charchri4

Sorry man I don't mean to pick on a new guy but no way no how is a small block Ford with aluminum heads 100 lbs more than an LS and I'll show you why.

September 1997 Hot Rod Magazine did a big right up on the new LS1 and of course the comparison was to the LT1 which was an iron 350 block with aluminum top end. The specs in Hot Rod said the LS1 weighs 430 lbs and the LT1 weighs 520. The LT1 is a much bigger motor than a 5.0 Ford yet it only weighs 90 lbs more. Shipping weight on a Ford 5.0 crate motor from Ford racing with aluminum heads but no manifolds and water pump is 425 lbs. So dressed with a water pump and intake you are probably looking at 475 or so.

OK so lets shoot high and say the 5.0 is +75 lbs more than the LS but there is more to the story here. I shipped my T56 transmission with no oil or shifter and that bad boy tipped the scale at 133 lbs. The T5 that goes behind the Mustang engine weighs 74 lbs dry. You're doing the math here right... So the problem with the weight debate is sure the iron is heavier but that is only one part of the puzzle and there is not enough difference in weight to even have a meaningful debate. But what numbers are you finding on these motors?

Now the power difference is real but it comes at a cost and beyond that for every pro there is a con for both of them. The 5.0 is very comfortable at 300 hp and the LS is very comfortable at 400 hp but that 100 hp is a couple grand. The 5.0 is cheaper and sounds better while the LS has the 6th gear and digital speedo. And the list goes on with many more pros and cons for both. And don't forget the die hards that would rather push a ford than drive a chevy or visa versa. That can be a really big deal too.

So the bottom line is the better motor and nothing to do with the motor at all. It's the needs of the builder that drives what the best engine is for his budget and for what he wants to do with the car.

caymantrackrat

There's no "picking here", just an exchange of info. I got my weight numbers off a site that listed the weights of all the different motors. Since it's on the internet it has to be true, right? Let me explain where I'm at. I would prefer to build my own because no matter what I buy I always have to start tinkering with it. But I am in the middle of a build now so I'm a year away from getting another project started. I'm looking for a track/street car that can run with the Porsche's at my home track. Asking for to much?

charchri4

LOL only if you feel sorry for the porshes trying to keep up with you!

5.0MX5

Jim said "Shipping weight on a Ford 5.0 crate motor from Ford racing with aluminum heads but no manifolds and water pump is 425 lbs. So dressed with a water pump and intake you are probably looking at 475 or so."

I'm currently sitting in my RV in North Dakota reading the net (almost done) and killing time. So,,, I just did a bit of sleuthing on the dry weight of a complete 302/5.0 with aluminum heads and aluminum water pump, aluminum intake with carb and headers, bell housing and flywheel. I found several references to the 420 lb range.

Jim, I wonder if the shipping weight would include the pallet and banding. If so I could easily see that being 50 lbs or so.

Yeah, I know I said carb which would be several lbs lighter than the factory fuel injection, but since I'm running a carb that's what I researched..