Can anyone explain what the term modular engine refers to? Thanx in advance!

 

Modular

Modular engines, such as the 4.6L & 5.4L, have interchangable parts. It's much less costly for Ford to build and assemble engines if they don't need to retool for each part.

 

Modular engines, according to my brother, who is ASE certified, many times have "stress relieved blocks". What this means: do not remove the crankshaftbefore removing the cyllinder heads. Otherwise, the block may break, when you remove the crank first. This sounded outlandish to me. Can anyone else elaborate on this?

 

These engines are interference engines. If the valves are open and the pistions move to TDC they will touch the valves. If you remove the crank and leave the rods in you must reinstall the crank in the exact same position you removed it in. If any of the valve train moved you are in a pickle. You have to remove at least the cams and reinstall them after reinstalling the crank.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Modular engine means they are all molded and stamped out to the same specification to fit a wide variety of trucks, vans crown vics etc… The engines arrive on the assembly lines in a crated form and are bolted in. As AJRango said, the cost savings and production time is the key. The only differences are the accessories and fans.

 

So what I gather from the replies is that have interchangeable parts and are interference engines. Are all other engines parts ie, Chrysler/ GM interchangeable, or does this refer to being interchangeable between different types of engines, ie 4.2/4.6/5.4L?

 

Thanx in advance for the help!

 

lowriderf150,

What Ford engineers did is sat down and decided to design engines that could be used in numerous models and parts that could be used in various engines. These are their modular engines. There's a pretty good article about in here.