Besides where they are produced of course, are there any differences between the Romeo and Windsor motors?

Is one preferred over the other? If so why?

I know that you can tell which one you have by looking at the 8th character in the VIN: If it is a W it's the Romeo, and if you have a 6 it's the Windsor.

 

HI!... The ROMEO engines (4.6) have a girdle that runs on top of the cams on the heads. The WINDSOR does not. The ROMEO has a slightly different timing chain guide set up. The WINDSOR has more valve cover bolts than the ROMEO. The WINDSOR also uses a dowel set up on the main caps. IMO the WINDSOR is the better of the two engines. Most of the problems you hear with the 4.6's are the ROMEO buit design.

 

Not what I wanted to hear as my code is a "W"!

Why in the world does "W" stand for Romeo anyway... makes no sense???

Anyway, no problems with mine @ 124.6K!!!

 

The number of crankshaft flange bolt holes are different between the two engines.

 

HI!... Yes you are correct. All WINDSOR engines (4.6,5.4,6.8) have a 8 bolt crank while the ROMEO engines only have a 6 bolt crank. The 4.6 COBRA 4.6 has a steel 8 bolt crank though.

 

So the WINDSOR would be the better choice for a blower due to the stronger bottom end?

Are all Lightnings then equipped with a Windsor?

 

HI!... All 5.4's and LIGHTNING engines are built here in WINDSOR. 95% of the LIGHTNINGs were built here in ONTARIO (OAKVILLE) as well. Just proves tha us CANADIANS build the best trucks!LOL!

 

I have had numerous Windsor, Cleveland and Romeo engines over a 40 year period. Have had two 4.6 L Romeo engines and still driving one at 107,000 Miles. Have an 02 F150 with a 5.4 L Windsor. They have all been good engines with no major problems. In the old days Cleveland engines were preferred by racing folks because of the better flowing head design. The 351 design running on NASCAR now is the Cleveland version.

An acquaintance who has worked for a large Ford dealer for many years told me that Ford has had more problems with the Windsor plant - maybe because of the number and variety of engines. He said that labor issues at the Windsor plant nixed a turbo diesel V6 that Ford planned to build at the Romeo plant. Windsor wanted it built at both plants. Ford wanted to tool up at only one plant and wanted Romeo for some reason.

I have no doubt that either or both are good engines.

 

Of the two, the Windsor was designed for truck use. In addition to the above differences sited by Neal, the Windsor also had a beefer rod and heavy duty oil pump.
It seems that the 4.6 is no longer produced as a Windsor engine. I have been looking for a Long block for a while now and all the ones out of late model Ford Trucks have 6 bolt cranks and are Romeo built.
I have a complete Windsor short block, new on a Ford Pallet. I was going to sell it but now it looks like I will use it as a base for a forged shortblock build. The question now is "to stroke or not to stroke"...

 

http://www.engine-builder.com/ar/30631.pdf
Reading this old thread and thought I would post some conflicting info I found.

 

Lots of good things to say for the windsor, i thought i would be the first to mention something bad. I have a 5.4 Windsor and these are the motors that are having the blown plug issues that me and many others are, have, and will be facing!!!

 

That was a nice article but not completely accurate. The article shows all Windsor cranks in the 4.6 F150 have 6 bolt cranks. Mine came with an 8 bolt crank. Otherwise, a good resource.
Thanks.

 

I'll be damned. U.S makes the best. If you realy want to compare Engines look at the best gas Ford Truck Engine evermade the 351 Cleveland, Last longer, and lot more power than any Windsor. GO U.S.A. Come on you u know the truth say it Neal.

 

Where does it say this? It says the number of bolts can vary....

 

LOL...Canada