Apples to Oranges - Old "Rat-Motor" to 5.4L
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 191
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From: Kalamazoo, MI USA
Apples to Oranges - Old "Rat-Motor" to 5.4L
Moving from an old '84 GMC Suburban 6.2L diesel to a 1997 5.4L Ford caused me to anticipate the differences in towing capabilities between the two. Since I'd be towing the same trailer -- I simply sought a scientific (as opposed to buttometer) way to see if the new gas engine by Ford had enough torque in the range that I knew I'd be using for towing.
I pulled out that old chart and updated it with the statistics for Nick, my latest truck.
The following chart http://www.net-link.net/~n8jg/F-150/engines/chart.jpg illustrates the torque and horsepower curves for three engines: 1984 GMC 454 ci 'Rat' motor, the 6.2 litre diesel, and the 2000 5.4L Ford.
Note that the 5.4 clearly out-torques the 6.2 diesel by an additional 50% at the diesel's peak torque (2,000 rpm) and has 95% of the 454's torque the 5.4's peak torque range of 2,400 rpm.
By changing the rear-end ratio to spin-up the 5.4 at 400 rpm earlier, the 5.4's Horsepower line would fall right on top of the 454's -- which peaked at 240 HP at 3,800 rpm -- while at that rpm the 5.4 is putting out 96% as much (240 HP) horsepower as that big-block from the 80's.
The biggest torque difference between that old 454 and the Y2K 5.4L is a mere 50 lb ft at 3,200 rpm -- for which the 5.4L still has 87% of the torque of the engine that was thought of as being the towing king of the day.
Have some fun looking at the numbers, curves, and rpm's -- and see how Ford has done quite a remarkable job of downsizing the engine yet maintaining a pretty fair level of power.
Now, will they last long enough to build a similar reputation? Only time will tell.
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Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com
Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"
[This message has been edited by jgorka (edited 12-16-2000).]
I pulled out that old chart and updated it with the statistics for Nick, my latest truck.
The following chart http://www.net-link.net/~n8jg/F-150/engines/chart.jpg illustrates the torque and horsepower curves for three engines: 1984 GMC 454 ci 'Rat' motor, the 6.2 litre diesel, and the 2000 5.4L Ford.
Note that the 5.4 clearly out-torques the 6.2 diesel by an additional 50% at the diesel's peak torque (2,000 rpm) and has 95% of the 454's torque the 5.4's peak torque range of 2,400 rpm.
By changing the rear-end ratio to spin-up the 5.4 at 400 rpm earlier, the 5.4's Horsepower line would fall right on top of the 454's -- which peaked at 240 HP at 3,800 rpm -- while at that rpm the 5.4 is putting out 96% as much (240 HP) horsepower as that big-block from the 80's.
The biggest torque difference between that old 454 and the Y2K 5.4L is a mere 50 lb ft at 3,200 rpm -- for which the 5.4L still has 87% of the torque of the engine that was thought of as being the towing king of the day.
Have some fun looking at the numbers, curves, and rpm's -- and see how Ford has done quite a remarkable job of downsizing the engine yet maintaining a pretty fair level of power.
Now, will they last long enough to build a similar reputation? Only time will tell.
------------------
Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com
Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"
[This message has been edited by jgorka (edited 12-16-2000).]
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Southern Illinois
cool chart.
it lets you see the differences in the power.
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1999 XL, 2WD, standard cab, short bed, sport package, nascar package, bright red, V-6, 5 speed, Rockford Fosgate CD player, Pioneer 6x8. class 3 hitch, fog lights, Black Rhino Lining, K&N filter, General Grabber ST tires size p245/70/R16.
http://www.geocities.com/bassbuster/truck.html
I like to hang out at http://www.cooltrucks.net
it lets you see the differences in the power.
------------------
1999 XL, 2WD, standard cab, short bed, sport package, nascar package, bright red, V-6, 5 speed, Rockford Fosgate CD player, Pioneer 6x8. class 3 hitch, fog lights, Black Rhino Lining, K&N filter, General Grabber ST tires size p245/70/R16.
http://www.geocities.com/bassbuster/truck.html
I like to hang out at http://www.cooltrucks.net