4.0 internals question

StangLife91

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So I have a 2009 45th anniversary edition 4.0 v6 auto trans. I've trying to do all the research I can, what i have found is that the rods, pistons and crank are forged in the 4.0 by. Is that true? I want to turbo my car and that will make life easier.
 

tjm73

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No. Definitely not forged pistons. Neither the 4.6 3V not the 5.0 DOHC engines had forged pistons and they were/are the TOP dog for performance. Ford did not put forged pistons in the garden variety 4.0 SOHC V6. They are hypereutectic. The crank is cast iron. The rods however are forged. Go figure.

No idea how long this link will stay good but it's good as of today and that's 15 years after release. Oh and it's from "the horse's mouth" LOL!!

https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North America/US/2013/11/18/2005_Mustang_Convertible_Specs.pdf
 

StangLife91

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No. Definitely not forged pistons. Neither the 4.6 3V not the 5.0 DOHC engines had forged pistons and they were/are the TOP dog for performance. Ford did not put forged pistons in the garden variety 4.0 SOHC V6. They are hypereutectic. The crank is cast iron. The rods however are forged. Go figure.

No idea how long this link will stay good but it's good as of today and that's 15 years after release. Oh and it's from "the horse's mouth" LOL!!

https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North America/US/2013/11/18/2005_Mustang_Convertible_Specs.pdf


Thank you sir! There's claims that the stock bottom end will hold 15lbs of boost if you put bigger valve springs in, and itll hold up to 10psi as it sits reliably. Any merit to that? I'm not wanting to boost it to high hell, I would like to get 300hp and about 400tq to the wheels.
 

Juice

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9psi with a safe tune would be my limit on a stock engine.
 

tjm73

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Does anyone make turbo kits for these anymore? You may have to fabricate your own. Also I think Procharger makes a kit for these still if fabrication is not an option. But you might be money ahead to just trade up to a GT.

The 4.0 is literally a truck engine. It was corporate raided from the Ranger/Explorer lines with virtually no changes. And the automatic behind them is questionable even at the power level you are talking about. They don't have the best track record. Not trying to be a downer, just highlighting some things to consider.
 

JimC

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On my 2006 I ran a 75 shot of nitrous. I pulled the nitrous off at 90,000 miles and installed the Xcharger Xtreme. Ran about 15lbs of boost.

I sold the Mustang with 203,000 miles on it. Still running strong with the stock engine. The guy I sold it to put another 45,000 miles on it.

I heard this last year from a tech who worked on it for the third owner. Car is still running strong.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Vandal

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Thank you sir! There's claims that the stock bottom end will hold 15lbs of boost if you put bigger valve springs in, and itll hold up to 10psi as it sits reliably. Any merit to that? I'm not wanting to boost it to high hell, I would like to get 300hp and about 400tq to the wheels.


Are those numbers possible out of the little 4.0? If so, I might skip the 4.6 conversion.
 

JimC

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With a supercharger or turbo you can definitely get 300RWHP. Even with my Xcharger I was over 300RWHP and over 300 torque. And the Xcharger doesn't get the most power on the dyno sheets.
 

StangLife91

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Are those numbers possible out of the little 4.0? If so, I might skip the 4.6 conversion.

There's dyno vids on youtube showing mid 300s and mid 400s on power out of a 4.0.

Does anyone make turbo kits for these anymore? You may have to fabricate your own. Also I think Procharger makes a kit for these still if fabrication is not an option. But you might be money ahead to just trade up to a GT.

The 4.0 is literally a truck engine. It was corporate raided from the Ranger/Explorer lines with virtually no changes. And the automatic behind them is questionable even at the power level you are talking about. They don't have the best track record. Not trying to be a downer, just highlighting some things to consider.

Trading up to a GT car isn't an option, this car is sentimental to me. I can do all the fab work myself. That's not a problem at all. I'm going to do a front mount turbo as well to make piping etc easier.
 

TexasBlownV8

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I'm running upper 300's hp and near 400 tq with a 10-11 psi turbo, and have been for many years. The only 'internal upgrade' was different valve springs to reduce valve float, but those are not required for this power level.
Before this turbo on another 4.0, I was running 13-14 psi of boost with a vortech with no issues, but quite a bit less power than the turbo.
[btw, this is a PowerHouse turbo kit for the 4.0L v6, no longer made; and I have it for sale.]
 

dhrmx5

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Go to SuperSix.com he can answer all your questions.
 

Ty G

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There's dyno vids on youtube showing mid 300s and mid 400s on power out of a 4.0.

Any chance you still have it for sale?

Trading up to a GT car isn't an option, this car is sentimental to me. I can do all the fab work myself. That's not a problem at all. I'm going to do a front mount turbo as well to make piping etc easier.
 

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