4.6 vs 5.0 engine weights

E5 Designs · May 15, 2007

Hello All,
I have been doing some research on a resto rod project for my 84 Convertible. I have found some interesting weights of the 4.6L engine versus the 5.0L engine. The weight of the aluminum block version is typically listed as 425LBS whereas the 5.0L iron block is typically listed as 411LBS. I find this number weird when I compare the spec sheet on Darts Iron block 302 @ 160lbs and Sean Highlands’ book quotes the 4.6L Aluminum block at 85.40 lbs. With all accessories, water pumps, AC, intakes and such pretty much weighing the same I can’t see a 5.0 overcoming a 74.60LBS weight handicap. Any insight anyone has would be appreciated.
Thanks

twogts4us · May 15, 2007

The typical 4.6L Mustang block is not aluminum, though the 4V Cobra and 2V Explorer block is aluminum.
The 4.6 block is definitely stronger than the 5.0. The 4.6 has cross bolted main caps for starters, plus much more material and simply greater design strength than the ol' 5.0.

XtorT'r · May 15, 2007

Fully assembled 5.o has 1 cam and smaller heads, at least I think the heads are smaller. sohc modular has 2 cams and larger heads, dohc modular has 4 cams and of course even bigger heads. Modular blocks are friggin huge in comparison because of the 90 degree angle vrs 60 degree's of a 5.0.

rattmeis · May 16, 2007

5.0's are 90 degree!

XtorT'r · May 16, 2007

rattmeis said:
5.0's are 90 degree!

Well damn.. I knew I should have verified that before I shot my mouth off..

E5 Designs · May 17, 2007

I didn't say that size was a problem. All engine components weigh the same, ie AC, alternator, exhaust manifolds and such. There is no way that a 5.0 can overcome that kind of weight penalty even if the 4.6 has 4 cams. I think the engine weight chart is a scam as it is not weighing both engines with the same equipment on it.

XtorT'r · May 17, 2007

I dunno the 4v's have a lot of hardware on them. the cams and supporting hardware add up. Some one here must work at a shop that sees these engines all the time. I know from swapping my engine I could get a feeling for which one weighed more.

E5 Designs · May 18, 2007

XtorT'r said:
I dunno the 4v's have a lot of hardware on them. the cams and supporting hardware add up. Some one here must work at a shop that sees these engines all the time. I know from swapping my engine I could get a feeling for which one weighed more.

Thanks,
But the 5.0 has external steel mounting brackets for its accessories where as the 4.6 accesoires mount directly to the Aluminum block. So then i figure that any weight penalty on the 4.6 with the cams would offset the weight of the brackets on the accesories on the 5.0.

Just for general info the 4.6 Alu block was only used on the DOHC platform.

XtorT'r · May 18, 2007

E5 Designs said:
Thanks,
But the 5.0 has external steel mounting brackets for its accessories where as the 4.6 accesoires mount directly to the Aluminum block. So then i figure that any weight penalty on the 4.6 with the cams would offset the weight of the brackets on the accesories on the 5.0.

Just for general info the 4.6 Alu block was only used on the DOHC platform.

No it wasn't, I have an aluminum block from a sohc explorer. it only took one other guy to help me lift that crate to chest hight.
But like I said, it might be best to hear from someone that works on these normally. There are things you might not be thinking about. For one thing I had no idea that 5.0's had steel mounting brackets. But it takes far less steel than it takes for aluminum to make a solid structure, so even though the modulars use an aluminum bracket added to the front cover it might not weigh that much more. But once again I've never even seen this thing, I'm just guessing 5-10lbs

I'm guessing that each modular sohc head weighs maybe 5lbs more than a 5.0's head I'm guessing a dohc head would add another 5lbs or so. I can't remember about how much my cams weighed maybe 10-15lbs, and I think you were comparing to a 4v. That leaves only a little bit for mystery weights. Remember the internals might not be the same either, most modulars use those silicon pistons and powder metal rods. I'm not sure what the 5.0's your looking at have but that's some weight right there to have quality parts

E5 Designs · May 18, 2007

XtorT'r said:
No it wasn't, I have an aluminum block from a sohc explorer. it only took one other guy to help me lift that crate to chest hight.
But like I said, it might be best to hear from someone that works on these normally. There are things you might not be thinking about. For one thing I had no idea that 5.0's had steel mounting brackets. But it takes far less steel than it takes for aluminum to make a solid structure, so even though the modulars use an aluminum bracket added to the front cover it might not weigh that much more. But once again I've never even seen this thing, I'm just guessing 5-10lbs

I'm guessing that each modular sohc head weighs maybe 5lbs more than a 5.0's head I'm guessing a dohc head would add another 5lbs or so. I can't remember about how much my cams weighed maybe 10-15lbs, and I think you were comparing to a 4v. That leaves only a little bit for mystery weights. Remember the internals might not be the same either, most modulars use those silicon pistons and powder metal rods. I'm not sure what the 5.0's your looking at have but that's some weight right there to have quality parts

Dude I just learned something new about the explorer that I didn't know. What year range was the alu block used in it? I'm assuming that the explorer block prob had a forged crank too. I do know that the dohc heads will interchange on all modular blocks if you ever want to upgrade to a dohc... Thus the name modular. I have also found aluminum blocks in the Mark VIII, Aviator, and the Continenal (which is FWD not good). I'm relatively sure that those engine weights on the net are not weighing engines with the same parts on them.:SNSign: thanks.

E5 Designs · May 18, 2007

Oh yeah, I brought Sean Hyland's book on 4.6 engine building. It has awesome information in it on the 4.6. That is where I got the block weights on the 4.6 from which is what made me think about it vs the 5.0.

Rickey_Bobby · May 18, 2007

Put an LS7 in it...

*flame suit on*

4.6 vs 5.0 engine weights

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