1995 L SFI 170 220
1995 K MFI 205 230
1995 1 SFI-* 240 280
______________________________

Ok, NOW WHAT?? It sez there NEVER was a 225hp Vin1 SC engine. It also sez the 94 was only 205, and that there were 3 engines offered in 95? I'm pretty sure THAT isn't true. So here'* a comparison. In the last 3 weeks, I've spanked 2 different Mustang GT'*, that weigh within 100lbs of my curb weight. One of them, I beat at 2 consecutive lights.....pretty easily. Depending on where you look these 96 Mustang GT'* are either 205 or 210hp. Now I know there'* alot more to it, but BASICALLY it'* thrust to weight ratio, and I beat them handily....and I have roller rockers, the higher redline, an engine that looks more like the 94 than the 92, and so on. Keep in mind I'm not heavliy modded. But then again, the 225 never existed, right :?:

And the icing on the cake: http://caranddriver.radicalmedia.com...onneville.html
And THIS is a 1992 with an OPTIONAL 225hp 3800SC!

Somebody got an explanation :?:

Your manual is wrong, I think.

And that C&D review is of a '95 Bonne,. which had the 205hp Series II standard and a supercharged 3800 (225hp) as an option, even in the SEs.

You can tell it'* not a 1992 by simply comparing the front grill in the picture to mine.

Yeah, I figured all that out. I knew for certain the 95 and 95 were 225hp, but the manual doesn't even mention their existence. That still leaves my oddball 93 out in the cold. I need to track down a 92SSEi and take another look under the hood, then compare that to mine and SSEi95'*. JRs3800 and I are already convinced I don't have what I'm supposed to in this thing (notTHIS thing...the computer....I'm talking about my car.....just in case you hadn't had any coffee yet).

Thanks for the help, Csprague. Now take a look at the tranny post!

Actually... I was at the auto store a month or so ago and I noticed 3 engines available for the '95 when I was looking in a book they had for thermostats. The ones you listed:

1995 L SFI 170 220
1995 K MFI 205 230
1995 1 SFI-* 240 280

sound about right for what I saw. Possibly they had made a new engine but there was something hokey with it so they went back to plan B, which is what we all have? Who knows.... :?

This is great. Let'* muddy the waters some more! I'm just going to put the best info I can into the timeline, and if there are possible discrepancies, I'll say so in the proper section. For instance, I've found references to the fact that Pontiac made an SLE Bonneville in 1993. I call BULLSHIT on that one. My owners manual states only 3 models, and most other references say nothing about it. Go figure. At the very least, we'll have something better to reference than we do right now.....sifting through old posts and questionable sources.

Thanks for the input!