Modular 5.4 vs Dart block Winsor

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Rog246

To our American friends -what you maybe don't know is that the Modulars in Oz are ALL 5.4's with either 3 valves or 4. We appear to have a similar situation to what happened when we had Clevelands and you guys were doing all your HP work on the Windsor-comparatively we were years ahead in Cleveo development for a long time and OZ heads are in high demand over there still.
The 4 valve heads heads on our 5.4 have no direct comparison to the 4 valve heads that are common in the US. When Ford Oz decided to use the modular here, they apparently sent some engineers over so they could play in the Ford parts goodies bin and the engine development went off in a slightly different direction. we have 2 different valve lifts used in 3 different HP output engines-a low comp 10:1 approx 350HP+368 lbs Ft torque, then a high comp 11.3:1 approx 390HP + 375 lbs ft TQ then another rated at 424HP & 380 lbs ft TQ. (+/- approx only) and they ALL have a forged bottom end.

Me I'm using the 350HP engine and I'm going to go the the Hi-comp pistons down the track. That being said I love things that rev as I spent a lot of time building Rotarys in Mazda's and NSU's as well as multi valve/multi cam engines as well, so that don't phase me at all.
IMO its hard to beat the sound of a high revving V8 and with the right bits the mod motors rev HARD, and will rev hard all day long-not that you need to. The heads on these motors just flow unbelievable numbers in stock form and there is now a good range of cams to suit, with Herrod doing some here that sound so old school its great. If I find that I want more grunt, water injection and a blower will do me just fine.
Yes the engine is one BIG mother and about the same weight as a Big Block, but you can now get an alloy blocks for pretty reasonable $'s-still dearer that a Dart etc but hey....that's the way it is
Rog

Oh, we have the same heads, we just don't have all the cool intakes that you guys have....

But there's one thing that you mentioned in your post that makes a big difference....the word "track".

A track car or drag car needs different things than a street car. Running to pick up a pizza at 1600 rpm, then sitting in traffic in 98° weather, doesn't require an engine that pulls to 7500, nor is an engine designed for 7500 "right" for that kind of driving. You need more emphasis on low rpm engine characteristics and torque.

Please don't get me wrong in all of this. I like the Modular engines. The components are very tough. I've owned Mod motors, I've had them in Mustangs, I've had buddies with blown 4.6's, etc. I've even got Mod motor parts on the shelf in the shop. But there's something about spending thousands of dollars on an engine, then having to spend another $3-5k on a supercharger. In the Coyote's case, you have to spend thousands on the engine, thousands on the supercharger, and then thousands on the computer and wiring harnesses.

If you want 900rwhp, then I can do that with a big block....(naturally aspirated)