Why are ford engines cheaper and easier to add HP?

[perfxn]

Back befor i got my GT i was looking at a z28 for some reason the deal didnt work out but i talked to mechanic at the time and he was like its easier to add power on your mustang any way? And so far from what ive read on here it sounds the same. Im not gona buy a mustang, i love my 2SS RS and i havnt even met her yet, i just want a better understanding, thats all. thanks

[Vash]

You have one opinion there. There are billions more.

There are a lot of different engines so just an open statement like that is silly.

Did he tell you that in 1965 or today?

It's a long story you might want to start reading up. Each engine has specific issues, plus and minus. Has nothing to do with Ford or Chevy or any brand. Every single engine should stand on it's own.

[Never2LowChevy]

You get what you pay for...

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by perfxn

Back befor i got my GT i was looking at a z28 for some reason the deal didnt work out but i talked to mechanic at the time and he was like its easier to add power on your mustang any way? And so far from what ive read on here it sounds the same. Im not gona buy a mustang, i love my 2SS RS and i havnt even met her yet, i just want a better understanding, thats all. thanks

I would not agree if he was talking N/A to N/A .. however if he was talking about 03/04 cobra or GT500 then I would agree as you can get more HP Cheaper with those engines than on an N/A motor ..

Crowley

[Isshinryu]

Originally Posted by perfxn

Back befor i got my GT i was looking at a z28 for some reason the deal didnt work out but i talked to mechanic at the time and he was like its easier to add power on your mustang any way? And so far from what ive read on here it sounds the same. Im not gona buy a mustang, i love my 2SS RS and i havnt even met her yet, i just want a better understanding, thats all. thanks

Because there's not a lot of it to begin with?

[JJ#48Racing]

Originally Posted by Crowley

I would not agree if he was talking N/A to N/A .. however if he was talking about 03/04 cobra or GT500 then I would agree as you can get more HP Cheaper with those engines than on an N/A motor ..

Crowley

[perfxn]

first of all i didnt say it was my opinion and this isnt a statement its a question.

I was thinking mayeb its the way the engine is made or something? some way said something about modular, i have no idea what that means..?

[truth411]

Originally Posted by perfxn

first of all i didnt say it was my opinion and this isnt a statement its a question.

I was thinking mayeb its the way the engine is made or something? some way said something about modular, i have no idea what that means..?

I think he is flat out incorrect. Read post #4 he gave you a great answer. Aslo keep in mind it depends on what type of mustang. If it is a stang that came with a blower from the factory then he is correct (i.e. 03 SVT cobra and GT-500) if not (I.E. All other mustangs) then he if flat out wrong. N.A. to N.A. the camro makes waaaaay more horspower than the mustang and more potiental too. Hell I have seen 4th gen Camaros makeing well over 500hp with a heads and cam swap.

[Tal]

Your mechanic meant he was more familiar with Ford engines. The costs of parts do vary but generally they both make engines that end up being relatively affordable to modify unlike many imports.

Some Mustang engines are easier to add power to because they come with a supercharger already and you can adjust them for more boost without a ton of work, but not a Mustang GT. If you are going for crazy high horsepower a heavier iron block like Ford uses is sturdy but that matters for maybe 1 in 10,000 cars and you can get more horsepower than you can really use on the street from the LS block, I'm not even sure how much of an issue this is since I don't pay close attention to the hardcore dragster builds.

[perfxn]

ok i see thanks, any one know what modular means as far as engines go?

[Georgie]

Originally Posted by truth411

I think he is flat out incorrect. Read post #4 he gave you a great answer. Aslo keep in mind it depends on what type of mustang. If it is a stang that came with a blower from the factory then he is correct (i.e. 03 SVT cobra and GT-500) if not (I.E. All other mustangs) then he if flat out wrong. N.A. to N.A. the camro makes waaaaay more horspower than the mustang and more potiental too. Hell I have seen 4th gen Camaros makeing well over 500hp with a heads and cam swap.

its not only that it comes with a blower from factory, but a built engine. thats the key. i sound like a broken record but the built engine is what allows for the massive HP in those engines, not the blower. you can put a twin screw on a GT and the stock block is good to about 550 crank. on the built engines its 800+ crank.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by perfxn

ok i see thanks, any one know what modular means as far as engines go?

