Originally Posted by CaptCameltoe

you guys are in dreamland. I worked at a late model salvage yard in SWFL, the car guy scenarios ya'll speak of made up about 1% if that of our customers. we got calls from shops, walk in avg joe people and other salvage yards. Now a real car guy like most of us on these forums will take better care of their vehicles, so on avg I think we usually have better luck with our stuff. Unfortunately most everyone else doesn't. The mod motors don't seem to hold up with these folks who are probably 50-75% of the population. They don't check or change their oil like they should, let the vehicle warm up a minute before they zoom off,keep up on tune ups etc MANY of the mod motors requested in trucks and suv's had under 100k on them. Tells me the 5.4's and especially the 4.6's work too hard and if not taken care of won't last like they should.

My opinion on the lack of power is just that just my opinion. As far as later model rides I have had the 95 5.2 magnum Dakota which hauled *** bigtime, I had a 95 Caprice wagon with the 5.7 LT1 that ran damn good for such a big vehicle and also got 25-28 mpg when it still had the stock 2.56 gears. Hell even the 5.2 magnum 1500 and 2500 rams I had would smoke a 4.6 150 of the pre 2012 era. In the trucks the mod motors don't seem to get any better mileage then the old 302/351w and they lack the lower end grunt those old ohv engines had. I have driven many mod motored powered vehicles and so far none of them have impressed me at all on power. I hear good things about the 2012/2013 trucks so maybe that problem has been taken care of and I have heard great things on mpg with the ecoboost engines. If I was to get a new gas truck though it would either be a Hemi Dodge or any of the Gm V8's, I wouldn't buy a Ford gas truck newer then a 1996, which is why I'm here.

My old 1979 f100 with the 300/c6 trans and 2.75 geared rear feels stronger then the 2005 4.6 f150 excab I used at work, which only had 40k miles on it. You may think I just hate fords, but thats far from the case. I had a 351w in a maverick I used to street race/drag race with, 429 powered ranchero Gt, several 80-82 f 150's and now my 79 and wifes 94. I won't deny my wifes 351w 4x4 ex cab is fuel thirsty though, but doubt a 5.4 version of her truck would do much better and I bet hers has way better bottom end power which is where a truck needs it most IMO since they are heavy and have the aerodynamics of a barn. I'm glad you have had great luck with your 4.6 T-bird, but i think your the exception rather then the rule. I mean I can't even recall the last time I saw one of those 92-96 4.6 T-birds/cougars on the road,96-99ish mustangs or even many 2000 and older town cars, grand marquis and crown vics but I see tons of older TBI 305/350 Gm vehicles, magnum powered Dodge trucks, 96 and older Ford trucks. I said before I have no brand loyalty at all I like what holds up regardless of make as long as its a Ford, Gm or Chrysler product. My opinions are based on real first hand experience, can't think of much better then that to base it on.

As far as the 1000+ hp junkyard 4.8 100,000+ mile "suicide dyno runs", like I said you probably couldn't make half of that with the equivalent 4.6 engine under the same circumstances, so give credit where credit is due and don't just try to downplay it because of brand loyalty. I have hijacked this poor guys thread long enough, so if you wanna bs and bench race, just send me a pm. I can give you a LONG list of automotive lemons to avoid for one reason or another.