Bunch of questions about the 4.6 motor. Please respond!

[Chowder Head]

I would like to learn as much as I can from the 4.6 motor as I can and maybe I might even considering getting one. But can you guys answer some questoins I have about them?

1.) Whats the best year to get a 4.6? For both the SN95 body style and the 99 and up design.

2.) Do parts for a 4.6 cost more than a 5.0 engine? Any differences?

3.) Do 4.6 motors cost more money if you pay someone to install stuff than a 5.0? Like if you wanted to install the same heads on both type of engines, will it cost more for the 4.6 if you want someone to install it?

4.) What is the ride difference between a 4.6 and a 5.0? I think the 5.0 has better low end torque but I'm not sure.

5.) If you were to start modding a stock 4.6 motor, where would you go? What's the biggest restriction of the 4.6 motor?

6.) If you had a 5.0 and you wanted like 500 horsepower, you would probably get a 331 or a 347 or possibly a 351 and above. What would you have to do to a 4.6 motor if you wanted that kind of power?

7.) Do parts cost more for the 4.6 than the 5.0 motor?

8.) How is the reliablity of these motors? I want something to last.

9.) Does a 4.6 get better gas mileage than a 5.0? If so than by how much?

10.) Any engine or car bugs with any of the years I should look for if I were to get one?

That's pretty much all I can think of right now. Other than the questions I listed, please give me your personal pros/cons about the 4.6 motor. Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Black-stang]

Dam you have a long list there . The best year for the 4.6 is the 99 and up GT hands down. The only they the 98 GT had over the 96-97 Mustang. Was a better tune that gave it the magic 10hp over the other two. Now for the parts ya the 5.0 has more part then the 4.6 and they cost less. Now the 5.0 does have more low end torque in stock trim then the 4.6. But any year 4.6 will out rev the old push rod motor and they make more power up top. The big top gap for 96-98 GT are the heads. But you can get PI Heads and cams used for $350- $500 bucks. I hope that help you some good luck OH ya get the 4.6

 

[1tirefire]

Yeah, I agree with black stang. Go with a 4.6. Preferrably 99+ Gt. They can withstand a mild supercharging with stock internals. 96-98 cobras can be had at a good price these days. Add supercharger and intercooler and a few other mods and 500 hp is not far.

 

[cap42]

99+ all the way they have so far the best heads and intake out. 99+gt vs a 5.0 the 99 will take it stock for stock. The 5.0 motors have been out since the 60's or 50's can't remember but because of this parts are extrememly cheap. The mod crazy days of the late 80's and 90's had a huge push for their aftermarket, so there is alot out there for 5.0 at a really good price.

Mod motors are still pretty new there is a good aftermarket for them but it's still working it's way up so parts are more expensive and no where near the amount of 5.0's

Best thing about the mod motors currently is they love FI nitrous, blower, turbo any of them will make great power on these engines because out of the box the heads and intake flow pretty well. Look at some of the recent threads or visit www.modularfordpowerhouse.com (T&J) they are making amazing HP and TQ #'s with several different types of setups.

So far Mod motors have been reliable even without being a forged block there are alot of stangs in the 100k+ mile mark some of them seing track use regularly and some being supercharged or juiced (nitrous) there are alot of mod motors running 350rwhp-450rwhp as daily drivers you just gotta make sure it's got a good tune.

For your gas mileage question I'm not totally sure on all 5.0's but I know my last one got about 17mpg where as my 4.6 get's around 21mpg and has more HP to boot.

 

[Rocketman]

Your asking a lot of opinionated questions. Suggest you read this first.

 

[tjm73]

If you can afford the buy in price 99-04 is the way to go right now. It's the best, most flexable engine platform to start with. 1996-98 cars have slightly inferior heads and intakes. But are pretty decent anyway's and there's room to impove. Because of this they are significantly cheaper to purchase by about $3000-$4000.

500 hp is a supercharger and few hard parts away.

It will cost more to mod because the number of modified 4.6's is far fewer than the number ofmodified 5.0's. But prices are coming down rather quickly with respect to the age of the engine.

yes better gas mileage. I get 23 all day long in my stock 98 GT. that's a mix of highway and country roads.


Teh 4.6 does lack the low end hit of torque, but it still pulls hard and it pulls for a lot longer into the revs.

Reliability. My father owns a Ford dealership. He's never (I mean NEVER) had a 4.6 car, truck, van, anything in for any major service since they were released in 1992 (I think) in the Lincoln's. They last like crazy.