[product1620]

Well, Ive been going round an round in my head about which path I want to go with my swap. Im consider one of two options: an allumium 4.6 2v or a 5.4 2v I'd like oppinions on pros and cons of both, including cost performance etc. As far as the 5.4 goes ive heard mixed things about the weight, some say its a tank, while others say it only weighs a little more, some say its nothing but a torque motor, and has no place in a sports car, others say it makes the 4.6 look terribly weak. My problem is that I havent seen in 1/4 mile data to back up the 5.4 as a good swap. Now the alluminum block 4.6 intrigues me because of weight savings, which leads to better e/ts and improved handling, but I won't get crazy tq like I would from the 5.4, and im not sure were to look to find one of these motors, im not even sure which cars they come in, or which blocks are good ect. Another thing that bugs me is I just recently got a spec clutch, and alluminum flywheel, for my car, which is 6 bolt design, and from what ive heard the 5.4 takes the 8 bolt design, so I'd have to get new ones, is this the same story for the alluminum block 4.6 too? Any and all help/oppinions is appreciated.

Thanks

[r3dn3ck]

My 5.4 drives just like my 4.6 but it has a crap load more grunt. There's no making a 4.6 match the 5.4 build for build/mod for mod. The 5.4 engine and all the stuff to get it in weighs 25-50lbs (depending on the block year) more than the 4.6 so all the weight crap is just a bunch of hooey.

My car has scored kills on: a S197 Shelby GT Mustang, a well modded 350z, a last gen camaro and a NA 01 cobra to date and it's not even tuned right. It revs fast and clean to 6000rpm (built bottom, cams, ported heads, intake) or slightly above, blows the tires off at any suggestion and makes a fun street and track car. I raced the thing in AutoX this year and I tell you what, the handling and not sports car nonsense is just that.

An aluminum 4.6 can take your stock 6 bolt crank but that's a bad thing to make decisions based on.

Take any year 5.4, slap your heads on it and go. Many have run 12's with just the 5.4, their 4.6 intake and a decent tune. If you want to seriously discuss and figure it out then you need to go to mustangboards.com and check out the 5.4 sticky in the 4.6 section. 4K responses full of information you want.

FWIW, I used a fidanza aluminum flywheel on mine and I gotta tell ya.. you'll probably be happier with steel or iron. The aluminum is so light it's a bitch to drive sometimes. Combined with my DF kevlar clutch it takes some practice to be smooth and nobody else likes my clutch but me.

[ModMustang97GT]

I seen some numbers. As far as torque goes the 5.4 totally out does the 4.6. But if you don't upgrade the cams and intake, the design is a truck set up. You won't lose any HP just gain torque. If you get the new intake and cams, it will be a much better engine power wise than the 4.6. AS for weight, your looking at a 50 lbs difference between the iron and aluminum block. Then adding 25-50 more pounds for the 5.4 plus fitment issues. The real difference is 75-100lbs. off the front end and More space for power adders. Lower weight, better weight distribution and more room to upgrade. Id do aluminum.

[product1620]

Any other oppinions? Maybe others out thier have done either of these swaps?

[r3dn3ck]

why not ask the guys on mustangboards... we've hashed this out there for years already. You'll get both sides there.

[acidtonic]

Aluminum 4v man......

Why move to the 5.4 when the 4.6 has hit well over 1000hp. Quite a few people are running around in 600-900hp 4valves.

5.4 is great if you have such a huge turbo that the low end suffers.... but really I'd go with the lighter weight myself.... My 97 Cobra is at least under 3000lbs and its a blast to drive even with everything else stock.

[product1620]

4valves are great, but that is is a fairly difficult and expensive swap, The options Im considering, are between an alluminum block 2v or a 5.4 2v. Thanks.

[ReverendDexter]

Personally, I'd rather lose the weight than gain the torque, but it really depends on what you want to do with the car. People talk about 25 lbs off the front end not being worth it, and I would disagree heartily; I would *love* to pull 25 lbs off the front, and 100 lbs would be even better. Of course, I'm already running an aluminum block

[acidtonic]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter Personally, I'd rather lose the weight than gain the torque, but it really depends on what you want to do with the car. People talk about 25 lbs off the front end not being worth it, and I would disagree heartily; I would *love* to pull 25 lbs off the front, and 100 lbs would be even better. Of course, I'm already running an aluminum block

+1 Amen

You put the battery in the trunk yet? I also think every little bit up there matters.

[r3dn3ck]

have you actually driven a 5.4 stang? You should try it before making blanket statements. It's really quite a lot more fun than people think it would be.

[acidtonic]

Originally Posted by r3dn3ck have you actually driven a 5.4 stang? You should try it before making blanket statements. It's really quite a lot more fun than people think it would be.

