Good explanation of modular engines vs. older V8's?

Hi all -

I am curious, when FoMoCo made the switch from the old 5.0L V8 to the 4.6L
modular engine, what is the difference? What does "modular" mean, anyway?

Thanks,
Thomas

The mod motor first came out in the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. "Modular"
refers to a design concept that was intended to make it easier to add
or subtract cylinders, i.e., to turn the V8 into a V-10. Since
Chrysler did the same thing with the Viper motor, adding two cylinders
to its 40 year old small block, and Chevy did the same thing with the
S10 motor, subtracting two cylinders from its *50* year old small
block, I'd say it was not exactly an engineering breakthrough.

180 Out

On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 09:08:32 -0700, one80out wrote:

> The mod motor first came out in the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. "Modular"
> refers to a design concept that was intended to make it easier to add
> or subtract cylinders, i.e., to turn the V8 into a V-10. Since
> Chrysler did the same thing with the Viper motor, adding two cylinders
> to its 40 year old small block, and Chevy did the same thing with the
> S10 motor, subtracting two cylinders from its *50* year old small
> block, I'd say it was not exactly an engineering breakthrough.
>
> 180 Out

Thanks!
Thomas

Thomas Cameron wrote:
> Hi all -
>
> I am curious, when FoMoCo made the switch from the old 5.0L V8 to the 4.6L
> modular engine, what is the difference? What does "modular" mean, anyway?
>
> Thanks,
> Thomas

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/eb40228.htm

Rob

wrote:
> The mod motor first came out in the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII.

No, it was the 1991 Town Car.




> "Modular" refers to a design concept that was intended to make it easier to add
> or subtract cylinders, i.e., to turn the V8 into a V-10.

Sort of... but it's more than that, much more.

> Since Chrysler did the same thing with the Viper motor, adding two cylinders
> to its 40 year old small block, and Chevy did the same thing with the
> S10 motor, subtracting two cylinders from its *50* year old small block,

Again... sort of. The Chevy was only 22-23 years old when it was
configured into an odd-firing V-6(the 3.8 Chevy - not to be confused
with the 3.8 Buick - which everybody did). It was before the S-10...
the S-10/S-15(remember them?) original V-6 was the even-fire 60 degree
2.8 Liter.

> I'd say it was not exactly an engineering breakthrough.

Well, the Modular Ford is a very rigid, precisely built, and clean
running engine(passes w/o thermactor / AIR Pump) with an excellent HP to
CID output... and is an OHC design, sharing NOTHING with any engine it
replaces. It is quiet from a harmonics position, free revving &
breathes well. The accessories are rigidly mounted to the engine too.

See:

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/eb40228.htm

for a good overview.


Rob

Thomas Cameron wrote:

> Hi all -
>
> I am curious, when FoMoCo made the switch from the old 5.0L V8 to the 4.6L
> modular engine, what is the difference? What does "modular" mean, anyway?
>
> Thanks,
> Thomas

Try here too... Mods are covered on pg.2, but this is a good read on
ford engines...:

http://www.fordracingparts.com/downl...nginetypes.pdf

Rob

ZombyWoof wrote:
>>The Chevy was only 22-23 years old when it was
>>configured into an odd-firing V-6(the 3.8 Chevy - not to be confused
>>with the 3.8 Buick - which everybody did). It was before the S-10...
>>the S-10/S-15(remember them?) original V-6 was the even-fire 60 degree
>>2.8 Liter.
>>
>
> After the 2.8 in the S-10/S-15's it was the 4.3 liter V-6 never a 3.8.

Right - the 3.8 was before the S-10. Never said the 3.8 came in a S-10.

Rob

trainfan1 wrote:

> Again... sort of. The Chevy was only 22-23 years old when it was
> configured into an odd-firing V-6(the 3.8 Chevy - not to be confused
> with the 3.8 Buick - which everybody did). It was before the S-10...
> the S-10/S-15(remember them?) original V-6 was the even-fire 60 degree
> 2.8 Liter.
>

Eehhh you sure about them numbers? I know someone that built a V6
Chevy to race and it was the 4.3 V6. I don't remember too much about a
3.8 Chevy.

--
3am is _never_ a good hour for a summoning - a moment of lost
concentration and you've got Nader instead of Nyarlathotep.

Amphetamines are not a good idea either: unsafe at any speed. - Cadbury
Moose

WindsorFox[SS] wrote:

> trainfan1 wrote:
>
>> Again... sort of. The Chevy was only 22-23 years old when it was
>> configured into an odd-firing V-6(the 3.8 Chevy - not to be confused
>> with the 3.8 Buick - which everybody did). It was before the S-10...
>> the S-10/S-15(remember them?) original V-6 was the even-fire 60 degree
>> 2.8 Liter.
>>
>
> Eehhh you sure about them numbers? I know someone that built a V6
> Chevy to race and it was the 4.3 V6. I don't remember too much about a
> 3.8 Chevy.
>

Few do remember. It was the 305 with 2 cylinders lopped off. Think
80-84 Malibu/El Camino/Monte Carlo/Impala/Camaro/LeMans. It was the VIN
"K" engine - 229 CID vs Buick's 231 CID. By 1985 it was 4.3 Liters /
262 CID.

Most people remember the 5.7 L Olds diesel... same era, up to 1984, but
how many remember the 4.3L / 260 V-8(1979-80 - Olds only) & 262 CID
V-6(82-83) diesels? They were available in some GM cars -
Malibu/Regal/Cutlass & other Olsmobiles... also an Olds-based(not
"converted" gas) engine - and I think the 262's were the only "Olds" V-6's!

Rob