Hey guys, I've always wondered this. But which truck would pull better? A 1997 F150 4x4 with the 4.6 and auto? Or a 96 F150 4x4 with the 5.0 and auto? With both trucks being bone stock, which would be faster?

I'm just curious to how our body style of trucks holds up to the generation that replaced them.

 

In my opinon the 96 with the 5.0 is the better choice. However, both trucks may not be equal in the gearing or tire size department. That could change things some.

 

The 1996 5.0L was rated at 195HP@4200 RPM and 270 ft/lb torque @2400 RPM. The 1997 4.6L was rated at 230HP@4500 RPM and 290 ft/lb of torque @3250 RPM. The trucks weigh approximately the same. For a given gear ratio/tire size I would say the '96 would be a better low end puller. The '97 would be the better highway hauler.

You can see the torque peak is higher for the 4.6L. Toss in some 4.10 gears, it would be a nice puller and highway cruiser. If you want to start doing some serious mods I would go with the larger 5.0L pushrod motor. The parts are a lot cheaper, plus you already have 20+ cubic inch advantage over the 4.6L.

 

Actually in the year they were introduced the 4.6 was rated the same as the 5.0 in HP.. 210hp. TQ advantage goes to the larger displacement every time no matter what the rating is.. that's just physics, and the potential HP advantage is also with the 5.0 because of it's larger bore. 300hp is a few cheap boltons away with the 5.0 while that will cost you big $$ with the 4.6.

 

I have never seen a 5.0L truck engine rated at 210 HP for any model year. I'm sure Paul has a better source than I do.

We both agree for the money spent it's hard to beat the old 5.0L engine

 

The newer roller motors where rated at 210...Lew

 

5.0 > 4.6




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I'd prefer then 4.6; I've owned both the 5.0 and the 4.6

 

zxwut?, I'm just curious, which engine got better fuel mileage?

 

As I recall, they were both about the same.

 

The newer trucks do seem to function a little better than the old ones when comparing all stock trucks, overall I think the powertrains(engine/trans/gearing) are optimized a little better in the new trucks. But Ford never really got anywhere close to utilizing the full potential of the pushrod motors IMO, it was a great platform that really only needed some tweaking and updating. Overhead cams and all that goes with it aren't needed to make more power and meet modern emissions requirements, sorry to say but the GM's motors are proof of that. It's stupid easy and cheap to power-up the 5.0 to something that will easily eclipse these early 2v modular motors, 260-280hp and 350TQ is only a cam and exhaust away. The one thing that really benefits trucks with smaller engines in particular and something we're only just beginning to see are 5 and 6 speed transmissions, the old 4 speed autos really handicap a truck when it's doing work, the AOD in particular is really bad because of the large ratio change between 3rd and 4th, it doesn't even have the advantage of a locking torque converter that can provide an intermediate between the top gears, I notice this really bogs down the 5.0 at anything less than 60mph, but the 5.8 didn't have as much problem with it.

 

X-2 on that , when they went to the 4.6 in the mustangs they could no longer compete with the 5.0 , The 5.0 was much better....Lew

 

I totally disagree with this. I've owned two drag cars; one 1989 Rustang with a 5.0 and a 1999 Gt. I found the '99 easier to work on and the work that I did do seemed more beneficial to the 4.6. It comes from the factory with much better flowing heads and I felt it was easier to launch.

 

Well thats fine , i never had any problem launching a fox body 5.0 & could run circles around the 4.6 2V , you think its easier to work on the 4.6 ? What all did you do to it & what were your times ? drag car ? not street driven ? ....Lew

 

I didn't have a problem launching my 5.0 either Just said the 4.6 is easier. As for the "running circles around the 4.6," I guess that depends on what generation 4.6 you're talking about and what you had done to your 5.0. My 4.6 was blown with suspension work, dyno tuned, and regeared, running 28x11.5's; my 5.0 had bolt ons with a regear and street slicks. They were both plated to drive on the street but I only drove them to the strip and back home. I lived about a mile down the road from the drag strip. I haven't been back to the track since I moved to Washington, so about 5 years, so any times I'd give you would be made up cause I simply don't remember