5.4 lt engines fitted to what ?

Robert Logan · 02-03-04, 03:51 AM

Could someone please tell me what 5.4 lt engines are fitted to what cars / trucks in the USA.

ie. 5.4 sohc to lightening

Could someone also give me some contact details for sourcing one of these engines.

Many thanks,

Robert

Adam C. · 02-03-04, 08:09 AM

The primary use of the 5.4L is in the F-series pickup and E-series vans from 96 to present. The lightning, as you mentioned, has the supercharger.

There was a 4 valve version in the 2000 cobra R, but good luck finding one of those (only 300 made)

There is also a 4 valve version in the lincoln navigator I believe. It will never fit in a GT with the height of the intake manifold however. I think the lincoln is the only 5.4L with an aluminum block.

The 2004 F-150 has the new 3-valve 5.4L, complete with variable cam phasing.

In tuth, the 4.6L offers far more options. It came in 2-valve version in the continental, mustang, f-series, and many others from 93 to present.

4-valve versions came first in the lincoln MK-VIII and then in the 96-present Cobra. The 03 Cobra is of course supercharged. The 05 mustang GT will have a new 3-valve 4.6L with variable cam phasing.

In any event, these guys can get you just about any note worthy variant of the engine http://www.karkraft.com/engines.htm

Also, if you are looking to build something with a little more power:

http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com/

Sean Hyland can build about anything.

Good luck shoving a 5.4L, especially 4-valve, into a GT. It is wider than a 427 Cammer. Attached is the picture showing the difference between the 5.0L and 4.6L 4-valve. The 5.4L is even wider and taller.

Adam

Mark Worthington · 02-03-04, 10:40 AM

The Lincoln Navigator block and heads appear to be the hot setup for the naturally aspirated drag racing guys. There's an epic thread (900+ posts!) on the 5.4 on the Corral

Chuck · 02-03-04, 11:12 AM

With that wide angle the exhaust system would have to make some tortuous power robbing bends. I don't even think we'd need Adam to model it but I'd love to see the pictures anyway.

Twehttam · 02-03-04, 11:29 AM

My plan, as it stands now, is to utilize the mod 4.6 4v and you're right re: the '00 Cobra R...good luck. The intake manifold and cylinder heads are impossible to find factory replacements. Even if you could get that motor it would be a nightmare if something were to go wrong.

Gary Gibbs · 02-03-04, 06:57 PM

Just need to install the heads on opposite banks so that the exhaust exits the center of the engine and the air is fed in the sides where the side scoops are [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**patbarry** · 02-03-04, 07:18 PM

Chuck, I'm no engine expert by any means, but look what Renault did with their 'flat' V10 in their F1 programme (spelled it that way for you English). Of course, they do have gobs of money...

Lynn · 02-03-04, 08:11 PM

Gary,

Ford has done that before. I am not sure if they switched heads, but I have seen pictures of a Grand Prix car with the headers in the valley on top of the engine. Perhaps you know this and hence the comment. Acutally, it is a very logical way to set the engine up from a heat flow perspective, at least statically. Since heat flows up the lower placed intake should not suffer as much from density loss due to heating.

In the real world I don't think that convection has that much influence on where and how fast heat moves around in an engine bay.

Good luck, Robert on shoe horning a 5.4 in an RF. If anyone can, its you!

Regards,
Lynn

jimbo · 02-03-04, 08:18 PM

Actually the Ford 4cam Indy engines can be set up with the exhaust ports and pipes in the center; I think Bill Wonder's engine looks like that. Si the idea isn't altogether new...but I think the rate-limiting part of it all for the new Ford engines is the width of the cylinder heads, even without the exhaust system the OHC Ford modular engines won't fit in a GT40. Besides (this got brought up before) in terms of bank/buck ratio they don't compete well.

Kevin M · 02-03-04, 10:19 PM

Ford first did the exhaust in the V trick on the 1964 4-cam Indy engine. It had the exhaust exiting into the V and the intake came down between the cams in the top of the heads. It was quite a step forward from the 1963 Indy winning Ford 255 which was basically an all aluminum version of the 260 (and later 289) street engine.

flatchat(Chris) · 02-03-04, 11:28 PM

www.gt40australia.com has fitted some 4.6 quads so I guess the 5.4 should fit as well. Its a broard sucker aye!
Good Luck
"Better go make some more round/square things and swarf"

Robert Logan · 02-04-04, 02:38 AM

Many thanks for the help so far.

