Newbie 4.6L Stocker questions

For the past decade I've been messing with street/strip late-model LT1 stuff. I by no means know all there is to know about these engines but did fool with them enough to make them run pretty well.

Now, I'm thinking off going over to the ''other side''. I found a 2000 Mustang GT local with the 4.6L and a 5-speed. It's clean, hasn't been modded or beat on, has low mileage for an 11-year old car, and is priced right. I'm thinking of picking it up and turning it into a street/strip car for now and running E/PS in IHRA. My goal for now would be to run local bracket races and once or twice a year drive it to the track and be able to class race and run the index which is 13.40/8.70 with a weight of 3290. I know NOTHING about Fords and am curious about this combination. My thinking is to mess with it now in Pure Stock and maybe run E/S one day with a bettter stick and race motor.

For now, do you think I could run the index with a 4.10 gear, lightweight wheels and DOT drag radials, good clutch, LT headers and better exhaust, cold air kit, suspension mods, tuning, etc.? I'm pretty sure the 8.8'' is fairly stout. What about the 5-speed? Anyone with experience in this area your input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Bill Harris]

I don't think there are a lot of mod motor stockers out there, although you see one now and then. However, they are very popular in other sanctions.

You will probably get more info if you ask on one of forums that are specific to the mod-motor.

A couple are:
http://www.mustangv8.com/forum/4-6-m...chnical-forum/
http://www.modularfords.com/forums/forum.php
http://www.fordforums.com/f499/
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/4-6-mustang/

Not all are perfomance oriented, but the more you read about the thing the better off you will be.

Welcome to the non-government bail-out side of the world!

[greg fulk]

We had 4.56 gears in Dad's 93 H/PS Mustang along with BBK shorty headers & Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back system....off road H-pipe too. They make a part that goes on the crank of the 4.6L so you can adjust the timing. You should have no trouble running 8.70's 1/8th with it.

Thanks Bill. Over the past couple days I've stumbled onto some of the forums and am beginning to learn a lot. I'm curious as to why there aren't many Stockers built from mod motor Mustangs. I know NHRA hasn't touched the 260hp rating on their classification guide which tells me either it's not quite that from the factory or that no one has really twisted one out to receive HP.

I follow the forum closely and have watched class racing for the past 20+ years. I ran Pure Stock about 5 yeas ago with my '95 Impala SS and grew up with guys running Stock. So I understand a little bit about the "joys" involved with class racing ... which is why I'm only planning to drive to one or two races a year.

Originally Posted by greg fulk

We had 4.56 gears in Dad's 93 H/PS Mustang along with BBK shorty headers & Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back system....off road H-pipe too. They make a part that goes on the crank of the 4.6L so you can adjust the timing. You should have no trouble running 8.70's 1/8th with it.

Would a hand-held programmer allow you to do the same thing? I know on the LT1s we sent the pcms off to get tuned (or done on a dyno) but I'm curious how you tune the Fords.

[Chris1529]

There are not too many mod motor stockers out there with the exception of the new CJ's, but I have seen alot of them run over the years at Fun Ford and NMRA races.
I have only driven one new Mustang with a mod motor. It was a 2002 GT convertible with a 5 speed. Based on my experience with it, I don't think that a 410 gear is low enough. If you are not planning to drive it on the street too much, I think I would go with at least a 456 if you are planning on more street time, I would not go any less than a 433. I would think a handheld tuner to match up with the rest of your intake and exhaust mods would work fine for a street/strip car. Those are alot more user friendly than when the fuel injected cars first came out. If the tuner does nothing else, it eliminates the lag found in the electronic throttles on the newer cars.

I think C clip axles allowed in pure stock?- I can't remember. you might want to check on that. I have an 8.8 in my car, but I have a moser spool, axles, and c-clip eliminators.

[7423]

Can't say much about the mod motor, but I can relate with a 5.0. I run a 1995, 5.0 automatic in NHRA stock. The long block has 134,000 miles on it and has never been apart. Has a legal stocker cam and a good set of valve springs, C4 trans and 5.13 gears with 30" tires. On a good day it will run .30 under the O/SA index at 3315 pounds. Your 4.6 should have no problem running in the low 13's to high 12's.

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by 7423

Can't say much about the mod motor, but I can relate with a 5.0. I run a 1995, 5.0 automatic in NHRA stock. The long block has 134,000 miles on it and has never been apart. Has a legal stocker cam and a good set of valve springs, C4 trans and 5.13 gears with 30" tires. On a good day it will run .30 under the O/SA index at 3315 pounds. Your 4.6 should have no problem running in the low 13's to high 12's.

Charlie, I`m guessing that you swapped out the AOD over the winter, what type of gain did you find with the C4?

[greg fulk]

Tar Heel your car is a natural E/PS add weight to F/PS that's an 8.90 index.

[The Hitman]

Tar Heel,

NMRA Digital and hit the forums..

here is great potential with the 4.6 modular engines.

1999 was the first year for the PI (Performance Improved) heads and intake which flow nicely,
4.30 gears are great for the 5 speed modular.

We have a mostly stock 2003 GT Auto Coupe with nothing more than gears and a hand held programmer the car went 14.00 last year right off the interstate.

Depending on location there are many shops (Modular Depot) comes to mind if your close to Ky, Oh, In.

I am actually thinking of going the same route as you.