Built 5.4

[00XTL]

Everyone puts an LS in their car because they can make alot of power. Has anyone heard of someone building a 5.4 and making a crazy amount of horsepower? Im sure it can be done but you just never hear about it. Just curious

 

[ExplorerTom]

Guys build 4.6s in Mustangs all the time. Same thing (for the most part).

 

[Kevin08]

I don’t know much about building for horsepower but my first step would be the high volume oil pump. An engine known to trash itself under heavy work load from poor valve train oiling wouldn’t be my first choice. But if all the valve train upgrades that Brian Makuloco recommends has been done, sure why not.

 

[jeff kushner]

The 5.4 does not lend itself to high power mods................which is why you are finding so few mods for making big power. JE, one of our members is prob one of the sharpest young guys here in the ways of the 5.4.....you could reach out to him and I'm sure he's give you the scoop why not.



Many of us investigated this very thing before spending $$ on the 3.5, which DOES have huge power potential!

jeff

 

[Machete]

Nope. They use the 5.0 coyote for performance not a 5.4.

 

[Scott Carden]

5.0 coyote is the way to go! And then add a ten speed with stand alone controller.

 

[JExpedition07]

Primary reason is the 5.4L has a marathon piston stroke much like a Harley Davidson. Insane torque, but revs aren’t its thing. It’s made to pull stumps and trailers. The GT500 in 2013 featured a DOHC 5.4 that produced 600 horsepower. But more expensive materials need to be used to get such a long stroke engine to rev that high. It’s all piston speed. That piston needs to travel much faster than a short stroke V8 to cover the same revs. You could supercharge and get 500 horse or so. But the Coyote lends itself better to this with shorter stroke.

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

The '13 GT500 didn't have a 5.4, it used the 5.8 Trinity engine. This one had cams from the Ford GT and a redline of up to 7K for a few seconds at a time with a special feature that came on the GT500.

Bore/stroke is 3.68"×4.17"...

 

[joethefordguy]

Primary reason is the 5.4L has a marathon piston stroke much like a Harley Davidson. Insane torque, but revs aren’t its thing. It’s made to pull stumps and trailers. The GT500 in 2013 featured a DOHC 5.4 that produced 600 horsepower. But more expensive materials need to be used to get such a long stroke engine to rev that high. It’s all piston speed. That piston needs to travel much faster than a short stroke V8 to cover the same revs. You could supercharge and get 500 horse or so. But the Coyote lends itself better to this with shorter stroke.

I'd be interested in 5.4L 2V engine upgrades that increase that "insane torque" even more. so far, all I've found out is shorty headers. any advice? I'm looking for more low end torque.
thanks
jg

 

[ExplorerTom]

I'd be interested in 5.4L 2V engine upgrades that increase that "insane torque" even more. so far, all I've found out is shorty headers. any advice? I'm looking for more low end torque.
thanks
jg

Regear.

 

[JExpedition07]

The '13 GT500 didn't have a 5.4, it used the 5.8 Trinity engine. This one had cams from the Ford GT and a redline of up to 7K for a few seconds at a time with a special feature that came on the GT500.

Bore/stroke is 3.68"×4.17"...

2012 was the 5.4 I was one year off the point remains regardless

 

[00XTL]

Ive also heard that the 5.4 has long conecting rods for an engine. And they can bend easily. Is this true?

 

[CharlyG]

The 5.4 is modular, as is the V-10, of which I've had 3. I'm new to the 5.4. The V10 loves high RPM.

Oh, another thing about V10s is, there's not much to improve on. It gets plenty of air, as one example.

So, I really can't speak to the 5.4, it's still new to me.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford has pretty much left the Modular platform behind with the small bores and low revs. Their newer V8’s all have big bores, big valves, and shorter strokes and rev to 6 grand. Heck the 2021 5.0 revs to 7 grand. The 5.0 technically has modular bore spacing....but it has wider bores and a shorter stroke than the modulars we have come to know.

The 6.2 V8 eats the 6.8 V10 alive. Those big valves just flow more air into the bigger cylinder and make more power.

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

2012 was the 5.4 I was one year off the point remains regardless

There were a few details, the reason I mentioned that the engine displacement was different wasn't so much as to correct you, but to mention that the 5.8 Trinity could rev higher, had more torque/power, and did you see the bore/stroke?

Ive also heard that the 5.4 has long conecting rods for an engine. And they can bend easily. Is this true?

If you bend a rod on any engine, I'd be more worried about the cause of the bent rod, rather than that the rod itself is bent. The con rods of a 5.4 aren't any longer to a disadvantage point of view than other other similar displacement V8. And in all actuality, they're actually fairly robust. In terms of weakness though, the con rods and crank of a 3V won't take a lot of boost or N20. You CAN supercharge one, but the rotating assy IS a weak point with some boost. What amount, I'm not able to say. The GT500, Mustang, and purpose built engines and the 4V stuff....not an issue. Ford didn't seem to think that many folks would be putting superchargers on 3 ton SUV to make them fast(er)...

The 5.4 is modular, as is the V-10, of which I've had 3. I'm new to the 5.4. The V10 loves high RPM.
Oh, another thing about V10s is, there's not much to improve on. It gets plenty of air, as one example.
So, I really can't speak to the 5.4, it's still new to me.

I don't think you quite get that an engine in a heavy duty truck doesn't need or want to rev to the moon. It's meant to operate with max torque lower in the band. Just because an engine revs to 6K doesn't mean you want to rev it there to get peak torque, even on a Mod engine (except for the GT350R).

I too own a V10 Super Duty. There is no way that thing like likes to run at high RPM for it's intended purpose...to pull heavy stuff.
As for improvements....it could've had some, by today's standards. Ever put a power steering pump on one? LOL.............

 

[os1kne]

This is interesting. Always wondered why there seemed to be a relative lack of 5.4 performance mods.

 

[CharlyG]

V10 is high rev. You can feel the power kick in when you get it high(4k'ish) in the range. It does not climb hills well with a trailer @2000-3000. And, when used as an engine for irrigation, they aren't "idling" @ 2k, they are working @ the higher revs.

This is my experience after 3 V-10s.