Ford 4.6 engine – Mundicoche
The Ford 4.6 V8 was the origin of the iconic family of modular V8 engines that continues to power Ford vehicles to this day.
Ford’s 4.6-liter V8 is more than just a regular V8 engine. While it’s true that you can find it on almost every Ford product, it is an iconic part of Ford’s legacy that forever changed the way Ford engines were developed.
Although it flies under the radar compared to engines like the 5.0-liter Coyote, it’s completely fair to say that without the 4.6-liter V8, the Coyote 5.0 wouldn’t exist.
Lift the hood of any 1991–2014 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle, and chances are you’ll be looking at an eight-cylinder engine.
While it may not seem exotic to see a V8 engine under the hood of a Ford, as it is a big part of its heritage, you may not know that you are looking at an engineering feat that took billions of dollars and years to develop. and perfect.
However, that is exactly the case if you look at a 4.6-liter Ford V8. It was the first variant of the Ford Modular Engine family, which saw a major change in the way Ford V8s were built.
Until the development of the modular engine family, all Ford V8s were old-school overhead cam pushrod-style V8s. Although they had proven their reliability time and time again, the modular engines changed to an overhead camshaft design reminiscent of European V8s.
Since then, the 4.6 and Ford Modular engines have become staples in the automotive community. Let’s take a look at the history and specifications of the 4.6-liter Modular V8 and what cars you’ll find them in.
Ford 4.6 and modular engine development
In the mid-1980s, Ford Motor Company CEO Donald Peterson wanted to revisit the iconic Ford V8. His intention was to develop a V8 that would surpass their current offerings in all categories. This includes power, efficiency, emissions, performance, and smooth operation.
The engineers of the new V8 project closely studied the construction and design of European and Japanese V8 engines and took note of their impressive power combined with their longevity. You would often find these engines lasting 100,000 miles or more without any major maintenance required.
The team opted for a 90-degree “V” angle and a one-to-one bore and stroke ratio to allow for minimal imbalance, allowing the engine to run much smoother and quieter than their pushrod V8s. .
After years of development and Ford investing more than $4 billion in 1987, the 4.6-liter engine was ready for production. Thus, the Ford Modular engine family.
Modular engines have a 100-millimeter bore spacing that allows for many variations in displacement and cylinder heads. There are single overhead camshaft variants, double overhead camshaft variants, two, three, and four valves per cylinder variants of the modular family. There’s even a V10 variant of the modular engine.
Additionally, the legendary 5.0-liter Coyote V8 is based on a modular architecture.
The 4.6 made its first production appearance in the 1991 Lincoln Towncar. Despite being smaller in size than the pushrod V8s it replaced, the 4.6 was more powerful, more fuel efficient, and could power the new Towncar at 60 mph, 1.5 seconds faster than the fastest of the pushrod Towncar variants.
Let’s take a look at the different variants of the 4.6 Modular V8 and which vehicles you will find them in.
Vehicles equipped with the Ford 4.6 engine
Like many other Ford engines, the 4.6-liter V8 has found its way into every branch of the Ford family. It’s found under the hood of everything from Ford’s iconic muscle car, the Mustang, to everyday SUVs like the Ford Explorer and everything in between. Here is a list of the cars in which you will find the Ford 4.6:
This list includes most models you will find a 4.6-inch Ford. However, a handful of more exotic models also have the 4.6, which we’ll talk about later.
Ford 4.6 engine variants
There are three versions of the 4.6-liter Ford engine. Despite the differences, they all share some things. On the one hand, the bore and stroke of each 4.6-liter Modular V8 are the same.
As mentioned above, they have a one-to-one ratio with a 90mm bore and a 90mm stroke. Many internal engine components, such as connecting rods, are identical, although compression will vary depending on the pistons used and the cylinder heads used.
The most widely used variant of the 4.6-liter engine is the two-valve (2v) version which features a single overhead camshaft construction and two valves per cylinder.
Depending on the year and model you find, a 4.6-inch twin-valve engine will develop between 190 and 260 horsepower and between 260 and 302 pound-feet. of torque It has a compression ratio of 9:1.
It’s the 4.6 you’ll find in regular Mustang GTs, as well as Lincoln, Ford, and Mercury SUVs. Additionally, both valves are found on most Crown Victorias and Mercury Grand Marquis of this era.
