WannaGT

What is the difference between 4.6 and 5.0?
Im 15 and am just starting to get into MUSTANGS and i really dont know the difference. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

nemethjames1

the difference is engine size...... 5.0 is 302 and 4.6 is 289 cubic inch

HAUS

actually the 5.0 is 302 and the 4.6 is a 281 cubic inch. the 5.0 is a push rod motor and the 4.6 is a modular

primetime5.0

this is already posted 4.6 is a 281

HAUS

never mine. my post showed that i was confused.

Quik

nah he was stating that someone had posted 289 to be a 4.6


one is a OHV...overhead valve
other is OHC...overhead cam

one is push rod
other is modular

motors are totally different and dont share anything at all

HAUS

i know he stated the 4.6 to be a 289. i corrected him. i got from the guy that he was saying that this has been said over and over again that a 4.6 is a 281.

HAUS

ok i get it now. mine just posted before his cause a minute later he posted his. and he was correcting the guy who said the 4.6 is a 289. ok i just got confused.

86HOGT

THe 5.0 is a V-8 and the 4.6 is two 2.3L's put together to form a V-8...lol...actually...it pretty much is...but hey...

roundman

EVERYTHING!!!
The 5.0 is the older style single interior cam pushrod operated overhead valve engine that's been around since the early 60's when it was a 260 ci size and it grew to the 302 ci size it is now. the single cam works all 16 valves in the engine and is located deep inside the engine just above the crankshaft.
The 4.6 is the new modular design engine that Ford came out with in '96 to replace the 5.0 pushrod engine. In the 4.6, the cam is located overhead of the valves in the heads instead of down inside the engine and there are two cams, one for each head, in the SOHC (single overhead cam) version of this engine. they also make a DOHC (double overhead cam) engine which uses two cams in each head to operate the valves. the OHC cam engines can rev much easier and higher as the reciprocating mass in the valve train is greatly reduced over that of the older pushrod type engine and is the more efficient design which has basically replaced the old pushrod operated valve engines like the 5.0.
The two engines are so different that almost no parts are interchangable between the two of them except maybe for spark plugs!