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Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine

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Elhigh
02/16/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
If there isn't much parts interchangeability, they probably shouldn't call it the Modular. And that's too bad, because being able to dip into common parts bins goes a long way toward keeping costs down.

Although I reckon there's a lot of commonality in the dimensions, which would make it super-simple to machine different engines on the same equipment. So I guess that's modular.

Whatever. EOTD is one of my favorite Jalopfeatures. Without engines in them, we'd be talking about pushcarts and rickshaws.
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MrEvil
02/16/09

@Elhigh: Another commenter stated that the "modular" name is due to the modular tooling of these engines, not of the engines themselves. The tooling was modular enough to allow for V10 and the never produced V12.
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Elhigh
02/16/09

@MrEvil: Damn, can you imagine Ford having the balls to roll out a V12? And not the twinned-up Vulcan from the Indigo concept, a whole new mill. Boy that'd be something to see.
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günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi
02/15/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
my '96 t-bird came to me second hand with a '98 lincoln MkVIII DOHC engine and custom gearing, as well as a reflashed ECU and upgraded suspension and wheels/tires..

i got the thing/t-bird/thunder chicken/thundercock (it was male..) for less than KBB value and loved that thing... not fully sure what i was posting this story for to start with... dinner scotch caught up with breakfast scotch.. and wow.. look at that... that car made me some money... loved it.. miss it... would like to buy another... but it'd never live up to the same expectations (low 12s in the 1/4 mi)
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Maymar
02/15/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
Just one thing, Wikipedia tells me that the Explorer stuck with the Windsor V8 through 2001.

I still really hope to own something with one of these at least once, either a Panther or a Mustang.
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MrEvil
02/16/09

@Maymar has too much utility character: Panthers were the first Ford's to ever get the Modular V8s back in 1991. So if you want a Panther with a 5.0 or 351W in it you'll have to do the old "box" body panthers pre 1990 and older.
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Maymar
02/17/09

@MrEvil: I knew that (I lusted after my grandparents' '86 Crown Vic for years), and I've already rocked the 5.0 (an old F150). I was talking about getting something with the article's Modular V8.
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P161911 probably shoudn't have
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
My family has a fair amount of experience with these. The first was in Mom's mid 1990's GrandMa. Probably due do Dad's rather indifferent oil change habits, it died a premature death due to a bad oil pump. It managed to limp in as a trade in with 100k something miles on it. My Dad had a MkVIII that he managed to put well over 200k on, before something catastrophic happened, cn't remember what, might have been an oil pump too. One of the best has to be the predicessor to this engine the 5.0 HO motor. Dad's MkVII had almost 250k and was still going strong zero engine work and the original unrebuilt automatic transmission. I'm still amazed that the modular V-8 fits in the Mustangs. From what I remember these things are wider than a Chrysler 440.
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IamZardoz
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
Have the 4.6 DOHC in my 04 Marauder. Not a torque monster at the low end but if you happen to be going more than 30 mph and stab the throttle it can be pretty damn exciting, esp. for a man sized car.
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eggwich del fiero
02/14/09

@IamZardoz: The Maruader has good punch, I almost bought one. All the Marauder forum guys I've talked to gush over the same Supercharger application for it, but I can't recall the name. It's already a fast and fun car, like yous said midrange she goes, but add that SC and it becomes a Destroyer of Hope.
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UDMan
02/14/09

@eggwich del fiero: I'm sorry guys, the Last Marauder was nothing but a Crown Victoria in Drag. This was the last Marauder:

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Novaload
02/14/09

@UDMan: Yeah, but that there was kind of a souped up Marquis with a different rear end, which was in turn an old Monterey.

And instead of being in drag, I would say the dark Maurauders I've seen were more like a butched up Marq.
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eggwich del fiero
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
Dude, I just bought one of these engines today! (With a Mustang wrapped around it.) It's already gurgly and beastly, can't wait til it's broken in and I can start hooning.
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eggwich del fiero
02/14/09

@eggwich del fiero: and yes, it was a Valentine's gift to myself, and I'm totally getting laid for it.
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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

@eggwich del fiero: By yourself.
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Novaload
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
Oh, and so far, we have a DOTS with a paleolithic Citroen wagon; a LeMons post and Engine of the day.

Murilee's batting 1000!
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Novaload
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
I have one of these tucked in a Grand Marquis outside.

Say what you will, it's RWD, body on frame, good grunt and plenty of speed. Huge trunk. Definitely not cop bait--in fact, it's kinda invisible to cops--but it is frequently mistaken for a cop car. I was thinking about getting a sticker for the left rear saying "Not A Cop" so people would just pass instead of hanging back there trying to decide.
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wheels OF satan!
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
hey

nice post on the first OHC v-8 in usa

how about a engine of the day ....

ALFA Twin Cam Aluminum 4

from the 50's!

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Murilee Martin
02/14/09

@wheels OF satan!: We had its Fiat Twin Cam cousin a while back.
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UDMan
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
OK, offf subject, but how about this for engine of the day (or perhaps weekend as it were)....

yes, the Chrysler Turbine!
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Graverobber
02/14/09

@UDMan: I saw that thing run at the Harrah museum back about 30 years ago. I think I was still a fetus at the time.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
02/15/09

@UDMan: Yeah, yeah, it's a wild mill. But the sign says ENGINE of the day, not turbine or powerplant...

But if Murilee would run the largest straight Lycomobile engine for me, then I guess you could have your turbine.
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wheels OF satan!
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
yea

BALLS out move by ford...

when they took away the pushrods from a TRUCK engine

don't know how all the rednecks thought about a F-150 with some

FORREIN sounding Overhead Cam engine

and the hot mustang and shitty ass truck with the same engine?

tooooo avant-garde!
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
02/14/09

@wheels OF satan!: Aren't the truck blocks cast iron and the Mustang blocks aluminum? That would make them different engines in my book, even though they share displacement and basic specifications.
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Graverobber
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
The Ford modular V8 seems to be the official engine of the California Highway Patrol too. I can't count the number of Crown Vic, with smoky behind the wheel, I've seen over the years. They're especially noticeable in the rearview when they light you up. Fortunately, that hasn't been a recent occurrence for me. If it's good enough for the CHiPs, it's good enough for me.

Hurray the Engine of the day! Man, all we need is a PCH and this will have been like the best Jalopnik day ever!
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DoctorNine
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
I had a T-bird with a 4.6 in it. Would do 140MPH and still got great mileage when driven reasonably. Not as worthy of special attention as a 351 or a 429, but well designed for the application.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
Think I could slap one of these into a FC Econoline?
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NewbiusMaximus
02/14/09

In reply to Engine Of The Day: Ford Modular Engine
I know I'm going to get some flack for this... but how about some Honda engines Murilee? Despite the "VTEC JUST KICKED IN YO" stereotyping, some of Honda's "2 litres and under" engines are pretty amazing. It IS the Honda Motor company, after all.
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Murilee Martin
02/14/09

@NewbiusMaximus: You mean like this one?
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