Still batting around ideas for a new road toy. I need to hit the used car lots and see if I can even get in/out of a Mustang, but I'm seeing several that are in my price range with V8 and manuals.

I know the 5.0 is a great engine, but what's the scoop on the 4.6? Anything I need to be aware of?

Will NEVER sound as good as the 5.0...Just sayin'

The 4.6 was pretty solid. We had a ton of them in the Crown Vics, and if properly maintained they'd last a long time. Check for coolant leaks around the intake and listen for chain rattle as Ford liked to use plastic chain guides that would wear out...although I think that was a bigger issue on the 5.4s. Mainly I'm surprised that you're able to find a '96 up north that hasn't devolved into a redish-brown pile in a driveway by now...I don't see many of that body style left on the road around us.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:
The 4.6 was pretty solid. We had a ton of them in the Crown Vics, and if properly maintained they'd last a long time. Check for coolant leaks around the intake and listen for chain rattle as Ford liked to use plastic chain guides that would wear out...although I think that was a bigger issue on the 5.4s. Mainly I'm surprised that you're able to find a '96 up north that hasn't devolved into a reddish-brown pile in a driveway by now...I don't see many of that body style left on the road around us.

Yeah, me too. Looks good in the ad but will require thorough inspection.

There's also a '91 5.0GT reasonably priced that looks very nice.

A 1996 4.6 SOHC 2-valve won't have the DOHC 4-valve, 3-valve or VVT (variable valve timing) gimmicks, so the engine itself is nearly bulletproof. This does fall within the year range of the front plastic intake runner (actually a coolant crossover between banks) bursting open. A new intake replaces this with an aluminum one. Under said intake is the rubber part of a heater hose that sometimes blows. That's about it. Of course, this assumes the prior owner(s) didn't beat it to shit.

We have a 2002, 6 cyl, auto. That would be strike 1,2, and 3.
It’s red, convertible, in great shape with low miles. So that evens the score. It’s the wife’s car, and she loves it! With the top up it’s a bitch to get in and out, and we’ve toured to Michigan for family visits several times, and good ride it’s not.
I would take your time and try to find the perfect one for you! The hunt can be as much fun as the prize.

https://www.motorreviewer.com/...ne.php?engine_id=186

Article on the various 4.6's. IMO if there was a decent shape 2005 out there with a 2 valve, that would appeal to me. That body change from 04 to 05 still looks good.

quote:

There's also a '91 5.0GT reasonably priced that looks very nice.

That's mo betta.

I have had a few Mustangs; one of them pretty nicely "built". The nice one was an '86 with a 331 stroker engine (I think). It performed neck-and-neck with a friend's 4.6 with an Eaton supercharger, during highway pulls.

I prefer the "fox body" cars in general. I don't have anything sporty now, and I don't yearn for it either. However, if I were to stumble into a pile of money, a notchback fox would be something I'd hunt down.

One of the cars I had was a '95. It got that 331 put into it. That generation is my least favorite, aesthetically (though the interior isn't terrible).

That friend of mine was(is) an excellent mechanic. He never had anything bad to say about the 4.6.

I had a '96 Cobra with the 4.6 DOHC. That engine was incredible for the time, and I racked up about 140K on it before selling it. Only mechanical issue we ever had was a leak on water pump and throwout bearing failure.

Solid and fun car all around, like many I wish I still had it be wouldn't have wanted to keep it for the past 17 years either. We drove the piss out of it though. Finding a decent under 100K one will be tough.

Sounded just fine with Borla Race exhaust, and with strut/shock/spring upgrades it was a carver. Well again, for the time and money.

IMO, I'd have a Fox over a early SN95 [94-98], never liked the curvier SN95, but the later [99-04] more angular ones looked better to me.

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never liked the curvier SN95, but the later [99-04] more angular ones looked better

There's the nomenclature I couldn't remember. The 99-04 cars were referred-to as "new edge" I think. That 4.6 my buddy had was an '01 Cobra. That year Cobra lacked the supercharger from the factory; he bought a like-new takeoff bundle, from someone who opted for a different/bigger blower on their 03/04 Cobra.

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Originally posted by KSGM:

quote:

never liked the curvier SN95, but the later [99-04] more angular ones looked better

There's the nomenclature I couldn't remember. The 99-04 cars were referred-to as "new edge" I think. That 4.6 my buddy had was an '01 Cobra. That year Cobra lacked the supercharger from the factory; he bought a like-new takeoff bundle, from someone who opted for a different/bigger blower on their 03/04 Cobra.

Yep, New Edge [thanks Wiki]
I looked at a few over the years, briefly considered a '99 V6 manual convertible
The SN95 that I've driven definitely had more solid road manners over the more tired Fox cars I've driven.
College roommate had a '92 Notchback that he was building a 347ci stroker for. Think he still has the engine, but the car [roller] and 2 parts cars he had are long gone. I think he still has a '66 coupe at his dad's place, too.

PHPaul rolling in his 4.6..... wonder if he will stop, collaborate an listen

I had a 96 GT Convertible for a number of years and ended up selling it to a member here about 10 years ago.
If it would have been a coupe and not a convertible I would certainly still own it today and would have beefed up the motor and thrown a ProCharger on it.

The Ford 4.6L Modular motor was an absolutely fantastic motor. The 96-98 Mustangs had like 215 horsepower and the 99s got bumped to like 260 hp from better flowing heads and intake which were called PI (Performance Improved).

I did an off-road X pipe, full 3” Magnaflow exhaust, a UPR shifter, OEM 03/04 Cobra wheels with 315s on the rear.
The car was a lot of fun and I still find the 4.6L modular motors had the best exhaust note of all the Mustangs.
This motor was great but never really got the respect it deserved. In all honesty if Ford would have just bored it out a bit more to 5.0 liters it would have garnered much larger following.

Foxes are still my favorite followed by the SN95s I have been eyeballing 1998 Mystic Cobras here recently.

Only issues I had were the Amp for the stereo system blew (replaced with a used one for cheap), switch for the power drivers seat shorted while I was driving and pinned me to the steering wheel, OEM headlights hazed really really bad, I replaced with aftermarket.

If I were to do it again I would have used a catted X pipe so I did not smell like
fuel after driving it, and would have gone with a MGW shifter instead of the UPR. Also would have done better shocks and lowering springs.

Great driving car, fast enough, convertible was great in college but after that not really enjoyable for me.

I missed the nostalgia alert!


And the week we sold it....
Fellow showed up, looked at it, started it, handed me the keys and said "I'll be back in 30 minutes."
My wife said to hide it, close the blinds and don't answer the door.

Edit - that picture is even huger. Never mind.

Can't speak to that modern 4.6, but the 4.7 is running great in my '65.

The 5.0 in my 68 is great too.

I was going to say that with PHPaul's penchant for tinkering with things, he should go with a pre-70 classic. Plenty of room and easy and fun to work on.