Coyote Alternative: Trick Flow Gets 466 HP Out of a Ford 2V Mod Motor!
Everybody that has Ford blue running through their veins loves the 5.0L Coyote. And with good reason—a production Coyote makes 435 horsepower and 400 ft.-lbs. of torque, and they’re readily available in crate engine form.
But that doesn’t mean the older 4.6L Ford modular motor has to choke on the Coyote’s dust. In fact, Trick Flow Specialties has built a 5.3L 2V that makes plenty of power on 93 octane gas, features all-new parts, and is practically a drop-in for any 1996-2010 Mustang. Interested?
The build is based on the Ford Performance 5.3L Modular Short Block Assembly. A stout foundation for any 2-, 3-, or 4V modular build, the 323 cubic inch short block is assembled from all-new parts:
- BOSS cast iron block
- Eagle Specialties 3.750-inch stroke forged steel crankshaft with 8 bolt flywheel
- Eagle Specialties 5.850-inch forged steel H-beam rods with ARP 2000 bolts
- Mahle forged aluminum dished pistons compatible with 2- 3-, or 4-valve heads
- New high pressure oil pump
A lot of 4.6L-based builds rely on a supercharger or other power adder to make good horsepower figures. What makes using the Ford Performance short block an interesting proposal is the fact that it’s a great foundation for a high compression, naturally aspirated engine. Here are the compression ratios using factory heads:
- 44cc 2V: 11.56:1
- 51cc 3V: 10.5:1
- 53cc 3V: 10.2:1
- 53cc 4V: 10.2:1
Trick Flow took a trip through its parts bin and came up with a top-end package that takes advantage of the high compression characteristics of the Ford Performance short block:
- Twisted Wedge® Race 195 2V cylinder heads, 44cc combustion chamber
- Track Max® Stage 2 camshaft set, .580 inch lift/234° duration @.050 inch
- Track Heat® EFI intake manifold
- Track Max underdrive damper and pulley kit
- Timing chain set
- Cam followers and hydraulic lash adjusters
On the dyno with a dual 57mm throttle body, 70mm Mass Airflow sensor, 36 lb.-hr. Ford Performance fuel injectors, and a pair of Pace Setter 1 3/4 inch primary tube headers, the 5.3L made 466 peak horsepower and 414 ft.-lbs. peak torque.
Put that in a lightweight SN95 or New Edge Mustang and you’ll have a lot of fun. Summit Racing has even made it easy by creating 5.3L Ford Modular Engine Combos.
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nice combination for the 4.6 the numbers are impressive it sort of gives me a base line on the 5.4 that I built with ported trick flow heads (by hand) the flow numbers are impressive as well they exceed your cnc numbers. H-beam rods, manly pistons 12-1 compression, victor jr intake, BBK 78 mill throttle body, 90 mill mass air, 36 lb injectors, 1 7/8 ” primaries to a 3″ collector long tube headers. I can’t wait to get it on the dyno. Keep in touch Ed
Ed, what was the TFS model # and chamber size for your 5.4L build? I am building a 5.4L 2V engine based on a stock 2008 GT500 short block and am trying to figure out which TFS to use. I’m using a Comp Cams XE278AH Camshaft along with 3.73 gears in the rear along with a 2400 stall speed converter in a Ford 6spd automatic transmission. Your help is appreciated.
Ever get that on the dyno?
Does it still weigh 685lbs and have 30″ width at the valve covers? How about an SN95 Mark IV chevy swap?
Take chevy talk elsewhere!!
Yes, I really dont get the Chevy swap. It makes little sense unless your mod motor and the heads are destroyed and you just so happen to have an LS laying around or were given one.
How hard would it be to put this 5.3 in a 1995 Thunderbird
I just installed this setup in a 95 tbird it’s almost a direct swap gotta mod the motor mount brackets to clear the block but that’s it
What modifications would be required to install into an 05 Crown Vic?