• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

4.6 vs 5.0??

  • Thread starter Thread starter StangVert00
  • Start date Start date Jan 3, 2004

StangVert00

New Member
Mar 2, 2003
234
0
0
Stoneham, MA
Jan 3, 2004
#1
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #1
Please forgive my ignorance, but why would a 4.6L V8 Mustang have more horsepower then a 5.0L V8 Mustang?

On another note, could someone please explain to me what a Mustang "Fox Body" is?

Again, sorry for my ignorance. Some guys at work have 5.0 L Mustangs and their HP is not as high as mine. (stock-no mods)

Thanks,

StangVert00
'00 Performance Red GT 'Vert
 
0

03GTnewbie

New Member
Jul 18, 2003
34
0
0
East Tenn
Jan 3, 2004
#2
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #2
Well if I am wrong and I probally will be. Someone here will correct me. I think a foxbody mustang is an mid 80's mustang you know the box shaped one. As for ya other question I don't know.
 

Wills Black 98

New Member
Dec 16, 2002
2,455
0
0
Western North Carolina
Jan 3, 2004
#3
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #3
fox body is the style before the 94's. the 4.6 has much more technology in it, thats my guess as to why its got more horsepower!
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Jan 3, 2004
#4
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #4
StangVert00 said:
Please forgive my ignorance, but why would a 4.6L V8 Mustang have more horsepower then a 5.0L V8 Mustang?
Click to expand...

Because it breathes better. The early 4.6s didn't actually; they (1996-1998)produced 215 & 225 (98) flywheel HP which is about what the 5.0s did. In 1999, the introduction of the "PI" - peformance improvement - heads, cams and manifold netted better airflow and more power. Of course, a 5.0 with aftermarket heads, manifold and whatnot can also make crazy power...

On another note, could someone please explain to me what a Mustang "Fox Body" is?
Click to expand...

In the late 1970s, the Ford Fairmont was built on a platform known internally at Ford as the "Fox" platform. The Mustang at that time was also built on that same platform. This continued up until around 1993 I think when the platform was revised slightly and called the "SN-95" platform. So any Mustang built between 1979 and 1993 is called a "Fox" Mustang.
 

98LazerGT

New Member
Sep 17, 2003
47
0
0
San Diego
Jan 3, 2004
#5
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #5
A fox body mustang is a 79-93. I think. It's pretty much understood that if you are talking about a fox body you are talking about a 79-93. That was the chassis that it was built on, and it was the same one as the fairmont.

I had a whole spill as to why the 4.6 can make more horsepower but I couldn't think of a way to put it into words so that I could understand it...much less anyone else.
 
4

4.6modular

New Member
Dec 5, 2003
141
0
0
Springfield, MO
Jan 3, 2004
#6
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #6
As said earlier the breathing capabilities of a 99+ GT is better due to the technology. And again it's Ford so who knows. The same reason their are v-6's making more hp then most v-8's who knows
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
Jan 3, 2004
#7
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #7
Its the amazing cams!!!! Nuh but its just the way they made the 4.6s. Biggest thing that sucks about the 4.6 is the fact that it doesn't has many after market parts and it hurts your pockets.
 

tontot77

Do I look like a :taco: in this picture?
Apr 2, 2003
409
0
16
Dyer Indiana
Jan 3, 2004
#8
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #8
ohc's and compression
 

FallenPhoenix

New Member
Nov 22, 2003
911
0
0
Odessa Tx
Jan 3, 2004
#9
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #9
Mostly the power is in the heads, a simple swap of 5.0 heads can net up to 50HP (I've seen it)
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
Jan 3, 2004
#10
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #10
FallenPhoenix said:
Mostly the power is in the heads, a simple swap of 5.0 heads can net up to 50HP (I've seen it)
Click to expand...

You don't know what your talking about or what you seen. LOL j/k bro
 

98stangyellow

New Member
Aug 6, 2003
6
0
0
surrey b.c.
Jan 3, 2004
#11
  • Jan 3, 2004
  • #11
The 4.6L Romeo SOHC was introduced in 1991 as the first born in an all new family of engines for Ford. It had a rigid, deep-skirted block with cross-bolted mains, long rods that gave it a favorable rod length-to-stroke ratio, a lightweight crank and pistons, and SOHC aluminum heads that incorporated all the latest engineering theory with ports and chambers that were designed to make more power with fewer emissions.

