4.6 vs 5.4
New User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville TX
Hi, I have one frasie for you ( there ain't no replacement for displacment).
5.4 all the way. If the 5.4 are so bad why are the mustang guys swaping them in to replace there 4.6s. One word MORE POWER. Mabey hold out for one of the new 6.2s. I see that being the hot new swap. Does anyone know if ford will be offering a 6.2 crate engine? Would be nice. Anyway they are both good motors but you can make more power with the same upgrades with a 5.4. Have fun!
5.4 all the way. If the 5.4 are so bad why are the mustang guys swaping them in to replace there 4.6s. One word MORE POWER. Mabey hold out for one of the new 6.2s. I see that being the hot new swap. Does anyone know if ford will be offering a 6.2 crate engine? Would be nice. Anyway they are both good motors but you can make more power with the same upgrades with a 5.4. Have fun!
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
I invite you to do this with a 2V 5.4L.
The cylinder heads and intakes available cannot flow enough air to make good power with the 5.4L's displacement. You take the same identical modifications and apply them to a 2V 4.6L and a 2V 5.4L, and the 4.6L will destroy the 5.4L. The 4.6L will make far more HP,and will make only slightly less PEAK torque.
The Mustang guys that are swapping in 5.4L's to make good power are NOT using 2V's-they're using 4V engines.
JL
The cylinder heads and intakes available cannot flow enough air to make good power with the 5.4L's displacement. You take the same identical modifications and apply them to a 2V 4.6L and a 2V 5.4L, and the 4.6L will destroy the 5.4L. The 4.6L will make far more HP,and will make only slightly less PEAK torque.
The Mustang guys that are swapping in 5.4L's to make good power are NOT using 2V's-they're using 4V engines.
JL
New User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville TX
I disagree totaly. I run a 03 superduty 4x4 with a 5.4 2v i use trick flow heads and the profmance 5.4 l intake and comp cams. The 4.6 and 5.4 heads are the same parts number( the same head). So how can they not flow as much air.Look at the flow cart for the twisted wedge heads from trick flow( they out flow 3v heads).The 5.4 can only make more power cuase its bigger. I will hook bumpers with any 4.6l truck and drag it backwards
.No contest. I can even out pull some modifed powerstrokes and 6.8l v10s. so the prof is in the puding.
.No contest. I can even out pull some modifed powerstrokes and 6.8l v10s. so the prof is in the puding.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
I have a 98 expedition and if you read the ratings it says its one of the best truck engines ever made,mine is a 98,not even the pi version!
Made wards top 10 engines
My expedition pulls a car trailer with a full size bronco 4x4 cacked with mud all over the place,can run 90mph in it like that,has towing power at 1500 rpm's
You wouldnt believe what hills it can go up with the t/c still locked up,even with a trailer,its like a train!
I took the two big cats off the exhaust and have a chinamaster muffler,sounds pretty good and pulls great,un corking the exhaust really wakes up the top end in these,the stock shift point is at 4700-to low for the exhaust now.
Bottom line the 2v 5.4 was designed for truck,thats why it works great in a truck.Truck cams,exhaust,restrictive intake,all made for pulling,not racing.
I have a 98 cobra and a few mark 8 engines,the 4.6 is ok,but really its too small and the lt1 z i have will whip its a$$ mod to mod
Made wards top 10 engines
My expedition pulls a car trailer with a full size bronco 4x4 cacked with mud all over the place,can run 90mph in it like that,has towing power at 1500 rpm's
You wouldnt believe what hills it can go up with the t/c still locked up,even with a trailer,its like a train!
I took the two big cats off the exhaust and have a chinamaster muffler,sounds pretty good and pulls great,un corking the exhaust really wakes up the top end in these,the stock shift point is at 4700-to low for the exhaust now.
Bottom line the 2v 5.4 was designed for truck,thats why it works great in a truck.Truck cams,exhaust,restrictive intake,all made for pulling,not racing.
