Buying a new Mustang...5.0 or 4.6?

[88GT 5pt0]

Well I have decided to sell the 88 5.0, even though I love it, I want something newer. I'm looking for a 94-98 model. I want to know which is the better engine the 94-95 5.0 or the 96-98 4.6. Which is faster stock? which is easier/cheaper to mod? It will be my summer daily driver and it probably wont see the track more than once or twice a year (for now) but I would like to be able to smoke anyone on the street.

[Mr 5 0]

Originally posted by 88GT 5pt0 :

Well I have decided to sell the 88 5.0, even though I love it, I want something newer. I'm looking for a 94-98 model. I want to know which is the better engine the 94-95 5.0 or the 96-98 4.6. Which is faster stock? which is easier/cheaper to mod? It will be my summer daily driver and it probably wont see the track more than once or twice a year (for now) but I would like to be able to smoke anyone on the street.

Since the 5.0 engine was last offered in a Mustang in 1995, you're stuck with a '94 or '95 model if you go the 5.0 route.

The term 'better engine' is a relative one with a lot of factors to consider. The 5.0 V-8 has been proven to be reliable over the years and it's a more simple design (pushrods vs overhead cam) with lots of reasonably-priced go-fast parts available for it, as you must know. Most stock 5-speed 5.0's run in the mid-to-high14 second range but can easily be modified with steeper rear gears, head, intake and exhaust upgrades and of course, a blower or nitrous for that big kick. A 13 second 5.0 is not hard to find and 12-second 5.0's are fairly plentiful, too, although they usuallly have nitrous or a blower pushing the power.

I'm less familiar with the 281 (4.6 liter) Mustang engine but I recall the early ones ('96 -98) were generally judged to be dogs, compared to the 5.0. The later models ('99-up) seem to have been improved a lot and are faster - but also more expensive. Of course, again, nitrous will make anything 'faster' if you want to go that route.

On balance, I would go for a 94-95 5.0-powered Mustang. The engine is better, it's going to be a lot cheaper and you still have the newer body style. As for 'smoking anyone on the street' - that's a fantasy unless you have an 11-second Mustang. Late model Corvettes, Camaro-Firebirds and assorted much-modified riceburners and turbo-powered foreign cars are quite capable of 13's and even 12's in some cases. Of course, a well modified Mustang 5.0 can run in that pack too, but a stocker is only going to be a 14-second car and while that can beat a lot of non-nitroused ricers and guys driving Mom's Honda Accord, it won't 'smoke' a lot of the more serious cars out there. The good news is that it will have the potential to do so, if you want to modify it and even if you don't, your Mustang V-8 will be a lot more fun to drive than some screaming ricemobile blowing smoke out of it's farting 4" exhaust tip. After all, you'll be driving a Mustang; an American automobile legend with a proud history and a good old V-8 engine, just the way God intended.

Good luck in your search.

[Dark_5.0]

Get the 96-98 stang if you like losing races and going slow.

Get the 94-95 stang if you want to be able to go fast, cheap.

JMO,

[SMOKE]

Well, I guess I can provide the counter point to the general opinion.

If the choice is between the 4.6 SOHC and 5.0L of the 94-95s ..... then everything thing being equal it will depend on preference.
If you're familiar with the Windsor history and packages .... the 5.0L is the easy choice.
The 96-98 SOHC motors are down in power by comparison to the 99+ brothers but for $1500 in parts (PI swap) you're right at the same level of power.

PI cars with cams are putting down 250rwhp.

True you can go fast cheap with the 5.0L but the 4.6 has proven it's no slouch with similar mods.

[Crazy Horse GT]

well, im down to my 95 5.0, but my 00gt was faster, the 96-98 4.6's, had a intake & bad head design, i have modded my 95 vert some, but the few mod's i did too my 00gt, it was faster, but, i havent done alot of mod's to my 5.0 YET, i have a 69 model 302, which is much faster, but it's been punched out some, but, still sitting around, till i get money to build the falcon. if you get a 96-98, get 99+ heads & intake, makes a big difference.

[thdrcat]

Apples and oranges from what i understand. I would go with the pushrod motor because that is what i was raised on and what i know.

another thing to think about is that 4.6 parts can get expensive. from my understanding both motors have potental, but the 4.6 is "newer" so that means it's parts get marked up ~20%.

Have a buddy that is into the awd dodge stealth's. AWD, twin turbo, dual overhead cam, etc.

it just does not float my boat. at this time his car beats mine left and right, but when you gun his, you can not feel the body torque up, etc.

same reason han solo kept the falcon i guess.

[Dark_5.0]

Originally posted by Crazy Horse GT
well, im down to my 95 5.0, but my 00gt was faster, the 96-98 4.6's, had a intake & bad head design, i have modded my 95 vert some, but the few mod's i did too my 00gt, it was faster, but, i havent done alot of mod's to my 5.0 YET, i have a 69 model 302, which is much faster, but it's been punched out some, but, still sitting around, till i get money to build the falcon. if you get a 96-98, get 99+ heads & intake, makes a big difference.

Throw a heads/cam/intake package on your 5.0 and you will think damn my 00 GT was sloooow

[88workcar]

Keep the 88. If I had the extra cash, I would buy you a car and take the 88 to warm loving home. SPEED DENSITY LIVES FOREVER

[RBatson]

If you are dead set on a different car.. you might want to check the prices on the 94-98 Cobras, some are priced surprisingly low. As far as 5.0 vs 4.6.. tough one.

[lx mike]

Originally posted by Dark_5.0
Throw a heads/cam/intake package on your 5.0 and you will think damn my 00 GT was sloooow

don't forget the gear!

[HonestAl]

If you can afford a 96-98Cobra, go that way, if not I'd stick w/pushrod power; the only downside to the 5.0 is the block gets shakey when you start making real HP, the 4.6 block will take more power but will cost a lot more to make it.