The 4.6L was lower, shorter and lighter than the 302, but the base engine made more power than the 302, got better fuel economy and passed all the emission tests without a thermactor pump. Ford called it its "modular" engine because it was part of a whole new family of engines that were intended to have a common architecture "so they could share similar production tooling and have many interchangeable parts."
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/eb40228.htm
 

C.Harris

Da Boss
Founding Member
Dec 20, 1998
1,850
0
0
Jan 4, 2004
#12
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #12
"Why does a new 4.6 make more power?" Plain and simple ...the new 4.6s have the benefit of better factory components. Equipped with better flowing aluminum heads, overhead cam technology, better computer programming, freer flowing exhaust, and better gearing (3.27s)...all straight off the showroom, floor it begins to make sense that Ford is offering more in the Base GT than ever before.

But don't overlook the 5.0 just because it only offered 225 horses. It doesn't take a whole lot to match 99+ performance. Even in stock form the 302 has great torque capability. Add a couple of mods and the 5.0 comes alive real quick! With even a few "factory" mods (i.e. '93 Cobra), dyno runs have shown that the 5.0 can change from a Jeckyl to a Hyde real fast. There also aren't too many 5.0s out there that are still stock, so choose wisely... Sad part is that these vehicles are aging and a lot have been run hard and seen better days. Nevertheless the 5.0 is a legendary powerplant.

Oh, and yes the '79-93 Mustangs are generally referred to as the "Foxes"
 

VIPERn94Five-0

Founding Member
Apr 28, 2002
3,352
2
58
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jan 4, 2004
#13
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #13
the reason the newer 4.6's make more power is no doubt in the breathing...it plain just breaths better than a stock 5.0....chances are though if your about to get in a race with a 5.0 it aint stock anymore.....so watch out cuz the torqu capabilities of the 5.0 are crazy.....and not to throw a curveball into the Fox mustang topic but.....

....79-93 cars are generally considered Fox cars.....but in reality the SN-95 chassis is a slightly updated Fox chassis not a redesign....the SN95 chassis is sometimes called the FOX-4 chassis....which means you could consider all 94+ cars Fox cars as well.....



Anthony
 

StangVert00

New Member
Mar 2, 2003
234
0
0
Stoneham, MA
Jan 4, 2004
#14
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #14
Thanks Everyone!

This has become a very informative thread!

StangVert00
 

FallenPhoenix

New Member
Nov 22, 2003
911
0
0
Odessa Tx
Jan 4, 2004
#15
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #15
I always thought SN-95 and "New Edge" reffered to the body, not the chassis which has been a Fox style with a few modifications since the '79
 

VIPERn94Five-0

Founding Member
Apr 28, 2002
3,352
2
58
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jan 4, 2004
#16
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #16
FallenPhoenix said:
I always thought SN-95 and "New Edge" reffered to the body, not the chassis which has been a Fox style with a few modifications since the '79
Click to expand...
nope, its a chassis designation.....the reason most think that way is because a chassis modification, or a redesign (alla 05 Stang) usually is a accompanied by sheet metal change



Anthony
 

Redfire03GT

New Member
Sep 10, 2003
395
0
0
Newark, CA.
Jan 4, 2004
#17
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #17
Isn't the 05+ Mustang chassis called the S197? I know that's a tad off topic but, oh well
 

DiabloRojoStang

Founding Member
Aug 9, 2001
201
0
0
Maryland
Jan 4, 2004
#18
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #18
GoBabyVroommm said:
Its the amazing cams!!!! Nuh but its just the way they made the 4.6s. Biggest thing that sucks about the 4.6 is the fact that it doesn't has many after market parts and it hurts your pockets.
Click to expand...


Are you kidding me? There are a ton of after market parts for the 4.6. Not as many as there are for the 302(being that they've had 3 decades to come up with after market stuff) but you can find plenty of bolt-ons and upgrades for the 4.6.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Help Figuring Motor Choice(Possible future turbo)?
  • jaygee15
  • Dec 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
13
Views
484
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 3, 2026
Jarhead67
J
D
Brakes 88 LX 5.0 - help! no brakes
  • DRGunn427
  • Feb 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
396
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 27, 2025
nickyb
G
Fuel Stock 1994 5.0 throttle body size
  • GOvert
  • Mar 15, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 1, 2025
95gt1985
9
SOLD [Minnesota] 2014 Ford Mustang GT | Grabber Blue | 6MT Coupe
  • Mycelus
  • Mar 20, 2023
  • S197 Mustangs For Sale (2005-14)
Replies
1
Views
6K
S197 Mustangs For Sale (2005-14) Mar 27, 2023
Mycelus
C
Progress Thread 2004 Comp Orange GT
  • ctandc
  • Jun 26, 2023
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
56
Views
4K
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jun 1, 2026
ctandc
C
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?