Windsor vs. Romeo

Frankenstang838 · Nov 22, 2009

Whats the pros/cons of both.......

40oz · Nov 23, 2009

Sean Hyland's book covers all the differences:
4.6 Liter Ford Engines

Windsor motors on paper look better, but at the end of the day they are probably equal.

The Hyland book is probably the best investment a person could make if they are interested in engine swaps.

wmburns · Nov 23, 2009

+1 on above regarding the merits of each block.

IMO, the Romeo is better for the simple reason there are more of them available configured in "car" trim.

In terms of numbers, Windsor engine in a Mustang was a two year thing (1999-2000). Which can make it difficult to find direct replacement engines/parts. Where as the Romeo engines are common in Mustangs, Grand Marquis, Crown Vics, Town Car, Cougar, and Thunderbird.

The Windsor block is available in truck applications. However, for a salvage motor source, transplanting a truck motor into a Mustang (while doable) does bring extra "problems" to the table (intake, timing cover, flywheel, belts, yada, yada). Problems that are not present in a motor preped for a car application.

The Romeo does have a removable cam gear. This makes degreeing possible.

Gearbanger 101 · Nov 23, 2009

Ones really as good as another. Don't overthink it.

tank_567 · Nov 23, 2009

Heres a ton of info on both blocks and heads
Rebuilding the Ford 4.6L SOHC Engine, Doug Anderson, Engine Builder, April 2002

patman0911 · Nov 23, 2009

tank_567 said:
Heres a ton of info on both blocks and heads
Rebuilding the Ford 4.6L SOHC Engine, Doug Anderson, Engine Builder, April 2002

I'm glad you posted that - I was looking for that recently and the original link I had was dead.

tank_567 · Nov 23, 2009

the windsor's have better mains than romeo, but the romeo have better heads.

Gearbanger 101 · Nov 23, 2009

tank_567 said:
the windsor's have better mains than romeo, but the romeo have better heads.

I wouldn't say better...just different. The Windsor uses dowel pins as added suport for the Main Bearing caps and the Romeo uses Jack screws. Their designs differ slightly as well, but one has not really proven to be any superior to the other.

As far as heads go, their main differences are bridged cam girdles for the Romeo heads and individual ones for the Windsor's. That and thier valve cover bold configuration. Again, one has never really been proven to be any superior to the other.

Frankenstang838 · Nov 23, 2009

40oz said:
Sean Hyland's book covers all the differences:
4.6 Liter Ford Engines

Windsor motors on paper look better, but at the end of the day they are probably equal.

The Hyland book is probably the best investment a person could make if they are interested in engine swaps.

thanks a bunch man! i checked out some of the info in that book and bought it on amazon for 16 bucks....should be here fri or mon......i also searched around the forum for info and found a boat load more info......im gonna read that article by anderson now and see what it says......i've got a windsor and i plan on sticking with it as long as i can. thanks again!

oxfordgt · Nov 24, 2009

When ever I build a 4.6l engine I only use 01.5-04 blocks. The only reason is for clearance when installing a forged crank. 96-98 romeo blocks and all windsor blocks need alot of machining to get the crank to clear. Other then that the block are not any better then the other.

40oz · Nov 24, 2009

The reason I said the Windsor looks better on paper is based solely on the fact that the Windsor engines used a floating wrist pin on the pistons. All the other changes seem dimensional (counterweight width, various mounting dowels, etc.) that had nothing to do with durability or performance.

I've driven the piss out of a 99 GT (Windsor) for ~40K+ miles with a motor that always came back looking for more, and now a 2003 (Romeo) with the same attitude. It's probably smarter (and cheaper/easier)to stick with whatever you currently have (Romeo or Windsor), so I didn't mean to say they are interchangeable, just that there is no disadvantage to one or the other.

I'm kind of partial to the Windsor just because of history, but I certainly don't mean to short the folks that built the Romeo engines

Windsor vs. Romeo

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