5.0 or 4.6?
 

hi, im new as a member, but i've been reeding these theads for moths.


my dad said its about time to get me in something newer like a 4.6. but im not sure if i want to trade my car for some stock GT or the the if right deal comes along would a cobra be a good trade for the power? or should i just keep my 88 lx 5.0 that all ready has 3:73,b303cam,k&n air filter,flows,H pipe,new paint job and cobra R rims. please help me make a decision.

thanks guys

I would not trade in the 5.0 for the 4.6 unless it was a 32 valver.
Well I guess I would if it was a Roush III, I love those things.

If your going to trade your 5.0 in, I would trade it in on a 99+ Gt, or a 96+ Cobra.

Those 99+ 2valves are pretty stout, and can pull some real good times with simple mods.

Its just what ever floats your boat man. Some people are diehard pushrod guys, some are Mod Motor Lovers, others will take either. They both have there ups and downs.

Decisions, decisions
 

50DAVIDLX:

I wouldn't be in a rush to trade my 5.0, but if you do, get a Cobra or a 99-up GT.

As Mercury stated, if you can afford one, the '99-up GT's are much improved and would be worth a trade, although you'll still want to change the rear gears and do a few small mods to improve it even more.

The SN95 Mustang's ergonomics and handling are noticeably superior to the Fox-bodied 'Stangs. They also cost a lot more to buy but you get more. The 4.6 is a more complicated engine and aftermarket parts are usually expensive and somewhat scarce - but that's changing.

While I love my 5.0 and I'll be driving it awhile longer, sooner or later, we'll all be driving 4.6 Mustangs (well, most of us) so we might as well get used to the idea and if you don't trade up now, you probably will in the near future.

NEVER!!! j/k.

The 4.6 is a good motor. You have to ask yourself what you want out of your ride, then make the call.

if itwere me, I would stick to the 5.0. Reason being, parts are not as expensive and more plentiful, and mods don't cost as much on a 5.0.
But it is ulitmately your decision...
Why don't you find a 94-95 v-8 car and redo it, that way you can do to it what you want and it won't be as expensive. You can find a lightly wrecked 94-95 relatively cheap at the insurance auctions, and some even drive out. Just a thought. :D

just out of curiosity, what is the bore x stroke of the 4.6? i f i remember correctly, it's a long-stroke motor (stroke is larger than the bore), which struck me as a dumb idea if they were going to make it a four valver, since 4 valvers make power at higher rpms and a long stroke format isn't a good idea at high rpms....anyways, get a 32 valve cobra if you can. there are more aftermarket parts available for less money for the 5.0, but the 4.6 is the future.

Bore & Stroke comparison
 

PG:

The 4.6 SOHC V-8 has a 3.60" bore X 3.60" stroke.

The 5.0 had a 4.00" bore X 3.00" stroke.

I guess I'm still too much of a purist, I would much rather have a pushrod engine than an OHC engine, the same way I hate front wheel drive. Heck, if it were up to me, you would still be able to buy a car with a carbed engine LOL.

Technically, the 4.6L has a 3.55" bore, and a 3.54" stroke. As far as it's high rpm application, I fail to see how it's an issue. Maybe it's an issue in a motorcycle engine where you can exceed 15,000rpms, but not in a car engine that rarely exceeds 7,000rpm. Long stroke motorcycle engines are stable in excess of 10,000rpms in many cases. The FZR 600 has a long stroke for a sportbike, and it's redline is 11,500.

Getting 20-30k out of an engine isn't favorable to car owners, neither is the fuel economy associated with running at 6000rpms down the freeway, nor lack of power in normal driving. Another issue is simply engine size when in a V configuration. On a wide 4.6L, increasing the bore by 1/2" would make the block even wider. You only have so much engine bay to wedge it in.

The 4.6L SOHC or DOHC engines will both outrev the short stroke pushrod 5.0's they replace due to valvetrain issues.

how fast you wanna spend?
 

i'd go for the cobra...
I did, actually
:D

the nice thing about the cobra is the forged crankshaft, which is stock. since the block is all aluminum, i'm not sure if the 6-bolt mains are an advantage or not...

a nicely balanced 4.6 is good to 7500 RPM :eek: throw in some billet rods and a girdle, and you're looking at over 8500 rpm! (http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com)

i love my 5.0, but it is set up to drag, so it is a bear on the street. the cobra is equally at home on the street/strip/twisties or wherever...

good luck!:eek:

Technically speaking....
 

O.K. Technically then, the 4.6 is really 281.1 cid, not the 281 advertised but who's counting meaningless fractions? Not me.

keep the 5.0!!!!!!!

FOXES RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Technically speaking....
 

Not really me, I was just pulling data out of a Chilton's manual. It's not like I was posting to prove somebody wrong. In fact, the data I gave is either rounded, or wrong. I don't know if the 4.6L's bore and stroke is technically recorded in cubic centimeters and then converted to inches, or whether the engine is technically not 281ci. The bore and stroke I gave would give an answer of 280.31ci. If you went by the 4601cc's then converted it back to ci, you'd have 280.77. Which would then round to 281.

Either the specs I have are wrong, or I'm just incorrect in attempting to figure out displacement? Maybe Ford uses significant digits or something. I really hate those.

if your stang is in good shape then keep it ,i like my 4.6,but that's me,it's really your call,i only bought my gt because i love the body style,but your car sound's like it's in good shape ,then hang on too it.:D