5.0 or 4.6?

I'd go 4.6 if I was looking nowadays. You can do a cam swap in about an hour without doing any more than removing valve covers, the aftermarket has definitely caught up, the price difference between the two cars isn't much now, OBD II, so no chips or add-on tuning devices (just flash it with a handheld tuner and you're done), they respond very well to boost. If you have a PI headed 4.6, you could get it in the 300 HP range a lot easier than you could a 5.0.
 
^---What he said.

If you had have asked this question 5 years ago, you might have got me on a different opinion.

Truth is simply that there IS as many mods out there for the 4.6 mills as there are the old pushrods.

Parts can be more expensive, such as heads, but for most upgrades outside of that area, the small price difference aren't enough to offset the fact that it's a newer, more efficient, and powerful vehicle.

4.6 doesn't have the low end grunt that our 5 litres have, but once you start climbing the RPM's you'll find what you thought you lost. Even my F150 screams after 4000 rpm
 
Figure out EXACTLY what you want out of the car and what you are going to put into it....Make your decesion from there.

BUT, after building both myself between my own, brother's and friend's; if you are staying n/a I'd give the nod to 5.0.

If you are going forced induction, I would build the 4.6. You never have to replace the block in the 4.6 vs. the 5.0 and 2v heads although not the greatest will still outflow alot of the ohv heads. 4v 4.6 vs. a 5.0 is a no contest. 4v car all the way.
 
How much are you wanting to spend and what do you plan on doing with the car??? That's a good starting point and can change peoples opinions also ;) I say 5.0 unless you can find a good deal on a cobra like EPIK said...or a good deal on a 99+ 4.6, but if that's not your body style
 
5.0 all the way. the 4.6 is not that bad dont get me wrong but the 5.0 produces alot more torque.

for ex: i always walk on friend's 01 4.6 and i have a stock engine w/ the exception of 3:73 gears


pushrods :hail2: