• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

4.6l v8 in 88 foxbody?

  • Thread starter Thread starter loudstang
  • Start date Start date Jul 26, 2011
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
Next
First Prev 5 of 6 Next Last

Legacy5.0

Member
Sep 17, 2010
43
0
16
New Hampshire
Aug 5, 2011
#81
  • Aug 5, 2011
  • #81
To be completely honest, i don't have a specific reason and I don't really need one.

I grew up around a 5.0 all my life, know how it sounds, feels, ect. If I saw a Fox drive by and heard a 4.6, something in the back of my head would be screaming does not compute. I see that car and it's 5.0 badge, it feels (is) right, couldn't imagine a 4.6 badge in it's place. I wont knock someone for doing that to their car, but the idea of pulling a living running 5.0 to replace it with a 4.6... just makes me shudder.

And don't get me wrong here, I also dislike the idea of stroking a 5.0 as well. Cool, yes. Powerful, yes. Just definitely not for me in the slightest.

Guess it's just my Mustang OCD, I've just always loved that bullet better.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 5, 2011
#82
  • Aug 5, 2011
  • #82
Legacy5.0 said:
To be completely honest, i don't have a specific reason and I don't really need one.

I grew up around a 5.0 all my life, know how it sounds, feels, ect. If I saw a Fox drive by and heard a 4.6, something in the back of my head would be screaming does not compute.
Click to expand...


Lol, you really think you would know the difference during a drive by based on sound?
 

SlammedGT

Active Member
Oct 15, 2004
581
9
29
Peotone, IL.
Aug 5, 2011
#83
  • Aug 5, 2011
  • #83
I cant tell the diff at all....I mean from down the block im like here comes a Mustang.... but when it goes by sometime its an 87 sometimes its a 97...lol
 

Legacy5.0

Member
Sep 17, 2010
43
0
16
New Hampshire
Aug 7, 2011
#84
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #84
2000xp8 said:
Lol, you really think you would know the difference during a drive by based on sound?
Click to expand...

I do. I live off of a pretty heavily traveled route and I can always tell a mustang coming and which V8 it has. The 5.0 is thicker sounding engine, whereas the 4.6 is slightly less throaty and makes more engine noise than the 5.0 due to the added OHV's. Call me crazy but I can tell.
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Aug 7, 2011
#85
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #85
Let's say for the sake of argument I decide to change the 2v in my car over to a 4v engine. Lets also assume that I'm gonna carburet the new engine

Other than the obvious new choices, and including the cobra, bullitt, and mach 1 engines, Is there a another 4v w/ a teksid block in a lincoln or SUV that can be had running for...........1500.00 - 2K or less?
(like one of the buttloads of LS-?'s that are out there?)

If I use the engine timing computer I currently own from MSD, instead of a full ECU, is there anything else a 4v does (or needs to do) that will not allow me to do that? (Like variable valve timing or junk like that)
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 7, 2011
#86
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #86
Legacy5.0 said:
I do. I live off of a pretty heavily traveled route and I can always tell a mustang coming and which V8 it has. The 5.0 is thicker sounding engine, whereas the 4.6 is slightly less throaty and makes more engine noise than the 5.0 due to the added OHV's. Call me crazy but I can tell.
Click to expand...

It's probably the fact that most 5.0 mustangs do not have catalytic converters and most 4.6's do.
 

S&B

I hate my CT. :(
10 Year Member
Dec 18, 2005
1,634
695
204
Cheesehead
Aug 7, 2011
#87
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #87


I was thinking going with a 3v and the new ford kit with the electronic gas pedal (1500) .

Just ran into a guy with an 02 cobra motor and trans with harness but no computer for 2k.

Dont you feel that I would get more out of the 3v and it would be easier to get in the fox or is there no real difference, and the 4V would serve me better ?
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 7, 2011
#88
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #88
S&B said:


I was thinking going with a 3v and the new ford kit with the electronic gas pedal (1500) .

