I am looking to buy a New Explorer and it has the 4.6L, and I currently have an Explorer with the 5.0. I was wondering is the 4.6 as peppy and pull as strong as the 5.0, not just in Explorers but in any other applicaton as well?

 

Depends on what application. It is really a tossup, and what fits you the best really. Either one should be good.

 

Well...I'd say they're pretty even based on my experience of owning a 302 in my truck and being in a few 5.0 mustangs, 5.0 town cars/explorers and 4.6L mustangs/cougars/town cars.

The 302 has better low end torque, the 4.6 is more of a high reving high rpm horsepower motor. The 4.6L is a little more complicated being that they have overhead cams. The 5.0Ls are dirt cheap to repair/rebuild or modify for higher power. Both have about the same quality in longevity, the crown vic 4.6's have a rep of being good motors so if it passes the cop abuse it can handle anything you can throw at it. However...the 5.0L is a good performer in the longevity level as well....so off that, I'd say longevity is a tie. In the end...

If I had to decide I'd pick the 5.0 every time.

 

My 97 4.6 4x4 just turned over 201500 miles with no problems at all or money spent on the engine.
It has lost maybe.....15% of it's power but still runs like new.
Power, it does the job but with nothing left to spare.

 

ive owned a 97 f-150 with the 4.6 and it was a good engine the person i sold it to said it turned over to 215,000 and still no problems, it had desent power.
i also have a 90 bronco with a 5.0 and it has about the same power but at a lower rpm and is alot easier to modify for more, with the bolt on power parts i can lite up the 37inch tires on the bronco it has close to 240,000 miles on the orignal engine

 

What kind of mods have you done that you can lite up 37s? ive got a stock 5.0 rebuilt about 5000 miles ago and i cant even lite up my worn 31s.

 

My 87 5.0 in an f250 will lite up the 33's on it now easily....In fact, I may go drive it to the gas station to make sure it still does...lol
Scott

 

im jealuos

 

By the way, mine is 100% stock and has 187,000 miles......
Scott

 

Buckeye, you might want to check your rear end. What kind of gears are you pakin in there?

 

its all very simple i am able to plant the power to the wheels. i have 4.56 gears in the rear, a modified manual automatic e40d tranny, ladder bars, and a spool in the rear. My engine mode aint much just a coustom dual exhaust with headers, msd ignition, kn filter, throdle body spacer, ported intake manifold, mass air conversion, and a jet computer chip. all the engine mode really dont mean much unless you can plant the power to the wheels. i have a buddy that has simaller modes to his bronco same engine and it riding on 35s and he can bearly move his truck cause when he upgraded his tires he left the gears the same(3.55).

all iam sayin is you can have all the power you want but if you cant put it to the wheels it dont do you no good

 

so that 3.55 in the rear end is what is not letting me roast my tires?

 

I'm thinking your problem is else where, I too run stock 3.55 gears in 10.25 sterling rear, my tires are 2" bigger. Do you have posi? If your posi locks when you try and spin your tires your engine could very likely be too weak to spin them....
Scott

 

As far as I know it doesn't. I have never taken the diff. cover off, and the previous owner never said anything about it.

 

I have an 88 Bronco with 4:10 gears and a new H.O. 5.0. I am running 31 inch tires and I can not even burn em. I do have posi though.