windsor/romeo
06-11-2008, 10:50 AM
#21
RE: windsor/romeo
ORIGINAL: oxfordgt
Blocks-When it comes to 2V 4.6 engines, you'll find there are as many as 12 different castings, but the basic architecture is the same so any heads will bolt up. For performance applications we recommend finding a 1996-up block because these (Romeo and Windsor) have cross-bolts used on all five main caps. Windsor blocks use dowels, and most Romeo blocks use jackscrews; neither have proven to be stronger than the other.
Crankshafts=The stock crank in 1991-95 Romeo-built SOHC engines is the F1AE casting that is made from nodular iron. It has six, knife-edged counterweights (the front one measuring .960 to .980 inch), and the flywheel flange has six holes. Beginning in 1996, Romeo engines used a similar crank that carries cast No. F65E. This crank also has a six-bolt flange, but the front counterweight measures .920 to .940 inch. Therefore, you may find an interference problem when installing an F1AE crank in a 1996-up block. All Windsor engines came with the F65E crank, but some had a six-bolt flange, and some came with eight. The most desirable crankshaft is the forged steel unit found in 1996-03 Cobra engines (cast No. F2LE-AG). The Cobra crank can be used in iron-block SOHC engines as long as the eight-bolt flywheel is used (SOHC passenger-car cranks have a six-bolt pattern). Note: Windsor engines may have a different crank (cast No. F65E), which has a smaller front counterweight (.920 inch thick versus .940 inch on the F1AE) so any Windsor engines must be built using the F65E crankshaft or an interference problem may occur between the counterweight and the main area in the block.
Connecting Rods-All 4.6 engines (except the 2003 Cobra) were fitted with powdered metal rods that have cracked caps. Generally, passenger car engines from the Romeo plant got press-fit piston pins, while Windsor engines got floating pins. Rods can be interchanged, but we recommend using aftermarket steel rods in any performance applications.
Pistons-Ford used three different pistons in the 4.6 engines. The 1991-99 Romeo pistons have a 10.5cc dish and a 1.5mm/1.5mm/3.0mm ring package, and the pin was press fit to the connecting rod. The 1996-99 Windsor (non-Power Improved) pistons have the same dish and ring dimensions but are of the floating type with circlips holding the pins in place. Lastly, Windsor PI engines have different pistons with a larger (18.5cc) dish to reduce compression, on the PI engines, due to the closed chamber heads. Therefore, it must be noted that a rise in compression (to about 10.5:1) will result when PI heads are installed on a 1991-98 engine.
4V heads on a 2V block-This swap is a direct bolt-on, however there are no advantages over using the aluminum block other than availability and/or cost. Note: there are a variety of chain tensioners that may differ depending on where the block was produced.
Front Covers-Because the Modular engines are used in so many applications, there are quite a few styles of front covers. Passenger car covers differ from truck covers and van covers are similar only to themselves. Likewise, the Mustang covers are different altogether and even from year-to-year. Some covers used 8mm bolts, while others use 10mm bolts. So it's important to keep the cover with the block. When building an engine from scratch, the only way to ensure that you have the proper cover is to trial fit. Then you must be certain that the engine accessories will attach.
Underdrive Pulleys-Aftermarket pulleys are popular among Mustang owners. The 1996-98 pulleys are of one design, but like most other parts on the Mod engines, they changed with time. Thus, the 1999 design is different, and sometime during the 2001 production run, Ford changed the water pump design again, requiring a different offset in the water pump pulley. Therefore, there are many distinct water pump underdrive pulleys depending on whether you have a 1996-98, a 1999-early 2001 or a late 2001-present engine.
Blocks-When it comes to 2V 4.6 engines, you'll find there are as many as 12 different castings, but the basic architecture is the same so any heads will bolt up. For performance applications we recommend finding a 1996-up block because these (Romeo and Windsor) have cross-bolts used on all five main caps. Windsor blocks use dowels, and most Romeo blocks use jackscrews; neither have proven to be stronger than the other.
Crankshafts=The stock crank in 1991-95 Romeo-built SOHC engines is the F1AE casting that is made from nodular iron. It has six, knife-edged counterweights (the front one measuring .960 to .980 inch), and the flywheel flange has six holes. Beginning in 1996, Romeo engines used a similar crank that carries cast No. F65E. This crank also has a six-bolt flange, but the front counterweight measures .920 to .940 inch. Therefore, you may find an interference problem when installing an F1AE crank in a 1996-up block. All Windsor engines came with the F65E crank, but some had a six-bolt flange, and some came with eight. The most desirable crankshaft is the forged steel unit found in 1996-03 Cobra engines (cast No. F2LE-AG). The Cobra crank can be used in iron-block SOHC engines as long as the eight-bolt flywheel is used (SOHC passenger-car cranks have a six-bolt pattern). Note: Windsor engines may have a different crank (cast No. F65E), which has a smaller front counterweight (.920 inch thick versus .940 inch on the F1AE) so any Windsor engines must be built using the F65E crankshaft or an interference problem may occur between the counterweight and the main area in the block.
Connecting Rods-All 4.6 engines (except the 2003 Cobra) were fitted with powdered metal rods that have cracked caps. Generally, passenger car engines from the Romeo plant got press-fit piston pins, while Windsor engines got floating pins. Rods can be interchanged, but we recommend using aftermarket steel rods in any performance applications.
Pistons-Ford used three different pistons in the 4.6 engines. The 1991-99 Romeo pistons have a 10.5cc dish and a 1.5mm/1.5mm/3.0mm ring package, and the pin was press fit to the connecting rod. The 1996-99 Windsor (non-Power Improved) pistons have the same dish and ring dimensions but are of the floating type with circlips holding the pins in place. Lastly, Windsor PI engines have different pistons with a larger (18.5cc) dish to reduce compression, on the PI engines, due to the closed chamber heads. Therefore, it must be noted that a rise in compression (to about 10.5:1) will result when PI heads are installed on a 1991-98 engine.
4V heads on a 2V block-This swap is a direct bolt-on, however there are no advantages over using the aluminum block other than availability and/or cost. Note: there are a variety of chain tensioners that may differ depending on where the block was produced.
Front Covers-Because the Modular engines are used in so many applications, there are quite a few styles of front covers. Passenger car covers differ from truck covers and van covers are similar only to themselves. Likewise, the Mustang covers are different altogether and even from year-to-year. Some covers used 8mm bolts, while others use 10mm bolts. So it's important to keep the cover with the block. When building an engine from scratch, the only way to ensure that you have the proper cover is to trial fit. Then you must be certain that the engine accessories will attach.
Underdrive Pulleys-Aftermarket pulleys are popular among Mustang owners. The 1996-98 pulleys are of one design, but like most other parts on the Mod engines, they changed with time. Thus, the 1999 design is different, and sometime during the 2001 production run, Ford changed the water pump design again, requiring a different offset in the water pump pulley. Therefore, there are many distinct water pump underdrive pulleys depending on whether you have a 1996-98, a 1999-early 2001 or a late 2001-present engine.