Just ran into a guy with an 02 cobra motor and trans with harness but no computer for 2k.

Dont you feel that I would get more out of the 3v and it would be easier to get in the fox or is there no real difference, and the 4V would serve me better ?
Click to expand...

The 3v is a good engine, but supercharger kits are $5500.
That's around $500-$1000 less than i have invested in my entire engine.
So if 325rwhp is your goal, the 3v is good, but anything more and it's just cheaper to buy an 03/04 cobra engine.

Computers are cheap (i'd say $200-$250) and relatively easy to find, so i wouldn't let the lack of a computer keep me from any engine.

2002 cobra engine? Is this a trick question?
 

S&B

I hate my CT. :(
10 Year Member
Dec 18, 2005
1,634
695
204
Cheesehead
Aug 7, 2011
#89
  • Aug 7, 2011
  • #89
no sorry its an 01 or 00, but I almost tricked you.

Im thinking 325 hp might be good enough, i know that sounds crazy but im never going to be a drag racer
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 8, 2011
#90
  • Aug 8, 2011
  • #90
S&B said:
no sorry its an 01 or 00, but I almost tricked you.

Im thinking 325 hp might be good enough, i know that sounds crazy but im never going to be a drag racer
Click to expand...

I'd still probably buy a 4v engine.
Although I'm not that familiar with what a naturally aspirated 4v with bolts ons puts out for power.
For a throttle cable, i just bought the one from an 03 cobra, worked perfect. Alot cheaper than a $1500 pedal assembly.

A naturally aspirated 4v should go in a fox pretty easy.
Less to power up to make it run, you don't need a fancy fuel system.

If i were going natural, i probably would use a teskid based engine, at least this way if i wanted it could be built up and still very light.
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
Aug 12, 2011
#91
  • Aug 12, 2011
  • #91
2000xp8 said:
Lol, you really think you would know the difference during a drive by based on sound?
Click to expand...

SlammedGT said:
I cant tell the diff at all....I mean from down the block im like here comes a Mustang.... but when it goes by sometime its an 87 sometimes its a 97...lol
Click to expand...

Guys, you can hear a difference with the 5.0 and 4.6 engine when the car drives by. I had people come up to my 2v car all the time asking me if it was a 4.6L. Then they'd tell me "I knew that wasn't no 5-0!!" The engine sounds is different, and the exhaust note is different.
 
S

screamin5oh

Member
Jul 13, 2011
170
5
19
centerville oh
Aug 22, 2011
#92
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #92
SVT32VDOHC said:
Guys, you can hear a difference with the 5.0 and 4.6 engine when the car drives by. I had people come up to my 2v car all the time asking me if it was a 4.6L. Then they'd tell me "I knew that wasn't no 5-0!!" The engine sounds is different, and the exhaust note is different.
Click to expand...

yea i think a cammed 2v is sexy with flowmasters just like a 5.0
but 3v and 4v sound like chit with flowmasters
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 22, 2011
#93
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #93
I'm still not buying you can hear the difference in the type of engine in a drive by.
Mind you, i have a 4.6 and had a 5.0 on the same car with the exact same exhaust setup.

There is way too many variables that could cause a car to sound different.
There's different:
Catbacks
Tailpipes
X pipes
H pipes
offroad/catted
Different headers

About the only way anyone could really tell the difference and know it's a different engine is a cam in a pushrod engine at idle. Because modulars are much less likely to be cammed.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
5,525
943
214
Chengdu Province
Aug 22, 2011
#94
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #94
2000xp8 said:
I'm still not buying you can hear the difference in the type of engine in a drive by.
Mind you, i have a 4.6 and had a 5.0 on the same car with the exact same exhaust setup.

There is way too many variables that could cause a car to sound different.
There's different:
Catbacks
Tailpipes
X pipes
H pipes
offroad/catted
Different headers

About the only way anyone could really tell the difference and know it's a different engine is a cam in a pushrod engine at idle. Because modulars are much less likely to be cammed.
Click to expand...

