The number one concern and...
The number one concern and deterrent for a Four-Valve modular swap is the physical size of the engine itself. This photo shows a very clean installation of an early Four-Valve Cobra 4.6L in a '65 convertible, which actually fits under the stock hood naturally aspirated.
Modular Engine Swap
The shroud has long been lifted when it comes to the stigma of modifying a classic Mustang beyond the point of reversing it back to stock. Now don't get us wrong, we love the fact that there are so many bolt-in and bolt-on options for improving the performance of a classic Mustang, or any other '60s era machine, and the car be easily returned to its original state if ever so desired. A small-block upgrade of a tired inline-six car ups the fun factor of an otherwise basic "secretary's" vehicle, giving it a second chance at becoming what is inherent in its DNA. The same goes for brake upgrades, wheels and tires, suspension, and more.
For those who enjoy a challenge when building a car, swapping one of Ford's modular engines into a '65-'66 Mustang is becoming more and more popular, but why do the more difficult mod swap when there are hundreds of versions of the traditional small-block that bolt in with little or no trouble? The shift in the hobby over the past decade from restoration to restomods, with a focus on driveability, is the first clue that this may be a very good idea and a solid upgrade. At some point all of us have appreciated being able to jump into a late-model vehicle regardless of the season, twist the key (every time) and put pedal to metal, driving to any destination with confidence. To have this type of comfort, reliability, modern efficiency, and power wrapped up in a classic design, well that's just plain gearhead heaven. It also makes for plenty of double takes when people peer under the hood of a classic Mustang at a show or cruise night.
Randy Borcherding and his...
Randy Borcherding and his crew at Painthouse in Houston, Texas, opted for the Martz Chassisworks frontend assembly as their solution for fitting the wide modular. The Martz kit features sanitary aluminum aprons and radiator support.
With millions of Ford Modular V-8 vehicles produced over the past decade, a little research will tell you that the deals are out there and that the aftermarket performance community has indeed embraced the modular engine design, making these engines ideal candidates for transplants into classic vehicles.
Although the 4.6L SOHC modular engine debuted in 1991 in the Lincoln Town Car, the 4.6L Four-Valve engines showed up in the Lincoln Mark VIII in 1993 and in Cobra Mustangs in 1996, quietly creating another performance legend with their increased efficiency coupled with a smooth and wide power band.
An '04 Terminator drivetrain...
An '04 Terminator drivetrain motivates this '65 Fastback, and knowing Painthouse's stellar reputation you'll no doubt be seeing this car in the future. The subframe is braced against the firewall with the provided support bars.
The 5.4L Triton Series (V-8 and V-10) debuting in 1997 with its taller deck height and increased bore is no stranger to high performance, and the supercharged Harley Davidson F-150 we drive can prove it! V-8 applications such as Lightning, Ford GT, and later Shelby Mustangs provide a proven heritage of performance and reliability, but due to its increased physical size, the 5.4L takes a second chair for swap outs in our smaller first-gen Mustangs most of the time.
Modular Four-Valve engines are more desirable for the potential of the deep breathing head design, and are available in a surprising array of donor vehicles, including, '93-'98 Lincoln Mark VIII, '00-'01 Qvalle Mangusta, '03-'05 MG X Power SV, '01-'08 Panoz Esperante, '03-'04 Mustang Mach 1, '03-'04 Mercury Marauder, '03-'05 Lincoln Aviator, and '96-'04 Mustang Cobras (with the '03 and '04 SVT "Terminator" application sporting an Eaton M112 supercharger with it's external air to water heat exchanger and "in valley" intercooler).
Tommy Wright of Etheridge,...
Tommy Wright of Etheridge, Tennessee, chose a Rod & Custom Motorsports' Mustang II front suspension kit for his '65 coupe. This system is available with several engine mount options. Tommy's came with 4.6L mounts, making this installation easier, but not without challenges-some of which are solved with a 4-inch cowl induction hood for blower clearance.
The dangling carrot that this article deals with specifically, is the Holy Grail of modular engines, the hand-built Romeo '03-'04 4.6 "Terminator" Cobra engines. With power potential safely into the 800 hp range on a stock bottom end, the Four-Valve Terminator engine has become deservedly legendary in a very short time; and who among us would not lust after some seat time behind a 2,800-pound 500-800hp classic Mustang?
The performance potential is staggering, putting a car like this into the realm of six-figure supercars, and just as capable with some well chosen stopping and steering upgrades; all of that with the convenience of EFI and fuel economy of a six-speed manual trans. That's called having your cake and eating it too!
To feed the basically stock...
To feed the basically stock Terminator, Tommy used a Rock Valley customized stock fuel tank with an integrated late-model Corvette fuel pump and sender. Since the Vette pump is a return-style,....
....but the Terminator engine...
....but the Terminator engine utilizes a returnless fuel system, Tommy's solution was a Delco fuel filter with dual inlet, single outlet feed line to match up with the engine's requirements.
With LPGT, we wanted to enhance...
With LPGT, we wanted to enhance handling and braking to match the awesome power potential of the '04 Cobra engine. After much research, the product that made the most sense for the project was the Muscle Up Performance full chassis that provides its own rigidity and multiplies it with the '66 coupe's unibody stiffness, creating a very crisp, corner carving combination. The Muscle Up chassis comes with high quality Heim joints, unequal length control arms with radius rods, late-model Mustang power rack-and-pinion steering, solid link sway bars, QA1 adjustable coilovers and your choice of engine mount options.
Out back is an adjustable...
Out back is an adjustable triangulated four-link with a 9-inch housing, but you can custom order a number of options including Ridetech's air suspension, depending on your project plans.
One of the best features of...
One of the best features of a full chassis is the ability to remove the body and work with easy access from the top to fabricate plumbing, exhaust, driveline, and suspension, or even make the chassis interchangeable with several different bodies. The 18-inch Rocket Racing Booster wheels we chose for the project are modern, but still classic looking.
The '66's unibody is attached...
The '66's unibody is attached to the chassis with provided brackets that get welded to the floor and toe boards, as well as T-links that utilize the front leaf spring perch as a rear mounting point.