Ok, I'll ask...what makes our engines modular?

boomshack · Nov 10, 2004

May be a dumb question to some, but I have no idea why the 4.6 engine is referred to as a modular engine? Is is just me in the dark?

def1eppard · Nov 10, 2004

Sounds like a good question to me.

mustangramair · Nov 10, 2004

I don't know for sure, but it's just adding on cylinders to the blocks. Take a v6 and add 2 cylinders you have the 4.6 V8. I think you can do the same with a v8, add 2 cylinders and you get the V10.

krazy bunta · Nov 10, 2004

merc123 · Nov 10, 2004

I've wanted to know as well.

Mike98GT · Nov 10, 2004

I believe it's like modular homes, they come in complete sections. You got the block and the complete heads with the cams in the heads, unlike the push rod style.

02mingreyGT · Nov 10, 2004

The parts from 5.4 and 4.6 are interchangable..

def1eppard · Nov 10, 2004

I always thought it had something to do with the ginormous heads and the cams within them and the lack of pushrods.

bdcardinal · Nov 10, 2004

it also has something to do with Ford needing less different kinds of tooling to make the engine parts. they can use the same jig for a 4.6 piston as a 5.4 piston. also the fact that there is a lot of interchangability inbetween the motors helps with the modular idea.

Venom_Nitrous · Nov 10, 2004

All ford modular engines are the same. Well, sorta. I means that the parts are all interchangable between all modular engines. The heads, cams, block, pistons, etc..... It is cheaper for ford. Then they have 1 V8 engine and can just make minor differences. i.e 2v 4v, stroke to a 5.4.... I am pretty sure this is it. All modular V8's are the same. The lightning engine (different block though), Marauder, cobra, GT, Mark VIII, hell even my GF's Grand Marquee(sp?) is a modular. `

Pitch Black · Nov 10, 2004

Modular means "interchangable". All of Fords V8/V10-equipped vehicles are NOW powered by modular motors, meaning you can swap engine parts between the 4.6L, 5.4L, etc.

hllon4whls · Nov 10, 2004

mustangramair said:
I don't know for sure, but it's just adding on cylinders to the blocks. Take a v6 and add 2 cylinders you have the 4.6 V8. I think you can do the same with a v8, add 2 cylinders and you get the V10.

This is what I read about them when they first came out. Ford can simply make anything from a v6 to a v12 or higher by just adding cylinders without changing a bunch of tooling.

The 4.6 and 5.4 have the same relationship as the 302 and 351. The cylinder bore spacing is the same, but the deck heights are different. A 5.4 is physically a taller block than the 4.6. Things like the cams, heads, etc can be interchanged.

mity2 · Nov 10, 2004

way I was explained in the past is that Ford Moduler engine family when it was conceved back in late 80's was that Ford will have engine that based on one concept of perfect interchangeabiliyies(is that even word?). So that almost all of parts can be inter changed between V6, V8, and V10 that came around later around. SO that look up parts would be easier for Ford service dept, as well as us end user(from pick'n yard for instance).
Unfortunately, in real world, it didn't quite work out that way. for instnace, SOHC 4.6 alone have something like 7 different variation-everything from block casting to casting of head, and such, which are not straight interchangeble... Don't get me wrong tho it is far more easier to change parts then some other engines out there, but just not as much as orginal idea thought it would be.

nickthegenius · Nov 10, 2004

mustangramair said:
I don't know for sure, but it's just adding on cylinders to the blocks. Take a v6 and add 2 cylinders you have the 4.6 V8. I think you can do the same with a v8, add 2 cylinders and you get the V10.

hllon4whls said:
This is what I read about them when they first came out. Ford can simply make anything from a v6 to a v12 or higher by just adding cylinders without changing a bunch of tooling.

The 4.6 and 5.4 have the same relationship as the 302 and 351. The cylinder bore spacing is the same, but the deck heights are different. A 5.4 is physically a taller block than the 4.6. Things like the cams, heads, etc can be interchanged.

This is the same thing I have always understood. Basically that they could build 6, 8, and 10 cylinder engines off of the same basic architecture to help save money on tooling and R&D.

krazy bunta said:

And since you thought mustangramair's idea above is so stupid/funny, then maybe you should explain exactly what modular engines are so you can instill us with your MENSA-certified intelligence View attachment 520788

CanadaStang · Nov 10, 2004

It was given the name "modular" because of parts interchangeability with engines of its family (the pistons are the same as those in the V6, for instance) and with itself (left and right head castings are identical). Not only does this make for fewer part numbers, it also means the engine plant (opened in '73 as a tractor assembly facility, it's undergone a $780-million transformation, and now has an annual capacity of 535,000 units) can crank out new versions of the same powerplant family from the same line with a minimum of upheaval and expense for changeover. The family concept also improves quality.

mustangramair · Nov 10, 2004

nickthegenius said:
This is the same thing I have always understood. Basically that they could build 6, 8, and 10 cylinder engines off of the same basic architecture to help save money on tooling and R&D.

Isn't this basically what they did when they made the concept of the Boss 351. They took a 4.6, added two cylinders on and thus made it a 351.

And to Krazy Bunta what was funny about what i said?

boomshack · Nov 11, 2004

Okay makes perfect sense. Thanks everyone for replying with your detailed and knowledgable info. Learning little by little. I swear this forum is my mustang college and my daily drives and little mods here and there are my homework

Ok, I'll ask...what makes our engines modular?

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