I've thought about randomly compiling sound clips from youtube videos of pushrods and modulars into a single video, but have nothing on the screen except for a number; one for each sound clip. Do maybe 10 of them, 5 pushrods, 5 modulars in random order, all NA but with different levels of modification. Then have people guess what is what.

Not sure I'm that ambitious, though.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Aug 22, 2011
#95
  • Aug 22, 2011
  • #95
NikwoaC said:
I've thought about randomly compiling sound clips from youtube videos of pushrods and modulars into a single video, but have nothing on the screen except for a number; one for each sound clip. Do maybe 10 of them, 5 pushrods, 5 modulars in random order, all NA but with different levels of modification. Then have people guess what is what.

Not sure I'm that ambitious, though.
Click to expand...

I'm even less ambitious, i've really uploaded nothing in like 3 years, lol.
 
D

Dream91Fox

New Member
Sep 10, 2012
19
0
1
Mount Vernon Texas
Sep 10, 2012
#96
  • Sep 10, 2012
  • #96
Was given 91 gt minus motor/trans so I'm starting from what I would
Like lookin to swap a 4.6 into it I know the 96-98 4.6s are like finding a crappy car on Craigslist
I would like a 3v but on a small budget for swap around 3k I would also like to do 5 speed or auto "c4"
But still idk much about engine swaps please help
4.6 Fox budget build tryin to keep under 3k I'm sacrificing my bagged 97 Chevy to fund this dream PLEASE HELP
 
B

blackandblue

Banned
Sep 8, 2012
17
3
13
Sep 10, 2012
#97
  • Sep 10, 2012
  • #97
I'd say it wasnt a sacrifice to trade a bagged bow tie for a mustang. Besides a 4.6 swap is as dumb as an ls1 swap
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,029
1,621
194
NJ
Sep 10, 2012
#98
  • Sep 10, 2012
  • #98
Dream91Fox said:
Was given 91 gt minus motor/trans so I'm starting from what I would
Like lookin to swap a 4.6 into it I know the 96-98 4.6s are like finding a crappy car on Craigslist
I would like a 3v but on a small budget for swap around 3k I would also like to do 5 speed or auto "c4"
But still idk much about engine swaps please help
4.6 Fox budget build tryin to keep under 3k I'm sacrificing my bagged 97 Chevy to fund this dream PLEASE HELP
Click to expand...

It's not happening with a 3v and $3000.
 

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Sep 10, 2012
#99
  • Sep 10, 2012
  • #99
Even the 2v I have in my car goes way over that. The 65k running engine, and trans alone cost me $1800.00. Before any exhaust, cooling, or electronics, or any of the required fabrication to get it to fit.
Whether you choose a tubular K, or use one out of a SN 95 body,...you'll also have that to consider as well.
Even if you're gonna lowball, and try to adapt over a complete 95-98 wrecked donor, you'll still have a tough time trying to make your number,...and you'll get the poorer heads that came in the non P.I. years before 2002.
 

95Vert383AOD

15 Year Member
Jun 10, 2008
1,133
34
69
New Bedford, MA
Sep 10, 2012
#100
  • Sep 10, 2012
  • #100
Cheaper way would be a 351 based swap. The extra cubes will make up for the technology difference.
 
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
Next
First Prev 5 of 6 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Fox 88 foxbody no power to red and black wire at fuel pump relay
  • drod88
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
346
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 2, 2025
Mcmahst
B
No spark. 1990 foxbody 5.0 gt
  • Boogi
  • Nov 16, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
189
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 16, 2025
Boogi
B
0
V6 to V8 Swap info
  • 02_2v_Curtis
  • Jan 11, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
733
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jan 11, 2026
02_2v_Curtis
0
Old guy new to Forum.
  • 08shelby GT500
  • Jun 15, 2026
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
3
Views
149
The Welcome Wagon Jun 15, 2026
LILCBRA
1
Engine Motor swap from a 2003 Explorer
  • 1996mustang new
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
602
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2025
squeak93
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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?