The ford mod engines refers to the modular plant layout. Tooling can be quickly swapped to build different engines of the same family. It does not refer to the interchangeability of parts between the engines.

[LSxJunkie]

For an SN95 era mod motor? No. Just hands down no.

[Rock]

Originally Posted by Georgie

its not only that it comes with a blower from factory, but a built engine. thats the key. i sound like a broken record but the built engine is what allows for the massive HP in those engines, not the blower. you can put a twin screw on a GT and the stock block is good to about 550 crank. on the built engines its 800+ crank.

+1
Those engines were designed for boost, and power is far easier to acquire out of a boosted application than it is out of a N/A application not counting giggle gas, and is cheaper as well. I also think they have an advantage boost to boost as well considering the 4.6 is a 32V DOHC.

[Camaro_Psycho]

Originally Posted by perfxn

Im not gona buy a mustang, i love my 2SS RS and i havnt even met her yet, i just want a better understanding, thats all. thanks

Spoken like a true poet.

[Jonmalibuss]

Originally Posted by Isshinryu

Because there's not a lot of it to begin with?

[SubSolar]

Originally Posted by Crowley

I would not agree if he was talking N/A to N/A .. however if he was talking about 03/04 cobra or GT500 then I would agree as you can get more HP Cheaper with those engines than on an N/A motor ..

Crowley

+1. I don't think the NA mod motors are that great to modify compared to LS engines. Not enough cubes to work with.

[Robin Lawrence]

The Modular design was to use the same layout on a V6, V8 and the V10. The pistons, rods and valvetrain components were the same between the engines. The tooling could be used for all the engine configurations.

Also the engines are small displacement. They have small bores and long strokes. They felt that this would give them a wider smoother torque band.

Because the ports are small they respond very well to power adders. In NA form they are not very impressive. I feel that the blowers on the Cobra's and Shelbys are a band aid. That is my opinion hehe.

Ford was smart to use the parts they did in the Cobra engine in 03 and 04. They can make a bunch of power.

Now the LS engines are more like a racer would design. Big ports, short stroke and a very light valvetrain. Hell a 5.3 against a 5.4 Modular with the same mods is a rock solid deal and would kick its butt.

Now you take a LS3 that is RATED at 426. On the dyno that I use it made 480 at the crank. Now remember that is without a supercharger.

Your going to have some mod motor guys try an talk about new technology with the overhead cam deal. Well boys that all goes out the window when you look at the long stroke and small bore.

I LOVE theses LS engines

Robin

[rayhawk]

Long stroke, small bore equates to a higher thermal efficiency, generally speaking. Performance suffers due to less space for valves though. This, in my opinion, is the primary achilles heal of the mod motor for performance applications. There are plenty of opinions when it comes to engine design, Ford is not stupid and neither are their engineers so they did a lot of homework to pick this design. I believe that the tradeoffs and the limitations imposed by the design as well as the higher cost make the mod motors very limited in a performance aspect, especially where modifications are concerned.

On the other hand, they have sold a lot of these and made a lot of money, so that goal was certainly achieved. And never underestimate the uneducated consumer's opinion (and magazine writers) influence on what makes it to production. Look at the writeups out there. They often mention the great technology in the LLT V6, and then say oh the LS3 is ok too, but after throwing a stupid jab about the old technology. We all know the LS3 is a beast and it is barely trying, but that does'nt matter because it is not an OHC motor. People love to say how many cams or valves their motor has, even if 99% of them think their DOHC V6 has 2 camshafts.

[ZeeTwentyFour]

Because there are 10X more Mustangs in the world than camaros.

[CamaroSpike23]

depending on which motors you are comparing, mustang motors are normally lower cr than that of the f-bodys. add to that the OHC part and yes. it can be EASIER to add power to the mustang due to the build of the motor. swapping a cam on an OHC motor can be easier than an OHV motor.

but lower compression is one of the leading factors.

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by Robin Lawrence

Hell a 5.3 against a 5.4 Modular with the same mods is a rock solid deal and would kick its butt.

Are you comparing a 5.4 DOHC or SOHC?