Which Modular Engine is the Toughest?

SID297

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Which can take the most abuse and rack up the most mileage? For me it's between the 2V 4.6 truck engine, and the 4V 5.4 Navigator engine. The earlier 4.6 truck motors (and 5.4s too) has aluminum intake manifolds, which won't crack like the car manifolds. I'd say the 4.6 is a bit longer lasting due to the shorter timing chains. Sparkplug threads are a concern though.

The Navigator motor is more complicated, but the Navi heads had better coolant flow around the exhaust valves and ports than other modular heads. That makes them a popular swap for burn-out contest cars.

Any other choices?
 

MachME

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4.6 2V

4.6 2v, Debut - 91 Lincoln Towncar
4.6 DOHC, Debut 93 Lincoln Mark VIII
5.4 DOHC, debut, you guessed it, Lincoln Navigator
 

Papaw

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The wife's '05 3 valve has 265K trouble free miles and still going strong as her daily. We bought it new, hasn't been modified, abused or babied. I know 3 valves are laughed at by some but that kind of mileage is hard to argue with.
 

Recon

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2V. That’s the highest mileage vehicle with original engine I’ve seen at the shop. I won’t comment on 4V’s as every 4.6 4V mustang that’s been to the shop had a broken engine, including mine.


Pick your poison.
 

svtfocus2cobra

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The wife's '05 3 valve has 265K trouble free miles and still going strong as her daily. We bought it new, hasn't been modified, abused or babied. I know 3 valves are laughed at by some but that kind of mileage is hard to argue with.

That fact that they have a huge failure rate because of the cam phaser issues automatically removes it from the list. Plenty have gone trouble free but it is a major issue that destroys the motors.
 

me32

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I say the 03/04 F150

4.6 2v
5.4 2v

Both motors just keep going if maintained. Only ones ive seen fail are modified or never maintained.
 

me32

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That fact that they have a huge failure rate because of the cam phaser issues automatically removes it from the list. Plenty have gone trouble free but it is a major issue that destroys the motors.
Proper oil and correct filter changes regularly seem to fix those issues.
 

svtfocus2cobra

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Proper oil and correct filter changes regularly seem to fix those issues.

Yep, it is key to keeping them running. But the truth is that the VVT is problematic on it which is why all of the companies who remanufactured those motors removes the VVT.
 

SID297

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I say the 03/04 F150

4.6 2v
5.4 2v

Both motors just keep going if maintained. Only ones ive seen fail are modified or never maintained.

Did the later plastic truck manifolds have the cracking issue. I know the truck engines had aluminum intakes up to around 2000.
 

me32

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Yep, it is key to keeping them running. But the truth is that the VVT is problematic on it which is why all of the companies who remanufactured those motors removes the VVT.

I do agree that was the issue especially for 05-08. But the other issue was due to a low volume oil pump that did pump enough oil for the phasers. Add to the fact people were going over 5k miles and going to the local jiffy lube for there oil chanes using oil filters without the anti drain back filters.
 

me32

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Did the later plastic truck manifolds have the cracking issue. I know the truck engines had aluminum intakes up to around 2000.

The 03/04 had the aluminum cross over for the coolant. The older models i think had the complete plastic manifold that would blow from heat.
 

offroadkarter

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The earlier 4.6 truck motors (and 5.4s too) has aluminum intake manifolds, which won't crack like the car manifolds.


2V panthers had aluminum intake manifolds until 1996, when they shifted to plastic (wonder if it was anything to do with the mustang getting the 2v the same year)
 

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