junk the 4.6

[steve n todd ragle]

I have never been so unhappy with the 4.6 they suck.I can say that, I own one 96 atuo,410 gears ,no cats and all of the bolt ons.It runs 14.10 best.What I am going to do is pull it and run a 351w.I will not spend that that much money on the 4.6 to run o.k.I had a 87 lx 5 speed with the same stuff running in the 12.I just do not see how this motor is all that .

[Ripper]

Lighten up Neal n Bob, I mean steve n todd. What did you think you were getting when you bought it? The 4.6 put out a paltry 215hp in 96'. I don't disagree with your complaints about the early 4.6s but my 99' is a big step up from your 96' so I'm not complaining. I'll still get waxed by a T/A or Z but with a few mods I'll be running with them. A 351 will definitely cure your ills or look for a used Cobra 96-98'.

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************************
1999 GT - Laser Red
K&N, Steeda pulleys, & Steeda strut tower brace
(Upcoming mods: subframes, Bassani X, & FMS 3.73s

[98'MustangGT]

I love my 4.6 ! 4.6 liters forever! ( Or until Ford decides to switch back to 5.0 )

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1998 Mustang GT with a 4.6 liter V8, Black

[EXAM1999]

Put a converter on & a blower and your car will feel much better. There is a guy online, Spence(Vicki's car) that has a 96 GT auto that runs 11.70s @ over 116 mph with bolt-ons, SVO heads & a Vortech. I think the 4.10s are hurting you because the car probably shifts into O/D before the line. 3.73s with a good loose converter would be a much better combo. Save for ported 99 GT heads & a blower and that car will fly. I have no complaints about my 99 GT auto except if I stamp it to the floor from a 20 mph roll, I spin for 2 gears with 285/40 Nittos in the rear.

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99 Silver GT
4R70W, Borla Cat Back,
SHM Slotted Rotors, custom 10.5" ProTorque 3200 stall converter, Transgo Shift kit, Redline Synthetic ATF, Cooler, Bassani X-Pipe, Vortech V2 S-trim, 3.73 gears, 70 mm T/B, Mac Adj. uppers & lowers, ROH ZR6 17X9.5 & 17X8.5 with Nittos, BBK(Walbro) 255 pump & FMS Shorty Headers, D&D Tubular K-member, Coil-overs, A-arms, MM CC plates. Currently running 3.33 pulley at 12-13 psi with AFM powerpipe. Longtubes, Cat-H-pipe, Ported stock heads & SVO Intake are next.
Dyno 7/15/00
358 rwhp @ 5600 rpms
386 rwtq @ 3600 rpms

[Stefan]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I have never owned a sports car before so the first time I hopped in - 215hp didn't feel so bad. I had nothing to compare it to so I was feelin' purty cool. My engine runs cool, burns no oil and has had NO problems since I have owned it. By my book that's not too bad. The great thing about being new to the late model Stangs for me is - everything I learn on this board and every bolt on I buy is just gonna make me love my car that much more.

For that matter, take a spin in my 66. 3 year olds on big wheels can pass me but it still looks good on the road so it doesn't bother me.
Just a matter of perspective.

Stefan

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66 Standard coupe
200 inline 6 - Pertronix ignition, Flamethrower Coil, K&N, Clifford Perf. 6 into 2 headers, Holley carb, three row radiator

96 GT Convertible
Splitfire plugs (they were free - don't laugh).
K&N, removed air silencer (more to come)
Next up: 3:73's and side exhaust
www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?258

[Red Rocket]

THe 4.6 SOHC is a little weak when it comes to grunt, but the DOHC ain't too bad. I admit the 351W or 351C are pretty stout engines and have a lot of torque and hp. They are definitely nothing to toy around with. But, like the SOHC engine, but it's all about perspective. The SOHC wasn't built with the same intentions the 351's were, straight line racing and big compression. The DOHC was, and it also happens to be way more efficient than the 351's.

And I don't know if you've been behind the wheel of a slightly modified Cobra or even the newer 4.6 SOHC's like the 99's or '00's, but those cars all run real strong and with a little help and a manual tranny, the older SOHC can run pretty strong, too.

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1996 Laser Red Cobra. 12.64@108.1 mph; 1.92 60 ft. I keep racin' it, and it keeps getting faster!(It's still a heavy beast)

[smooth]

screw a 351, your car won't handle at all. just put in a 330 with 4v cobra r heads. atleast 10:1 and you are set. you will waste the 351.

[Red Rocket]

I wouldn't necessarily say screw the 351. I mean if you're going to bore and stroke an engine, the 32V is good, but I would much rather bore and stroke the 351 to 393 or 408 and wax the crap out of the 330.

[smooth]

that really all depends though. n/a, yes i say the motors with 63/78 more cubes will win. its just like now 281 vs 346 ls1. but boosted, guess which one will sing? not to mention you can bore and stroke the 330 as well, maybe not nearly to the extent of the windsor, but the heads will sing when used in combination with forced induction.

[virtspeed]

To the original post, Steve 'n Todd:

The cylinder heads and intake manifolds for the 96-98 SOHC 4.6L engine are weak. Those cars were rated for 215hp new. Porting them only helps marginally. The '99-up cars are rated at 260hp. Porting those heads and intake gets a much better result. My advice to you would be to acquire a set of heads and an intake from a '99-00 GT. Have them ported. That should put you close to 300hp. With some other bolt-ons (and traction), you'll be flying.

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Virtual Speed

Moderator, Tealnet

[Stefan]

Virtspeed-

What all is involved with swapping in 99-00 heads and intake on 96-98 mod engines?

Stefan

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66 Standard coupe
200 inline 6 - Pertronix ignition, Flamethrower Coil, K&N, Clifford Perf. 6 into 2 headers, Holley carb, three row radiator

96 GT Convertible
Splitfire plugs (they were free - don't laugh).
K&N, removed air silencer (more to come)
Next up: 3:73's and side exhaust
www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?258