[Chowder Head]

I would like to learn as much as I can from the 4.6 motor as I can and maybe I might even considering getting one. But can you guys answer some questoins I have about them?

1.) Whats the best year to get a 4.6? For both the SN95 body style and the 99 and up design.

2.) Do parts for a 4.6 cost more than a 5.0 engine? Any differences?

3.) Do 4.6 motors cost more money if you pay someone to install stuff than a 5.0? Like if you wanted to install the same heads on both type of engines, will it cost more for the 4.6 if you want someone to install it?

4.) What is the ride difference between a 4.6 and a 5.0? I think the 5.0 has better low end torque but I'm not sure.

5.) If you were to start modding a stock 4.6 motor, where would you go? What's the biggest restriction of the 4.6 motor?

6.) If you had a 5.0 and you wanted like 500 horsepower, you would probably get a 331 or a 347 or possibly a 351 and above. What would you have to do to a 4.6 motor if you wanted that kind of power?

7.) Do parts cost more for the 4.6 than the 5.0 motor?

8.) How is the reliablity of these motors? I want something to last.

9.) Does a 4.6 get better gas mileage than a 5.0? If so than by how much?

10.) Any engine or car bugs with any of the years I should look for if I were to get one?

That's pretty much all I can think of right now. Other than the questions I listed, please give me your personal pros/cons about the 4.6 motor. Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[97GTstang]

1-sn95 best year probably be 98, 99+ all the years are good as far as I know, I would probably look for 2000+ instead of a 99 b/c they usually have some bugs during first year of production.

2-Cost of Parts are probably about the same now. They may be slightly more but not a huge difference.

3-well for something like heads or cams it will be more. The 4.6 is alot different than the 5.0 and it can be a real PITA to rip down to install that stuff. So yed the install will definetly be more money and more time consuming.

4-5.0 better low end, 4.6 better mid and upper rpm. 96-98 specs and 5.0 specs are very similar, stock not much difference in power. Other night i raced a modified 5.0 w/ exhaust, intake, and u/d's and we were about even up to 70 then we both let off. He had me by a fender, but look at my mods, compared to what he had.

5-well biggest restriction on 96-98 4.6's is the npi intake cams and heads. But other than the all the 4.6's have restrictive air boxs and exhaust.

6-500 hp out of a 4.6.... it would be tough you would probably be better off getting a 4.6 DOHC and doing it that way. On a 4.6 sohc you would need alot of work to get to 500.

7-you asked the same question as 2

8-both are very reliable motors

9-not positive on this one but i would guess it gets better mileage. But who cares, i doubt you are buying a stang for mileage. And once you start moding your car mileage goes out the window anyway.

10-i would stay away from any 96-98 with the plstic crossover intake, b/c it will crack. Other than that there are really no bugs i can think of. Unless you start looking into cobra's, b/c the 96-98 cobras needed a special upgrade from the factory to increase its hp to where ford rated it at. I am not sure what the upgrade consisted of but if your gonna go that route make sure you find out that info.

IMO the 4.6 is a great motor. I would say get a 4.6 since they are readily available right now, and there is now alot more mods for the 4.6 then a few years ago.

[Chowder Head]

Hey thanks for that info man.

But I got another question. What's the difference between SOHC and DOHC motors?
Thanks.

[97GTstang]

well if you are familiar with the 5.0's they have a single cam down the center and pushrod's connect to the valves to open and close em. Well on the new mod motors they put the cams on top of the vales. Hence the term "over head cams" (ohc). Now single and double refers to whether it is a 16v motor of 32v. GT's have the 16 v, 2v per cylinder motors. These motors only have one cam on top, and the 32v engine's (cobra motors) have 4 valves per cylinder and 2 cams on top of each head in stead of one. So gt= SOHC 16v, and cobra=DOHC 32v. The DOHC motor will make more power, that is why I say if you wanna hit 500 hp then you are probably better off doing it with a DOHC motor. The DOHC is also a stronger motor than the sohc. Dont get me wrong though, it is possible to hit 500 hp with a SOHC but you will need new heads, intake, cams, every bolt on, full exhaust, and power adder/s. However, for example with the DOHC like the 03/04 cobra, stock it has 390 hp (underrated), I have heard of people just adding a kenne belle blowzilla to there 03 cobra and hitting 500 hp with just the supercharger swap. So as you can see the DOHC's produce more hp.

[96greenGT]

Originally Posted by 97GTstang

Unless you start looking into cobra's, b/c the 96-98 cobras needed a special upgrade from the factory to increase its hp to where ford rated it at. I am not sure what the upgrade consisted of but if your gonna go that route make sure you find out that info.

96-98 Cobra's never needed the upgrade, Fords little disaster with the Cobra was in 99 when most of them weren't making the advertised 320 HP.

[meatball]

97GT Stang took some real time answering youir questions w/his usual knowlege and good advice but I need to step in w/my two cents.

If I was starting over w/my $25,000 (and I might) I'd go 5.0 - engine parts are significantly cheaper, more choices, etc. - for example, a decent set of heads for the 5.0 might only be 66% of the cost that they'll be for the 4.6 and the 4.6 2V maybe more head-limited than the 5.0s. The cost to up the cubic inches by 10% on the 4.6 is easily 30% more than changing a 302 to a 347. Pretty easy to swap 5.0 heads in the car; pretty difficult to swap 4.6 heads w/o pulling the motor. There are no "aftermarket heads" for the 4.6 2V - the few companies selling head packages are differentiated by the CNC porting packages they use on the factory heads whereas you can readily purchase cyl heads from several well-known companies in a variety of profiles meant for a wide spectrum of needs; you want alum heads for your 302 for the street?; you want steel heads for your class-specific race car? - just write the check. Parts DO cost more (remember there's two cams or four cams instead of one); there are fewer companies offering fewer choices for more money.

500 hp from a streetable 2Valve (sohc) 4.6?? Do-able but would definately be blower or turbo (and have the forged internals and big $$ heads to work right) 500hp from a streetable 4.6 4-Valve car (cobra, mach 1) - MUCH easier, change the blower pulley on a 03 Cobra and drive home.

Hardest part of building a nice 5.0 car is finding a nice body to start with - The 5.0 is easier to for anyone to work on, cheaper, more readily available parts, much wider choices of go-fast equipment both retail and used.

Have you ever driven anything close to 500hp on the street?? - I think you'd be happy w/considerably less hp.

[97GTstang]

sorry 96greengt my mistake... i dunno why but i thought the 96-98's needed the fix too. Thanks for correctin me.

[box6x9xer]

Meh..500 and above i'd go for a 200$ 351 roller windsor+c6 rebuild project and a turbo or nos.

They go for dirt cheap..and they really are tough above 500..same can't be said for all above sadly.

Blow/juice a 5.0/4.6 but for big big numbers **** it u really wanna lose $ when it blows?u think not i'm sure.

[CobraBoy]

Originally Posted by box6x9xer

Meh..500 and above i'd go for a 200$ 351 roller windsor+c6 rebuild project and a turbo or nos.

They go for dirt cheap..and they really are tough above 500..same can't be said for all above sadly.

Blow/juice a 5.0/4.6 but for big big numbers **** it u really wanna lose $ when it blows?u think not i'm sure.

worship the avatar.....

[SuRfErPuNk22]

Originally Posted by CobraBoy

worship the avatar.....