We are indeed fitting a 5.4 lt engine to one of our cars. I have already fitted the 4.6 lt engine and I am looking for a supply of the engines from the US as we have customers interested in this configuration. The quad cam and SOHC engines are now used on Ford sedans in Australia but I still need a GOOD supply for the engines.

The engine is 13 inches wider than the 302 and taller and slightly longer. They are a great engine but best of all they comply with the emmissions throughout the world.

Best wishes,

Robert

Chris Melia · 02-04-04, 04:25 AM

Hi Guys
thought these photos from Jim Rosenthal may inspire you?
Don't know if Jim is going this route with his new Monocoque or not?
Chris *

Chris Melia · 02-04-04, 04:26 AM

Jim2

Rick Muck- Mark IV · 02-04-04, 07:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Gary,

I have seen pictures of a Grand Prix car with the headers in the valley on top of the engine. Regards,
Lynn

[/ QUOTE ]

This worked on the 255 DOHC Indy engine because the intakes were sandwiched between the cams. If you could flip the heads on a 4.6 or 5.4 you would still have the issue of the intakes being outboard. I think it would be difficult to flop the heads as the cam drives are angled to the crank center and would be mis-aligned if flipped.

BTW, I remember seeing a USAC sprint car with a Ford DOHC installed where the problem was they couldn't have the exhaust up top in a front engined car. They flopped the heads which put the exhaust low on the sides and VIOLA!! It is possible on the 255 as the cam drive is via gears and the heads are "mirror image" units. And Bill Wonders GT 103 with the 255 is a neat setup and was the original intention of the GT program. The fact that they had a hard time making the engines go 500 miles much less 24 hours was a reality check for Ford.

I have access to an original 255 DOHC manual, a friend wrote to Ford in the 60's asking for pictures of the engine and they sent him the complete owners shop manual! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

Rick [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Rick Muck- Mark IV · 02-04-04, 07:10 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Could someone also give me some contact details for sourcing one of these engines.

Robert

[/ QUOTE ]

Robert,.

If you wish to email me at (nospam)rcmuck@earthlink.net (dropping the nospam) I can put you in touch with the people at Ford Power Products who wholesale the Ford engines for specialist manufacturers. If you only need to buy one engine I can help also.

Rick

Bill Hara · 02-04-04, 08:44 AM

As Robert knows very well, there is a 4 valve version of the 5.4 selling right here in Australia however prices for an off the shelf purchase from FPV (Ford Performace Vehicles) would make it cheaper buying a T44 transaxle.... Not quite but still hideously expensive. The engine specs for the Aussie 5.4 GT motor are as follows:

Engine details for the FPV GT BA P
Engine code = Boss 290
Engine location = Front
Engine orientation = Longitudinal
Engine Cofiguration = Eight cylinders, V-formation, chain driven DOHC per bank, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, cast-iron block, aluminium alloy head. Capacity (cm3) = 5408
Fuel system type = PFI
Maximum power = 290kW @ 5500rpm
Maximum torque = 520Nm @ 4500rpm
Cylinders = V8
Valve train = DOHC
Valves per cylinder = 4v
Block material = Cast iron
Head material = Aluminium alloy
Compression ratio = 10.5:1

Good Luck Robert, as I may have to use one if I don't finish my car before years end!

Bill.

jimbo · 02-04-04, 12:28 PM

I should give a photo credit for the pictures of Bill's car, as I didn't actually take them. They were shot at the Radnor Hunt Concours in PA last fall, by my friend Ken Merritt (Ken's dad is Dick Merritt of Ferrari note, and author of several Ferrari books). They were at Radnor with the Bizzarrini 5300 Strada which went to PB last summer. Ken shot a number of photos, and was kind enough to give them to me. Bill's car doesn't get out all that often, it was nice of him to bring it so that folks could appreciate it.

jimbo · 02-04-04, 12:32 PM

I WISH I were putting one of those engines in my GT40. I am using a 302, 1968 2 bolt block, but up to about 400 hp with forged internals and a 3x2 Weber setup no one else has tried yet. I will either be very happy with it, or feel like the first penguin pushed off the ice to see if the polar bears are still there. I think those 4cam Indy engines come up for sale from time to time, but parts are a little hard to get, and my project is already over budget. Like there was a budget to begin with.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]