5.4 Vs 5.3
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,211
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From: York, NE
About the F150 losing torque as it revs. If you do the math on HP to torque, you will find that at the 4500 RPM HP peak on the 5.4, it is still making 303 ft-lbs, only 22 less than the 5.3's peak. (260x4500/5252) I haven't seen a dyno, but I would be willing to bet that the 5.4 is making at least the same torque as the 5.3 at 4000 where the Chevy peaks. Both engines have a good flat torque curve, but the Chevy doens't gain any advantage until somewhere between 4000 and 4500 RPM's so in that sense the Ford has the advantage through over 75 percent of the power band. What percent of the time do you actuall y spen driving over 4000 RPM's? Yes that top end is good for racing, but not pulling. And the advantage to the torque lower is not having the need to downshift and cause extra strain on the tranny. As far as under rating motors, true, the Cobras and Mazda's were slightly overratted do to a design change, but they ended up having to pay heavily for it, so I don't suspect that they will be that careless again. In a flat out race, Chevy has proven to be faster, but load them up and then, not so much.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 3
From: Arkansas
Why don't you find some dyno graphs of the new Cobra...funny how a 390hp car is putting down 370+rwhp...guess that takes care of your Ford-only-overrates theory. Lightnings are underrated too...often putting down 340+ rwhp (356 in a friend's '99).
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 851
Likes: 5
From: On top of a big hill...
I owned a Silverado 5.3L for about three years. Two things I found out:
The 5.3L tows stronger than Ford 5.4L fans think it does!
The 5.4L is not as slow as many 5.3L owners think it is!
The 5.3L tows stronger than Ford 5.4L fans think it does!
The 5.4L is not as slow as many 5.3L owners think it is!
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 2
From: Pryor
I've never seen a '99 and newe Lightning put down less than arounf 330 to the rear wheels. So they are all making more than advertised. The new Cobras rated at 390 hp are even worse about being underrated. Did Ford screw up on the '99 Cobras? Heck yeah, and they worked their butts off to correct it. Otherwise they have been ratign their engines right on if not underrating them. Now if you want to talk about overrating the power of truck engines, look no further than the 5.3 L in the Chevy Trucks. Truck Trend did a comparison a few years back (like in '99) and the Chevy only put out 100 and something hp to the rear wheels. Ouch!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
"The 5.3L tows stronger than Ford 5.4L fans think it does!
The 5.4L is not as slow as many 5.3L owners think it is!"
I have a friend who owns a transmission repair business. He frequently has to tow in cars on a flat bed trailer, many times from as far away as Texas. He's a Furd feller.
He traded in all Furd for a Chev with a 5.3L and loves it. Says its one of the best trucks he's ever had. His family thinks he's nuts of course.
The point is... YOU CANNOT say that Chevrolet cannot build a truck that will work and work hard. Somebody in one of these posts said it best, do you think the engineers at GM are really idiots?
Ford builds a darn good truck. I have never said otherwise. What I have argued is that GM can and does produce one heckuva truck that is more than enough to give a Furd a workout.
Nuff said.
The 5.4L is not as slow as many 5.3L owners think it is!"
I have a friend who owns a transmission repair business. He frequently has to tow in cars on a flat bed trailer, many times from as far away as Texas. He's a Furd feller.
He traded in all Furd for a Chev with a 5.3L and loves it. Says its one of the best trucks he's ever had. His family thinks he's nuts of course.
The point is... YOU CANNOT say that Chevrolet cannot build a truck that will work and work hard. Somebody in one of these posts said it best, do you think the engineers at GM are really idiots?
Ford builds a darn good truck. I have never said otherwise. What I have argued is that GM can and does produce one heckuva truck that is more than enough to give a Furd a workout.
Nuff said.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
i have been saying that for awhile. no one here listens. just repeat after me: "ford is the best and chevy always sucks" ok now you are cool. HAHA yea whatever. anyways, i agree chevy makes many good trucks, just like ford, they all have strong points and weak points.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
I'm an old Ford guy, and given the choice between the two I would take the Chevy 5.3 hands down. Fuel mileage on the Chevy according to all the guys I know driving them and in my part of the world they are all 4x4s they get 19-22 MPG. If I need torque I'll call on the last gas engine Ford ever built my 460.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 851
Likes: 5
From: On top of a big hill...
Originally posted by kermmydog
I'm an old Ford guy, and given the choice between the two I would take the Chevy 5.3 hands down. Fuel mileage on the Chevy according to all the guys I know driving them and in my part of the world they are all 4x4s they get 19-22 MPG. If I need torque I'll call on the last gas engine Ford ever built my 460.
I'm an old Ford guy, and given the choice between the two I would take the Chevy 5.3 hands down. Fuel mileage on the Chevy according to all the guys I know driving them and in my part of the world they are all 4x4s they get 19-22 MPG. If I need torque I'll call on the last gas engine Ford ever built my 460.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 2
From: Pryor
I don't think he was referring to a 3 cubic inch difference.
No one that I know gets 20 mpg with a 5.3L Chevy. You could with a 5.7 in a 2wd half ton, but these new engines seem to get worse mpg. I also know that the gas mileage on those 5.7's and 5.3's decreases dramatically as your speed increases. With an extended cab 4X4 with a 5.7 it is possible to get around 19 mpg on the highway if you keep your speed to around 65 mph. Stretch it on out to where you are running about 75-80 and they get about 14. That's a voice of experience.
No one that I know gets 20 mpg with a 5.3L Chevy. You could with a 5.7 in a 2wd half ton, but these new engines seem to get worse mpg. I also know that the gas mileage on those 5.7's and 5.3's decreases dramatically as your speed increases. With an extended cab 4X4 with a 5.7 it is possible to get around 19 mpg on the highway if you keep your speed to around 65 mph. Stretch it on out to where you are running about 75-80 and they get about 14. That's a voice of experience.