Ok, odd ball question

Which combonation would produce the most power at the rear wheels? a 4.6L 5 speed with 3.55:1 LS gears or a 5.4L auto with 3.55:1 LS? I know of the 29 HP diffrence between the engines but what I ma asking is that would the diffrence in trannies tip the sclae toward the 4.6 in RWHP? or would the 5.4 still come out on top?

 

Definitely the 4.6 is prefered if and I say if the 5.4 has an auto. The auto losses 35 horseys through the torque convertor so that, if you do the math, leaves the 4.6 with more.

 

My buddy has a 4.6 manual and it's a nice truck...
Be aware though that the towing capacity of a manual transmission is a lot less than an auto... You need to figure in what you're going to use the truck for. Want a heck of a hole-shot ? Want to go fast ? Get the 4.6/manual... You want to tow a lot ? Get the 5.4/auto...

 

Well said RonHop. I choose to tow. 3200# trailer.

 

My toy trailer and 2 quad are right at #3000, maybe a bit more when I carry extra gas, beverage cooler, etc...

My buddy's 4.6/manual really is a blast to drive, I've gotta say. But he has nothing to tow. If I were in his situation, with no toys, I would probably have opted for the 4.6/manual.

 

I tow with my 4.6 and even thought they say you can tow more with the automatic, I opted for more power. I have pulled 4000# over Vail Pass in Colorado and did real good. I think the 2800# tow rating of the 4.6 -5speed is a little underrated. I know the weak link is the tranny comparing the 2, but maybe they have the number so low for folks that don't know how to drive a manual stick.

 

Yeah, towing with a manual could be kind of a squirrely deal if you weren't used to it. You have to work too hard too. #2800 does seem low for a V8, manual or not... The clutch is probably the weakest link as opposed to the trans itself though. I could see a clutch getting burned up pretty quick if you have to do a lot of stop-and-go driving pulling a trailer. Highway on the other hand would probably not be too big of a deal. I can't really even feel my toy trailer behind me unless I'm in a strong cross-wind... I'm happy... I'd probably be happy with the 4.6 as well based on other folk's experiences.

 

the answer to the question is ; the guys with the 4.6 will say 4.6 and the guys with the 5.4 auto will say 5.4 .

 

I don't think anybody in this thread is holding to that 'trend' although human nature might suggest you're right.

I have a 5.4/auto and would never claim that the 5.4 is better/faster than a 4.6, auto or manual. In fact I would expect that I'd get blown away by a 4.6/manual, no contest. Several folks out there did some testing around that fact and showed it to be true.

If I didn't tow I would rather have the 4.6/manual... A lot more fun in my opinion. As far as the 4.6/auto vs a 5.4/auto: The one I bought just happened to have the 5.4. If it had the 4.6 I'm sure that would have been fine as well since everybody out there with the 4.6 is happy with it. Not sure exactly why Ford bothered with the 5.4... Just another engine to have to stock parts for.

 

It's not a 5.4 or a 4.6 thing!!!!!!!!! I pull and I'd be a fool if I didn't want the 5.4 with a MANUAL tranny, but the one I bought was a 4.6. I'm just saying that it has more horses at the rear wheels than the 5.4 with an auto.

 

Then why does Ford put the bigger rear end in the 5.4 equiped rigs? It seems to me that if the 4.6/manual had more RWHP then the 5.4, they'd have to put the larger rear end in those too.

 

That's a good question. Maybe something to do with the torque curve difference in the two engines and not necessarily rear wheel horsepower. Im in over my head with that one...

5.4 manual would be a butt-kicker, no doubt, in a F-150. Do they make a 5.4 manual in the Super Duty series ? I thought I saw that someplace. Wonder how that would run although it's a lot bigger and heavier truck to start with.

 

All I'm saying...or trying to say is that with the manual tranny, the power is morte of a direct connect sort of thing, and with the automatic, it is a widely accepted fact that you lose X amount of horseys through the convertor. You do the math.

 

Yeah, you lose rear-wheel-hp with a torque converter to heat generation...

 

Eduk8er: Agree completely with the fact that you lose more with an auto compared to a maunal. I would smoke any automatic 5.0 GT with my 5-speed 5.0 GT.

Just really curious about the whole rear end issue........