Whats the difference between a modular motor and an old school pushrod motor?

 

Modulars are over head cam engines, each head has its own cams so there are no push rods.

 

A decal under the hood of my 2002 F250 states that my 5.4 "meets all requirements of 40CFR part 88. This engine is certified for use in all heavy duty vehicles" Can anybody explain what this means? Is a 5.4 in a Super Duty different than one in a F150? If so in what ways?
thanks,

 

If i recall the SD 5.4 is tuned differently than the F150. I believe the SD 5.4 has less horse power and more torque, at least for the 2 valve engines. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

 

I dont think so... the less hp probably was from 97-98 when the motors where not PI. In 99 the modular motors got the PI heads to increase HP and torque.

 

In 99 didn't they convert to DOHC to get the 300hp? I have the early 99 with the SOHC. 260hp i think or 230hp not sure.

So the cams move the valves direct in an OHC motor? Its hard to visualize I am not acustomed to a OHC. Funny thing I went to do my Spark Plug change in my 5.4 and first I looked for the plugs on the lower side of the motor HMMM where the heck are they. Oh you get to them from the top. lol

 

The engine makes the same HP and torque as unsed in the F-150. But to meet EPA standards ford had to certify the engine for use in heavy duty vehicles meaning anyhting 8800 GVWR and higher.

 

I do know my '04 5.4 is a SOHC motor 2 valver. I believe it is 260 horse and do not know the torque rating. I would guess around 330lb-ft give or take 10 by the way it tows. I believe the '03-'04 half ton is 300 horse? Maybe they used the 3V motor in those while they kept the 2V in the SD's?

 

For the F150 5.4s

97&98-235HP and 350ft/lbs
99-2003 and 2004 heritage models-260Hp and 350ft/lbs with addition of PI heads
2004-current-300HP and 365ft/lbs with 3 valve heads and variable valve timing

Now for Superduties I'm not exactly sure when they went from 235 to 260HP, but they used the 2 valve engines through 2004. 2005 model year got the 300HP/365ft/lb 3 valve.

I would say that the SDs got the 260 HP 5.4 in 2000, since they are typically one year behind the F150s.

Mike

 

Good to know! what are these "PI heads" and is there a difference between the 2004 5.4 heads and the 2003 on teh SD's?

Reason I ask was it has been rumored ford corrected the plug spitting problem on the 2004 5.4 2V but I am still afraid to change my plugs...

 

The 2004 5.4 never had a plug problem. Not sure who told you that but its not correct.

 

They are not correct that they HAD CORRECTED the plug problem on the 2 valve? OR they are not correct because it was not fixed?

 

Sometime in 2003 the heads had more threads cast into them.
There is no difference internally in the F150 and SD 5.4L's. The SD's use the 4R100 trans which has different gear ratio's and a high stall speed torque converter.

As for the camshafts, the Cams ride in the center over what is called a cam follower. This takes the place of the rocker arms in pushrod engines. It has a roller that rides on the cam lobe. Under the end of the follower 9away from the valve) is a lash adjuster. It takes the plase of the lifters by using oil pressure to keep the plunger up and the valve adjusted. The other end of the cam follower is like a rocker are and it rides on the valve to open it. The cam followers are not bolted down, they have a cup on the adjuster end (like a pushrod cup on a regular rocker) and the valve end goes over the top of the valve and has dropped edges to keep the follower from turning sideways.

 

thanks for the lesson in OHC motors.

 

1 thanks for the info! 2. Is this oil adjusted valves the reason these mod motors have a tendancy to take a dump around 135K if they have not been properly maintanced?

I've had no issues with, but reading reviews off the net said expect this motor to take a digger between 120 and 150K.