I have a 98 cobra and a few mark 8 engines,the 4.6 is ok,but really its too small and the lt1 z i have will whip its a$$ mod to mod
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
I disagree totaly. I run a 03 superduty 4x4 with a 5.4 2v i use trick flow heads and the profmance 5.4 l intake and comp cams. The 4.6 and 5.4 heads are the same parts number( the same head). So how can they not flow as much air.Look at the flow cart for the twisted wedge heads from trick flow( they out flow 3v heads).The 5.4 can only make more power cuase its bigger. I will hook bumpers with any 4.6l truck and drag it backwards.No contest. I can even out pull some modifed powerstrokes and 6.8l v10s. so the prof is in the puding.
.No contest. I can even out pull some modifed powerstrokes and 6.8l v10s. so the prof is in the puding.Where's your dyno sheet?
Where's the timeslips?
Where's the proof?
Put the same intake, heads, and cams on a 4.6L 2V and a 5.4L 2V, and the 4.6L 2V will make more HP, and only slightly less peak torque. What the 4.6L 2V will do in that situation is make more HP and torque across the RPM range. Even the Trick Flow heads CANNOT make up for the small bore, valve shrouding, and lack of a good enough intake that prevent the 5.4L from making good power. What will happen to a 5.4L 2V is a quick peak to HP and TQ with a terribly fast drop off after those peaks from airflow going supersonic in the intake port.
JL
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
The Ford Modulars make excellent power given their terrible bore spacing and valve shrouding.
JL
New User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville TX
Hi, This is and intresting debate. With the same heads, cams, and intake and header and exhaust size. Inesance the same motor minus some displacment. How can the intake flow less if it is the same?
Anyway, I will have some dyno numbers after the holidays. I would like to see some from a 4.6 with a simialer set up.
As for timeslips my truck has 38" tires and weight 7000lbs its no drag racer.
but i do do pulles and mud bogges and extreme off road trail riding and hill climbing. And would like to see a 4.6 truck with the same tire size and relative weight out do me on the drit.
I'm not boasting just intrested to see how a smaller motor with the same set up can out do a bigger one.
I am farly new to building moubduler fords but have lots of experince with
ford windsor small blockes and 385 series bb ford motors in my off road trucks. SO enlighten me with some prof.
Thanks
Anyway, I will have some dyno numbers after the holidays. I would like to see some from a 4.6 with a simialer set up.
As for timeslips my truck has 38" tires and weight 7000lbs its no drag racer.
but i do do pulles and mud bogges and extreme off road trail riding and hill climbing. And would like to see a 4.6 truck with the same tire size and relative weight out do me on the drit.
I'm not boasting just intrested to see how a smaller motor with the same set up can out do a bigger one.
I am farly new to building moubduler fords but have lots of experince with
ford windsor small blockes and 385 series bb ford motors in my off road trucks. SO enlighten me with some prof.
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
Hi, This is and intresting debate. With the same heads, cams, and intake and header and exhaust size. Inesance the same motor minus some displacment. How can the intake flow less if it is the same?
Anyway, I will have some dyno numbers after the holidays. I would like to see some from a 4.6 with a simialer set up.
As for timeslips my truck has 38" tires and weight 7000lbs its no drag racer.
but i do do pulles and mud bogges and extreme off road trail riding and hill climbing. And would like to see a 4.6 truck with the same tire size and relative weight out do me on the drit.
I'm not boasting just intrested to see how a smaller motor with the same set up can out do a bigger one.
I am farly new to building moubduler fords but have lots of experince with
ford windsor small blockes and 385 series bb ford motors in my off road trucks. SO enlighten me with some prof.
Thanks
Anyway, I will have some dyno numbers after the holidays. I would like to see some from a 4.6 with a simialer set up.
As for timeslips my truck has 38" tires and weight 7000lbs its no drag racer.
but i do do pulles and mud bogges and extreme off road trail riding and hill climbing. And would like to see a 4.6 truck with the same tire size and relative weight out do me on the drit.
I'm not boasting just intrested to see how a smaller motor with the same set up can out do a bigger one.
