4.6 VS 5.0 Difference
- Thread starter COBRA |2
- Start date
Ruffrider said:I've had a 5.0 and currently have an 4.6 so heres my opinion.
The 5.0 is a better motor if you want to mod. like H/C/I and not get reemed in the A$$hole with bills. The 302 is also MUCH easier to work on. It was my first mustang and I don't think the '03 GT will ever be as much fun as the '88 GT just for the fact that I was 16 when I got the '88 and was just so excited to have a fun car.
The 4.6 is in my mind a better motor all around if you are using the car for a daily driver. Not that the '88 GT wasnt a good daily driver, but the 03 is smoother, more comfortable, and a lot better on gas than the 302 was. Only downside to the 4.6 is the amount of money it cost to mod the car, and the fact that I don't trust the internals for a second and I'm saving for a new shortblock at this very moment. Also didn't like the lowend but a set of 3.90s cured that.
If it was up to me I'd have both motors, the 5.0 to mod the hell out of and the 4.6 to just drive around and enjoy myself.
A Q for you since you have experienced the mod motored Stang with steeper gears.
I've driven mod motored GT's, 05GT's and a 99 Cobra (drove it many different times and the most of em all).
I was dissappointed with the lack of low end torque from all of em.
I've always wanted to drive a mod motored Stang with steeper gears so I gotta ask you if you think the 390's on your Stang put it on a equal basis with a heavily modded 5.0 Stang as far as low end torque is concerned?
Later
Grady
Having owned both (check sig.) and drove others as well (DOHC, other 5.0L's, etc...and raced every example:
The common misconception of the 4.6L is the "lack of torque". The torque is actually registered down low as well but with the smooth powerband and higher rpm capabilites it fools the SOTP with the actual torque production due to the higher rpm's feeling more powerfull and less linear to the "down-low" torque of the 5.0L.
This is especially true in the case of the DOHC (Cobra's, Mach 1's) in that the powerband is even higher and you have a "building up" sensation to the SOTP even though you would very likely see the same dynoed torque numbers down low...it is a SOTP confusion...that is all
Just so you know: 94-95 5.0L will have the SLIGHTEST of edges against a 96-98 gt...only because of a slight weight difference. 96-98 Cobra's are on par with a 99+ Gt with a slight edge to the Cobra...
I personally prefer the 4.6L "platform" overall for a daily driver...the car had no problems and ran so smoothly. I have also driven some high mileage 4.6's and experienced the same smoothness. This has a lot to do with age as well but I prefer the 4.6L overall.
The aftermarket prices and quotes for 4.6L performance are dropping and getting closer and closer to competing more "fairly" with the 5.0L...
The common misconception of the 4.6L is the "lack of torque". The torque is actually registered down low as well but with the smooth powerband and higher rpm capabilites it fools the SOTP with the actual torque production due to the higher rpm's feeling more powerfull and less linear to the "down-low" torque of the 5.0L.
This is especially true in the case of the DOHC (Cobra's, Mach 1's) in that the powerband is even higher and you have a "building up" sensation to the SOTP even though you would very likely see the same dynoed torque numbers down low...it is a SOTP confusion...that is all
Just so you know: 94-95 5.0L will have the SLIGHTEST of edges against a 96-98 gt...only because of a slight weight difference. 96-98 Cobra's are on par with a 99+ Gt with a slight edge to the Cobra...
I personally prefer the 4.6L "platform" overall for a daily driver...the car had no problems and ran so smoothly. I have also driven some high mileage 4.6's and experienced the same smoothness. This has a lot to do with age as well but I prefer the 4.6L overall.
The aftermarket prices and quotes for 4.6L performance are dropping and getting closer and closer to competing more "fairly" with the 5.0L...
50=teh win
cheap, easy to modify, easy to add cubes or replace with 351w.
but for some reason my 5.0 sounds half as mean as 4.6's that I leave in the dust???? I never understood that. they sound all nasty and scary and I'll all get intimidated but then I'll just plain pull on them with my bolt on 5.0 (fox body here)
one motor that is the shisnit. and ford motor sports needs to lower the price on it......the 5.0 cammer. its a dohc mod motor with the 4.6's 3.55 stroke and something like 3.7 bore. but its not just a bored out 4.6, its got the water jackets moved out and all types of nasty features
for my next project I wanna a 01 or 02 cobra and do the 5.0 cammer swap. add ported heads, cams, and a turbo. hy-a-bus-ays (sp?) look the **** out
cheap, easy to modify, easy to add cubes or replace with 351w.
but for some reason my 5.0 sounds half as mean as 4.6's that I leave in the dust???? I never understood that. they sound all nasty and scary and I'll all get intimidated but then I'll just plain pull on them with my bolt on 5.0 (fox body here)
one motor that is the shisnit. and ford motor sports needs to lower the price on it......the 5.0 cammer. its a dohc mod motor with the 4.6's 3.55 stroke and something like 3.7 bore. but its not just a bored out 4.6, its got the water jackets moved out and all types of nasty features
for my next project I wanna a 01 or 02 cobra and do the 5.0 cammer swap. add ported heads, cams, and a turbo. hy-a-bus-ays (sp?) look the **** out
My 2000 Gt with exhaust beat my 93 lx with all the bolt-ons/373's/electric fan/1.7RR's/full exhaust. The gears would allow me to out launch it with some sticky tires and then the Gt just had to play catch up and it did...
(Both being of equal skill)
super302
I'd do anything for free Bapples
89Stang
Founding Member
Ruffrider said:I've had a 5.0 and currently have an 4.6 so heres my opinion.
The 5.0 is a better motor if you want to mod. like H/C/I and not get reemed in the A$$hole with bills. The 302 is also MUCH easier to work on. It was my first mustang and I don't think the '03 GT will ever be as much fun as the '88 GT just for the fact that I was 16 when I got the '88 and was just so excited to have a fun car.
The 4.6 is in my mind a better motor all around if you are using the car for a daily driver. Not that the '88 GT wasnt a good daily driver, but the 03 is smoother, more comfortable, and a lot better on gas than the 302 was. Only downside to the 4.6 is the amount of money it cost to mod the car, and the fact that I don't trust the internals for a second and I'm saving for a new shortblock at this very moment. Also didn't like the lowend but a set of 3.90s cured that
If it was up to me I'd have both motors, the 5.0 to mod the hell out of and the 4.6 to just drive around and enjoy myself.
crap I mananged 28mpg on 87 octane averaging 75-80mph.
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