4.6 vs 5.0??

StangVert00

New Member
Mar 2, 2003
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Stoneham, MA
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
 
StangVert00 said:
Please forgive my ignorance, but why would a 4.6L V8 Mustang have more horsepower then a 5.0L V8 Mustang?

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?

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.
 
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. :bang:
 
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
 
"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"
 
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..... :rolleyes:



Anthony
 
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
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
 
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. :(


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.