I am farly new to building moubduler fords but have lots of experince with
ford windsor small blockes and 385 series bb ford motors in my off road trucks. SO enlighten me with some prof.
Thanks
Then we'll talk.
JL
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 799
Likes: 13
From: East L.A.
I had a friend with a '90 Bronco, 4.9 straight six with minor mods and manual xmsn. He was a big off-road/climber and used to embarrass a LOT of big V8 guys.
I would LOVE to see ANYbody post a dyno sheet. I see guys on motorcycle pages post them to back their talk. So far, I've never seen a truck page dyno post.
I would LOVE to see ANYbody post a dyno sheet. I see guys on motorcycle pages post them to back their talk. So far, I've never seen a truck page dyno post.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
I had a 2002 f-150 with the 4.6l it was a good motor I pull a 18 trailor all the time loaded with 4 to 5 big board quads. Pluse gear and extra fule cause when we go out we are going for a day or to way out in the bush. The 4.6l pulled the weight okay but it seemed like it was allways working way to hard the pull the weight. The 5.4l in my truck suits me for what I do it has way more bottom end torq thats for sure pulling hills the motor dont bogg down just pulls . 5.4l is the way to go unless you just want a truck to do the odd small job. not sure how heavy the 4 to 5 big boar quads would be with a 18' PJ trailor.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
I think the 5.4 and the 4.6 feel about the until you add weight. You add a trail rig, 2 wheelers all your camping equipment and 4-5 people you can definately tell the 5.4 pulls alot better. My dad has a 5.4 in a 99 F150 and my mom has a 97 with a 4.6 and pullin the rigs the 5.4 actually got better mileage. Wasn't working as hard and wasn't shifting all over the place. Can't use my f250 to compare though cause I have 4:11 gears. With 35's that F250 pulls just fine. By the way my 5.4 has 264000 and have only done a few coils and the plugs. My dad's 5.4 has 170000 and hasn't even replaced a coil. To each their own, but I would go with the 5.4 over a 4.6. Seems the 4.6 runs at a higher rpm constantly, but that could just be in my head lol.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: Queens, NYC
I invite you to do this with a 2V 5.4L.
The cylinder heads and intakes available cannot flow enough air to make good power with the 5.4L's displacement. You take the same identical modifications and apply them to a 2V 4.6L and a 2V 5.4L, and the 4.6L will destroy the 5.4L. The 4.6L will make far more HP,and will make only slightly less PEAK torque.
The Mustang guys that are swapping in 5.4L's to make good power are NOT using 2V's-they're using 4V engines.
JL
The cylinder heads and intakes available cannot flow enough air to make good power with the 5.4L's displacement. You take the same identical modifications and apply them to a 2V 4.6L and a 2V 5.4L, and the 4.6L will destroy the 5.4L. The 4.6L will make far more HP,and will make only slightly less PEAK torque.
The Mustang guys that are swapping in 5.4L's to make good power are NOT using 2V's-they're using 4V engines.
JL
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
The 5.4L 2V will make more peak torque, that peak torque will fall over very fast, and it will fall short on HP to the 4.6L.
I've seen it on the dyno repeatedly. Airflow capability of even the best 2V cylinder heads can barely sustain the N/A requirements of a 4.6L.
JL
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 2
From: Pelahatchie, MS
I'm stepping in on this whole deal a little late, and JL, you have piqued my interest. To restate the question over, it basically has nothing to do with displacement. The 5.4 starves itself out due to the heads which allows the 4.6 to come out ahead. Right? (assuming the engines are modified to require more air. Stock for stock, no mods, the 5.4 should come out ahead.....)
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
I'm stepping in on this whole deal a little late, and JL, you have piqued my interest. To restate the question over, it basically has nothing to do with displacement. The 5.4 starves itself out due to the heads which allows the 4.6 to come out ahead. Right? (assuming the engines are modified to require more air. Stock for stock, no mods, the 5.4 should come out ahead.....)
JL