Going In-Depth With Ford's Twin-Turbocharged V6 EcoBoost Engine

Whoa, what's w/ the bashing of the Modular engine family? How is it a nightmare to maintain/fix? The only thing different w/ the Modular vs. Pushrod is the Mod engines have no pushrods, two longer chains, and chain tensioners/guides. I fail to grasp how this set-up is not only less efficient, but more complex? Unlike any pushrod engine, the Mod engines can live at high rpms all day long, can have cam swaps done by just removing the timing and valve covers only, doesn't loose any valve lift and duration due to pushrod flexing, and unlike pushrod set-ups, they have chain tensioners to keep timing more exact. Plus, unlike pushrod engines, multivalve heads can be done cost effectively, and since there are no pushrods, nothing pokes through the intake ports, and best of all, the heads put the spark plugs either on the intake or hemi style for easy changing. I'd take that over GM placing them by the exhaust any day. As for the Mods not having the tricks the import guys have, well, blame yourself. The high performance engines suffer the same problem the old street Boss 429 suffered: wrong people buying the car. So, compromises like hydraulic lash adjusters, tame cams, good mileage, etc. is something Ford does while the import guys don't. Hondas use solid adjusters, Subarus aren't the tamest to drive, etc. Remember, the Cobra R w/ the 5.4 did a job on the Z06 for that year. Replace the IRS w/ a solid axle for less weight, add some slightly more aggressive cams, current versions of those heads and bam, that car can still dominate the current LS3 vette, even if you add the interior back in it. However, the engine family isn't expandable but neither are the old SBFs when compared to the SBC. However, Ford's approach is better since it makes the engines more compact. It seems like you guys are afraid of new technology so anything new to you guys is just junk.

yeah bassman some people are not welcoming new tech, but what are you gonna do but I do dislike the mod motor from a displacement standpoint wish I could get em a bit bigger but aside from that i think its a great engine family

Originally Posted by bassman97

It seems like you guys are afraid of new technology so anything new to you guys is just junk.

Nope, not afraid of it and don't think it is junk - I've owned two and built one. I have one now in my truck.

But the motor is something of a conundrum in some applications. Take my Lightning for example.

It is a SOHC engine, 2V per cylinder, with a supercharger and displaces 5.4L. Due to the rod ratio it doesn't want to rev much. The 5.4L mod motor in the Lightning can't take advantage of the SOHC valve train advantages, it is far larger than a pushrod setup, and it is heavier to boot.

The SOHC mod motor is physically much larger than an equivalent 5.4L SBF or 6L SBC, both of which can rev higher and are much smaller - even with positive displacement superchargers in the intake valley.

Do I hate it? No. The truck is my daily driver, makes over 450 hp at the wheel and 525 ft-lb torque, and will haul ass. But I could easily achieve that with a LT1 style motor and blower, LS1 motor and blower, or a SBF motor an blower - positive displacement blowers are all I'm considering for this discussions' sake.

But I still wish Ford had continued the pushrod engine design and had a modern pushrod motor to offer. I think time will show the pushrod design is superior for hp per cubic ft and weight of the said engine. Have a look:

Well, has anyone heard if the new BOSS/Hurricane/Experimental engine is gonna come out in anything anytime soon? Isn't that supposed to be a 6.2L pushrod/hemi type engine? I used to know this, but someone please refresh my memory.

I haven't read or heard about it, but I don't read as many car rags as I used to. I'd be excited to hear about it and certainly would consider buying what it was in.

I remembered this piece on the pushrod engine and actually found it online:

The Pushrod Engine Finally Gets its Due - Column/Larry Webster/C/D Staff/Columns/Features/Car and Driver - Car And Driver

And don't forget, long time OHC proponent Mercedes Benz built a pushrod engine for the Indy race back in 94 or 95 and kicked ass with it (yes, a little rules loophole as I recall but nonetheless, it happened).

But you see, the problem w/ the 5.4 is that it was designed as a truck engine. Large size due to big block sized stroke (4.165"). The 4.6 makes a better comparison performance wise due to the smaller stroke. Also, because of the stroke, the engine is going to be large but even so, the cylinder heads do make the engine larger, that's the nature and disadvantage of OHC. However, as far as 2V, the only real advantage is torque and size. Multivalve heads always provide more power. This is why in race applications (except for home bread stuff like NHRA, NASCAR, etc.), OHC engines are used since not only do the heads flow more, but the valvetrain is more stable at higher rpms. Except for springs and retainers, the stock valvetrain on a Mod engine can do 9,000+ rpm no problem. Remember, more rpms=more power w/ the right cam. So, OHC engines are more efficient hp/ci or hp/lb but w/ lower rpms, if the OHV engine weights less, then yes, the old OHV set-up is more efficient. However, to get the engine to weight similar, non-stock parts are needed (Aluminum heads).

dbu8554, yes, that's the worst part about the Mod: displacement. However, the engine was designed for FWD applications, hence the tight bore centers and small bores. If Ford didn't plan for this, you would have had an engine family using more typical SB bore sizes yielding larger sizes.

However, fear not, the Boss engine is coming that can go up to 7.0L. Also, 72BlackonBlack, the engine is going to be OHC and wedge heads (except for 4V which is penthouse). Rousch has a 777 version that is detailed in Car Craft (7,000 rpm, 7.0L, 700+ hp).

Originally Posted by bassman97

However, fear not, the Boss engine is coming that can go up to 7.0L. Also, 72BlackonBlack, the engine is going to be OHC and wedge heads (except for 4V which is penthouse). Rousch has a 777 version that is detailed in Car Craft (7,000 rpm, 7.0L, 700+ hp).

Wow.... I just read that article not too long ago.... Man I have a short memory.

Ironic to since in that issue also, Car Craft bashes the Mod engine saying that because the aftermarket supported the Gen III engines, the GM engines are a better design. However, they neglect to mention that just like the Cleveland, to make a Mod engine better, you really only need factory parts or some head work. Heck, even the stock intake manifold can't be beat, unlike the GM counterpart.

bathroom reader time... gotta throw this in.... anybody ever checked the width of a BOSS 429 vs 32V 4.6L -- I did after i purchased a 4.6L 32V and trans to go between the shock towers of my 69 Mustang. The width is about the same... @ 31" if i remember. i decided not to cut my shock towers like the BOSS 9 mod so I sold it. I was amazed at the width of the 32V. loved the motor in my 96 cobra tho..

Just look at my post about two up from dimensional precise CAD that compares the SB Ford, the FE Ford, and the DOHC 4.6L motor. The mod motor is HUGE, makes a 429/460 seem petite.