4.6L any better than current 4.0 SOHC

[K Gilbert]

After experiencing an awful first year with my 4.0 SOHC (cam chain tensioners, unresolved pinging, etc.), I'm exited about the rumored 4.6L V8 in the 2001 Explorer.

How reliable is the 4.6L V8? Does it have similar problems as the 4.0? Is it even designed the same?

 

[rock883]

Well, I have heard that some things have been going wrong with the 4.6's because the machines that make the blocks were kinda going a bit wrong after the change from the 5.0 to the 4.6's. I have no idea what is wrong with them or what is really going on there, but I heard something about that, can anyone else help shed some light on this subject??

 

[Paul Gagnon]

The 4.0L SOHC V6 is unrelated to the 4.6L V8. The 4.6L V8 has been in production since 1992 so I am sure that any bugs have already been worked out. I drove a 4.6L powered Expedition for 4 months and while it was a little underpowered(210hp version) for the big fat Expedition, I think it would really scoot in an Explorer.

I am curious though about how Ford is going to fit an engine as wide as the 4.6L into the small engine bay of the Explorer. FYI, a 4.6L is wider than a 429/460.

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Paul Gagnon
Calgary, Alberta
"No Brain, No Pain"
Dead Link Removed

 

[Tom Wilk]

Just to add to what Paul said, the 4.6L is used in Crown Vics, Mustangs, and several trucks. It is reliable. There is a double overhead cam version of the engine available in the Mustang with something in the neighborhood of 300 HP. I'd like to have that engine. Dead Link Removed

It is a completely different design from the 5.0 that it is slowly replacing. In fact, I don't think that it is even made in the same plant. The 5.0 right now, if I'm not mistaken, is only made in Cleveland. It's set to be discontinued soon.

Paul's right, it is a wide engine. The heads are pretty big, since they have the camshaft in them. Perhaps they have redesigned the heads to fit in the narrower engine bay of the Explorer.

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Tom
99 Sport 4x4
SOHC
Auburn Rear & Gerald's old Shackles

 

[CougarX]

I thought I read that Ford was redesigning the explorer for 2001 which included making it slightly larger all around (just the 4-door not the 2-door) to fit the 4.6 in there.

As far as the reliability of the 4.6L: I have a friend with a 91 Town Car with the 4.6 (the 1st car it was in I think). He has 90000 miles on it and hasn't had any engine problems yet. The 4.6L (at least in the Town Car) is a very quiet and smooth engine. You can barely notice that it's running and it moves the Town Car (which weighs about the same as an explorer) with ease. I think this will be a very good engine for the explorer although it will be sad to see the 5.0 finally go. The explorer is the last thing that it is in.


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Brad Bottoms
92 XLT 4x4
My Philosophy is "Bigger is ALWAYS Better"

 

[ex91]

the 4.6 is a kick ass engine and the 4.6, 5.4, and the 6.8 v10 are going to to go to a 3 valve per cyl over the 2 valve they have now(2 intake and 1 outtake hehe)power will go up. the 4.6 dohc will never go in the explorer cause it is hand built at the cost would be to much.

 

[RD1991XLT]

I own a 1992 Crown Vic with the 4.6 v8. It is a great engine. Other than change the oil and filters, I have only had to put on plugs and plug wires. It now has 65K miles. Not even any oil leaks. It is down on low end torque compared to the 302, but feels relly great once the revs get up. By the way, Lincoln is putting the 32 valve 300 horse 4.6 in Navigators now.

 

[ex91]

rd1991xlt the 4v 300hp is the 5.4 intech not the 4.6 intech. the intech it a 4v versoin of the 2v but it is NOT the same, i don't now even it they use the same block

 

[JimJa]

I have a '96 Mustang with the 4.6L. Although it lacks the low end torque of the 5.0L (fixable with different cams for truck applications), it's a very sweet engine. It now has 40K and the car has never been in the shop save for one time a year ago when I did a dumb s**t and washed the engine a little too intensely, filling the #1 plug hole (they are vertical) with water and got a check engine light. I didn't know what the problem was but was sure it was my fault, so took it in. I specifically asked the wrench about the durability of the 4.6. Like the earlier post, the wrench indicated the engine had been installed in Ford products since '91 in '92 models and he said he had NEVER had one apart. Said he pulled one early engine and it was sent back to Ford, but he's never had one apart. That, to me, says a lot.

BTW, the 4.6L in the pickup is different than the one in the car. Probably the same bore centers, but the block is stronger and has longer skirts.

Yes, it's wider, but the Explorer is due for a major redesign for next year.

Jim

 

[RD1991XLT]

ex91- you're right. I assumed it was the leftovers from the Mark VIII.

 

[xr600boy]

The 300hp 4.6L is the hand built cobra motor, that has 320 crank hores power. All the mod motors are to wide for the curent explorers, but it is rumored that a 5.0L mod motor will be in the new explorers. The V8 mod motors have been very reliable, but they are made to run in the higher RPM range, like the cobra motor is said to run its best with 4.56 or 4.11 gears. The pushrod motors have a lot more low end torque.

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92EB 2wd with chip and Flowmaster catback system.
Jim
"The older I get the faster I was."