4.6 or 5.0 any major differences ?

[stang_fanatic]

Hi,

I am about to buy a Mustang GT Conv.,5-sp, either 94 or 96, I noticed that the major (only ?) difference is the engine that is either 4.6 or 5.0, hp seems to be the same.

I was wondering where I can get more info about which one to get and I was hoping people on this forum might know what are the pros/cons of getting 4.6 or 5.0

thanks !

 

[TheDamned]

get the 5.0
cheaper aftermarket stuff
very reliable
better sound

 

[bubba-dough]

get the 5.0
cheaper aftermarket stuff
very reliable

What he said. The only pro to a 96-98 is there isn't that much of a market for those years so you should be able to pick one up at a good price.

 

[nmcgrawj]

96-98 GT 4.6's = SLOW. Period. The cobra is the only worthwhile thing out of those years IMO.

94-95= more aftermarket...more power...easier to work on...cheaper to work on.

Both can go fast, i just think its easier on the 5.0. If it was a 99+ 4.6 then it might be a different story.

 

[urban96]

you can swap the PI (99-04) heads/intake and a good set of cams onto the 96-98's for a decent price and make just as much power as the 99+ cars.


but i would much rather have the TQ and sound of our motors

 

[1hot5.0]

The 4.6's are nice. Especially being OBD2. Thats the end of the advantages for the 96-98 in my opinion. I am on my third Mustang. I have had a 91 LX 5.0 with an auto, a 94 GT coupe with an auto, and I currently have another 94 GT coupe with an auto. The aftermarket for the 94-95 is alot more plentiful than it is for the 96-98, not to mention parts are cheaper, and the 5.0's are a little bit easier to work on imo.

With that said, I would get whatever you get a good deal on. I limited myself to a 94-95 when I was looking for my third stang, and I was having a pretty hard time finding one. Just my $.02. Good luck with your search!

 

[Rootus]

If you are going to leave it bone stock, get the best one you can find, which probably means newest. If you're going to mod, then you have to decide what your goals are. Neither is going to be that cheap to mod.

Dave

 

[Mac-man]

i am gonna have to disagree on the sound. the 4.6 sounds a lot more aggressive from the factory than a 5.0 and if u cam one of them things they sound good. if ultimate power is ur goal then u will wanna stick with a 5.0, but if u want a cruiser that gets excellent gas mileage and can still run well into the low 13/high 12's get the 4.6

 

[Grn92LX]

Anyone wanna place bets on how long before this turns into a 3+ page flame fest?

 

[Mac-man]

probably going to be pretty quickly, but he wanted suggestions so i gave him, as well as everyone else giving theres. i am gonna say by tonight though it wil hit page 3, and i am sure i will catch most of the flaming.

 

[urban96]

i am gonna have to disagree on the sound. the 4.6 sounds a lot more aggressive from the factory than a 5.0 and if u cam one of them things they sound good. if ultimate power is ur goal then u will wanna stick with a 5.0, but if u want a cruiser that gets excellent gas mileage and can still run well into the low 13/high 12's get the 4.6

the 99+ cars do sound pretty good from the factory, but when you start doing the rest of the exhaust on both cars 5.0 > 4.6

 

[bjl95mustang]

When I got mine I could have gotten a 96+ or a 94-95. I opted for the 94-95 because of the 5.0. I drove a few 96's when I was looking for a car and I still always came back to the 94-95.

It really depends on what you want to do with your car.

And one thing MOST of they guys in the 94-95 will say go with a 94-95 and if you asked this same question in the 96+ most of the guys will say 96+. Personally I would stick with the 5.0 Because the aftermarket parts are still cheaper.

 

[Engel]

They are both solid engines you cant go wrong either way however steer clear from 96-98 gt models. The 5.0 is a gruntier engine and the 4.6 is more refined. The 5.0 mods are generally cheaper and IMHO the engine is easier to work on. Take into account the 99+ cars are newer so its possible there will be less wear and tear, but don't let that scare you away from the 5.0 they rock

 

[Mac-man]

the 99+ cars do sound pretty good from the factory, but when you start doing the rest of the exhaust on both cars 5.0 > 4.6

i dont know bout this one. a 96-04 with a bassani x-pipe and slp catback is one of the most aggressive sounding cars there is. i havent yet heard a 5.0 that had the raspiness and the exhaust note to sound as aggressive as one of those. they might run stronger and be faster when modded, but they dont sound anywhere near as aggressive as a modular under WOT

 

[WhiteDevil]

i am gonna have to disagree on the sound. the 4.6 sounds a lot more aggressive from the factory than a 5.0 and if u cam one of them things they sound good. if ultimate power is ur goal then u will wanna stick with a 5.0, but if u want a cruiser that gets excellent gas mileage and can still run well into the low 13/high 12's get the 4.6

The only problem with that is that 4.6s you need TWO cams, which is more $. Plus you pretty much need a blower on a 96-98 GT to hit low 13s high 12s. But if you plan on serious modification either one will be great.

 

[Mac-man]

The only problem with that is that 4.6s you need TWO cams, which is more $. Plus you pretty much need a blower on a 96-98 GT to hit low 13s high 12s. But if you plan on serious modification either one will be great.

i had a 96 gt with a pi headswap, and full exhaust system with 4.10's, and i went 12.90's with drag radials at the track. with cams i was going 12.70's trapping over 105 mph. a friend of mine has the same set-up as i had and goes 13.20's @106 on 17 dr's .

 

[stang_fanatic]

ohh $hit thanks for the replies,

it seems both are killer rides , just 5.0 has cheeper parts, but then 5.0 are older cars so there are probably more cost of owning one

one thing left confusing is how come 5.0 and 4.6 have the same hp ?

thanks everyone !!!

 

[Mac-man]

ohh $hit thanks for the replies,

it seems both are killer rides , just 5.0 has cheeper parts, but then 5.0 are older cars so there are probably more cost of owning one

one thing left confusing is how come 5.0 and 4.6 have the same hp ?

thanks everyone !!!

both would definately make killer rides. the reason for the same horsepower rating is becuase to be honest the 96-98 were given the short end of the stick as far as hp goes. the reason the 96-98's dont make power is there intake doesnt flow worth anything and the cam profiles are rather tame. they revised these parts along with the heads in 99 and came up with the 260 horsepower 4.6's . but if u wanted most of that power without a lot of work simply swapping to the 99+ intake, and camshafts will give u most of that power. through a lot of research and testing the heads have actually been argued to flow as good or better than pi(99+) heads fully ported. but either way u go u wont be disappointed

 

[urban96]

a stang is a stag, i got love for em all... except the II's








j/k

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

3.8 for life!!