Citing waning demand, Ford shifts workers away from 5.0L V8 engine production.

According to a report from Automotive News, the Blue Oval is dropping one of three production shifts at its engine plant in Windsor, Ontario. The change will occur in October thanks to an apparent softening of demand for the venerable 5.0L V8 in its F-Series pickup trucks.

Right now, shoppers at Ford stores are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a power team for their F-Series. The base 3.3L naturally-aspirated V6 makes 290 horsepower, on through to the 325hp 2.7L EcoBoost and 3.5L EcoBoost which is now available in 375 horse and 450 horse flavours. Add in the 3.0L PowerStroke and aforementioned 395hp 5.0L to round out the options sheet.

It’s easy to see the overlap, then. The 3.5L EcoBoost has effectively replaced the mighty V8 in Ford’s pecking order, with its marketing arm (and a gravelly-voiced Denis Leary) fully entrenched in singing its praises. In fact, the High Output 3.5L makes more than 25% extra torque than the octopot. The irony of using an F-150 trim in which the EcoBoost is highly touted for this story’s lead image is not lost on your author.

Despite all this, your author remains enamoured with the exhaust note of a burly V8. This remains my sole complaint with the 510lb.-ft EcoBoost in the F-150 Limited and Raptor, as the thing sounds like Marilyn Manson screaming swear words into a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Keeping a V8 on the options list would placate traditionalists (*raises hand*) but at a cost.

There is also an argument to be made that by not offering as many V8s, Ford is driving down demand for that engine all on their own. If fewer are available, then fewer will be bought, leading to a downward spiral. The cynical amongst us might say this is Ford’s plan all along.

Workers affected by the shift cut will be offered work at the Windsor Engine Plant Annex to support 7.3-litre engine production. That’s a mill we can’t wait to try in the Super Duty.