Trick Flow heads and 4.6 or 5.4 forged build?

JohnyD05

Founding Member
Mar 17, 2002
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Massachusetts
So I am pretty sure I am going to do an N/A build with a bit of compression and the Trick flow 2v heads.

Random question though. What added work/difficulties are there in building a 5.4 motor. Will the heads flow enough for this setup?

Anyone else done it? If the heads flow enough then the displacement should help alot correct?

Looking for input or others who have triend.
 
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So I am pretty sure I am going to do an N/A build with a bit of compression and the Trick flow 2v heads.

Random question though. What added work/difficulties are there in building a 5.4 motor. Will the heads flow enough for this setup?

Anyone else done it? If the heads flow enough then the displacement should help alot correct?

Looking for input or others who have triend.

Forget the 5.4 its a waste of time it will make less power than a 4.6

I would go big bore aluminum block high compression
 
Hi there mate, I live in Sydney, Australia and I own the aussie 2006 GT FALCON(mustang) which sports the 5.4L 32 valve modular engine.... this engine in the wifes shopping chart is punching out ponies with minimal upgrades such as throttle body and intake, extractors and exhaust and factory cpu retune.... I can honestly say that with the manual transmission and 4:11 diff gears, I smoke rubber 1st...2nd...3rd...and into 4th before hooking up yet still runs sweet for the street!!!! My opinion, look for the aussie built 5.4L 32 valve and you won't have to spend much at all!!!!! Good luck mate :)
 
5.4 making less power than a 4.6?
WTF?
On what planet?
I think Al Papitto would disagree with you.(Clicky)
I agree with the member from Australia.
The 5.4 32V is the way to go.
Monster torque and lots of breathing up top.
If anything, TFS heads are good for a 2V head,
but there is no way they can flow like 4v head.
And it does fit in a Mustang.

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we were talking about 2v 5.4's a 4v 5.4 is a TOTALLY different animal.. :rolleyes: Hell just the fact that it's a 4V it will make a lot more power than he is making now

You show me where in his post he said he was going to go 5.4 4V

The way I see his post he was thinking of TFS heads on a 5.4 and I will say it AGAIN he would be better off in a 2v setup going big bore on a 4.6 aluminum block
 
Very few people who put 5.4l's in their mustangs build them to their potential. Of course they're gonna run out of breath earlier than a 4.6l with the same heads and cams. That's why you need to put bigger cams, higher flowing heads, longtubes, short runner manifold to raise the powerband and make big power, just like the big cube pushrods from trucks. The only downside powerwise is more rotating mass. I think you could build a powerful 5.4l on a stock shortblock since you don't have to spin it as high as a 4.6l.

MMR built a 5.4l engine that they documented on corral forums, TFS heads, big cams, Edelbrock manifold high compression. They are expecting dyno numbers of around 475-500 rwhp, depending on exhaust.
 
True, but if you are going to spend money on heads,
why not spend money on heads that will make more power?
Also, 4V heads, IMHO are more efficient anyway.
2V heads, stock, ported or aftermarket will only flow so much air.
2V heads are the restriction on a 2V 4.6, let alone a 5.4.
If a 4.6 2V runs out of breath at, let's say 5500 RPM,
a 5.4 will run out of breath sooner,
as it wants more air than the heads can flow.
a 5.4 2V will make more torque due to the stroke,
but likely will not make much more HP.
IF that is the case, put the aftermarket heads on the 4.6.
If the OP is definitely wanting to go 5.4 (which I am completely :nice: )
then power wise, the 4V heads are a better way to go.
Much depends on budgeting and what the OP is looking to do.


The only way a 5.4 is worth it is in a 4v configuration. the reason for this is the 4v heads are not effected as much by the limited bore size all modulars suffer from.

some people have tried 5.4 2v builds and found it was not worth it and they would have been better off with a 4.6 sleeved for big bore.
 
Well i hope im not doing the wrong thing....I yanked a 32v all aluminum B head Teksid motor out a 98 Lincoln Mark 8 in favor of a 5.4 32v Navigator motor that will be getting a Kenne Bell next year (Sullivan intake for now)....

I'm normally a pushrod 302/351 guy....And theres still idiots out there that think a 302 has more potential than a 351...

The thing is with larger displacements you cant use 4.6 parts on a 5.4 unless your goals are 4.6 power out of a 5.4....You need to sometimes get a lil more exotic....but its worth it!!!
 
For the time and hassle of putting a well built 5.4L 4V in, I'd rather put a Kenne bell on top of a 4.6 and call it a day... after having spent a fraction of the time working on the car and getting more of a power boost.