Whom are you accusing here? From what it appears most of us have been stating opinion. Clarify

[ModMustang97GT]

A 5.4 2v is a truck motor at heart. Like the late 60's and early 70s cars. They were build to make torque. Torque is great, and torque wins races, but the engine needs some re-working to make alot of horsepower. Horse power is what gets you that high trap speed, horsepower is what gets you that pull past 5000rpm, horsepower is what gives your car the get up and go when your on the highway. Torque on the other hand, is the kick in the pants off the line, the break em lose when you downshift, and the low driveability. Torque makes the car less revy and much more touchy at low speeds. Both are great, and the 5.4 has gobbs of torque. The issue is, it doesn't make great HP. And not to mention the fact that the heads limit the horsepower on a 4.6l, just think what the loss of efficiency is on an extra .8 liters.

A 5.4 will no doubt be fun, just like a manual truck. Tons of fun below 20 mph. But get going and they kind of fall flat. Ofcourse, retune it, get a new cam, get some LT's and a new intake. And it will scream like the 2000 Cobra R mustangs. But you got to do all those if you don't want to be driving the same car you got now with more torque down low. Most people who I have heard that have done it. Say that untill they get all the new intake and what not, that its really just to be different. Otherwise its not all that worth it.

[TheLubracano]

What about a DOHC 5.4? I have been lurking around the mustangboards.com for months and have seen most of r3dn3ck's posts and I have looked at his website and it seems like a good plan, but I just haven't found anything about trying to stick a 5.4 4v under a hood - it seemed to work well enough for the Cobra R - has anyone seen an attempt at this?

[r3dn3ck]

Originally Posted by ModMustang97GT A 5.4 2v is a truck motor at heart. Like the late 60's and early 70s cars. They were build to make torque. Torque is great, and torque wins races, but the engine needs some re-working to make alot of horsepower. Horse power is what gets you that high trap speed, horsepower is what gets you that pull past 5000rpm, horsepower is what gives your car the get up and go when your on the highway. Torque on the other hand, is the kick in the pants off the line, the break em lose when you downshift, and the low driveability.

There's no such thing as a "truck motor". There are cams and heads that are better for truck use but a "truck motor" is a misleading statement at best.

Originally Posted by MM97GT Torque makes the car less revy and much more touchy at low speeds. Both are great, and the 5.4 has gobbs of torque. The issue is, it doesn't make great HP. And not to mention the fact that the heads limit the horsepower on a 4.6l, just think what the loss of efficiency is on an extra .8 liters.

Less revvy... you're nuts. My 5.4 is more rev happy than a stock 4v 4.6. It revs HARD to 6000 and winds up faster than a cobra (blip the gas at idle and it'll go from 800rpm to 6000 in a hearbeat, thanks to properly set up heads with proper cams). While the current exhaust is corking output at 5500rpm it's not affected the rev speed AND there's more in it with longtubes which are BTW, being custom made right now.

Originally Posted by him again A 5.4 will no doubt be fun, just like a manual truck. Tons of fun below 20 mph. But get going and they kind of fall flat.

Bullshiat. Now I know you've never driven one. I SMOKE NA cobras with my car... yeah, that's falling flat all right. Oh yeah... and I short shift at 5500 just to be mean to those 7500rpm spinning 4 cammers.

Originally Posted by yeah...again Ofcourse, retune it, get a new cam, get some LT's and a new intake. And it will scream like the 2000 Cobra R mustangs. But you got to do all those if you don't want to be driving the same car you got now with more torque down low. Most people who I have heard that have done it. Say that untill they get all the new intake and what not, that its really just to be different.

This is the single most true and well put together thought you've had and it conflicts with earlier things you've stated. Any 5.4 swap does require a tune. You'll want proper cams for the desired tq curve and LT's are mandatory for high HP numbers. BUT it's just as much fun with shorties, stock heads and stock cams. Ask anyone that has one. The intake is for convenience mostly but it will be a better power maker than the PI on plates.

If you're in Northern California, why not come out and take a ride in my truck-like car that's only fun at 20mph. BTW... my 5.4 and 3.55 gears is faster from 60-120 than my old 64 Dart GT was with a 400hp 360cid and 4.10's in back.

[r3dn3ck]

Originally Posted by TheLubracano What about a DOHC 5.4? I have been lurking around the mustangboards.com for months and have seen most of r3dn3ck's posts and I have looked at his website and it seems like a good plan, but I just haven't found anything about trying to stick a 5.4 4v under a hood - it seemed to work well enough for the Cobra R - has anyone seen an attempt at this?

Yes. It's just as easy as any 4v swap but with one more piece... you'll need to call up Maximum MOtorsports and ask them to whittle you out a set of their 1/2" k-member spacers. Those will allow the 5.4 to clear the brake booster and give better exhaust clearance. You're welcome.

[HBK_2007]

Originally Posted by product1620 4valves are great, but that is is a fairly difficult and expensive swap, The options Im considering, are between an alluminum block 2v or a 5.4 2v. Thanks.

MAFIA MOTORSPORTS RACING.....THE "ANTI-RICE".....

its not that hard