The three-valve (3v) version of the 4.6-liter V8 is similar to the two-valve version with a few exceptions. It also uses a standard single overhead camshaft construction.
However, the three-valve saw substantial power improvements over the two-valve, especially in the case of the Mustang, thanks to its 9.4:1 compression ratio.
Ford Mustangs from model years 2005 to 2009 with a 4.6 three-valve engine had an impressive 300 horsepower with 320 pound-feet. torque to complete it.
Horsepower was increased for the 2010 Ford Mustang, to 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet. of torque
An output of 292 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. The three-valve variant is also found in 2006 Ford Explorers and 2008 F-150s through the 2010 model year.
Additional Ford 4.6 engine variants
The latest variant of the 4.6 Modular V8 is the four-valve (4v). Unlike the two- and three-valve versions, the four-valve version has a double overhead camshaft. This means that each cylinder head has two camshafts and each cylinder has four valves.
Additionally, unlike the two- and three-valve, the 4.6 four-valve has an aluminum engine block. It also experienced a substantial drop in compression with its 8.5:1 compression ratio. However, one particular variant of the four-valve was the most powerful version of the 4.6 ever installed in a production Ford vehicle.
The Lincoln Aviator, Continental, and Mark VIII came with a variant of the 4.6 four-valve that produced between 260 and 302 horsepower with torque ratings ranging from 265 to 318 lb-ft.
The most notable 4.6 four-valve engine is found under the hood of the 2003 and 2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, also known as the Terminator. It has a remarkable 390 horsepower with 390 pound-feet of torque. nominal torque thanks to its compressor.
Other special edition Mustangs equipped with a 4.6 four-valve engine include the 1996-2001 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, with outputs ranging from 305 horsepower to 300 pound-feet. of torque until 1998 and 320 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque through the 2001 model year. Additionally, 2003 and 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1s were equipped with 4.6 four-valve V8s rated up to 310 horsepower and 335 lb.-ft. of torque
The 4.6 four-valve is known for its ability to handle extra power, especially in the case of the Terminator. There are a handful of high-performance vehicles that also use the 4.6 four-valve V8.
Exotic cars with Ford 4.6 engine
The most notable use of a Ford 4.6 Modular V8 in a high-performance application comes from Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg. The Koenigsegg CC8S features a supercharged variant of the Ford 4.6 four-valve that produces a staggering 646 horsepower and 550 lb-ft. of torque
Additionally, the Koenigsegg CCR also has a Ford 4.6, although it has two compressors. This combination generates a whopping 806 horsepower and 679 lb-ft. of torque
Even though these are modified four-valve versions, it’s still pretty impressive to see these powerhouses from the Ford Modular family.
Other exotic uses of the 4.6 four-valve include the Marco Mantis and Marcos Mantis GT, specialized British sports cars with up to 506 horsepower and 452 lb-ft. of torque
Additionally, British manufacturer MG used the 4.6 four-valve in the MG X-Power SV with 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet. of torque
Overall, the 4.6-liter four-valve V8 is the most iconic of the 4.6 family in terms of power and usability among the various car brands.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Eventually, the Ford 4.6 ceased production in place of its successor.
End of Ford 4.6 engine
The Ford 4.6 Modular V8 remained in production until 2014, although it was not available in the Ford Econoline van series until after the 2010 model year.
2011 saw the evolution of the Modular family in the form of the 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
Eventually, the Coyote replaced the 4.6 on all platforms, including Mustangs, F-series trucks, and E-series trucks.
Overall, the Ford 4.6 is perhaps the biggest twist in Ford engineering history. Since its debut on the Lincoln Towncar 30 years ago, the Modular Family has been a staple of the entire Ford family lineup.
Without the 4.6, the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 would never have seen the light of day.
If you are considering purchasing a 4.6-liter equipped vehicle, be sure to use our free VIN check tool to get a detailed look at the vehicle’s ownership and accident history.
Whatever Ford 4.6-powered vehicle you end up with, you can take comfort in the fact that it has gone through years of development and perfection that have ultimately resulted in a dependable, dependable engine that will take you wherever you go. Decent power to boot.
Photos: Ford
