Hey, I'm hoping to get rid of my 95 v6 this summer and I want to get a 94-98 gt. I am looking to do some work under the hood and I was wondering which engine would be easier and cheaper to upgrade, also more reliable, the 4.6 or 5.0? I'm looking to get the hp/tq into the 300's.

 

it'll take work (and money) with either engine. You could always do a PI head swap with the 4.6. That'll take you into the mid-to-high 200's. Then with the usual bolt-ons, you can get into the 300's no problem.

The PI heads I believe started in 99. Also, there are lots of bolt-on GTs that are nearing the 200k and still running fine. As far as reliablity from the 5.0s, you'll have to get a response from someone more knowledgeable.

 

Any other suggestions?

 

Get a used '99/'01 Cobra or '03 Mach 1. You'll pay a bit more but you won't have the headaches.

 

 

Unless your mechanicaly inclined...go with something newer

 

if you are wanting a higher hp street car.. i'd go with a 94-95 gt. That way you can benefit from a cheaper car to begin with, a ton of mods for a relativly good price for the 302 based car. I mean you can throw on a h/c/i setup, pullies, MAF, TB, and some headers and be easily around 300+rwhp and probably 340+rwtq.

I am however a big fan of the 4.6 motors, it just takes alot more work and $$ to get them to see the same kind of HP numbers you can get from a 5.0.

 

Umm unless one of you guys is willing to pay for my car or insurance, I think I'm going to be limited to a 94-98. I'm only 16 and when I sell my car I will be able to buy one for about 3-7k. And I will have a job to pay for the i'm sure outrageous insurance. So a newer gt or cobra is completely out of the question. Scot, thanks for the info, I was thinking about goin with the 5.0 just wanted some more opinions. by the way thats a beautiful cobra!!

 

thanks!

I think reliability on either motor has already been proven. I have a friend w/ a 91 lx and he has 200k+ on his 5.0. It still runs 13.4's with mild mods and has even survived sucking 3 liters of water into the motor. New oil, plugs and just checking everything out and the car is running great.


Now for the 4.6's, look at all the taxi's, police cars and every other ford running a 4.6 in a service environment. They've put thousands of hard abusive miles on these motors and they are holding great. I know a few racers who have bolt on 4.6L motors, running mid-low 12's, with well over 100,000 miles.