All depends on what your looking for. The problem with the 281 , aside from puny displacement, is the heads - they are crap. Even the 4v head is nothing to write home about, unless you in vest in some costly porting and cams, when you do, they will be about 20 or cfm shy of what you could get out LS1/5.3 heads. The 281 is also power limited by the rods to about 400rwhp, where the ls1 is much closer to 550. Now if you want to keep all your stock gadets, cruise, etc... then a 5.4 3 or 4v is the way to go. You can still make good power out of a 4.6 2v, you just need alot of boost. IMO a 4v swap is not worth it, unless you plan to have those 4v heads ported, if not just stick with ported 2v heads. The nice thing about the mustang is that they are cheap and easy to fix, look good (unlike the catfish), easier access to work on them, and are markedly better built then F bodies, and you are less likely to die in one. There are give and takes with everything... but of all cars you could use as a "project" platform, you made the right choice.

 

Gotcha! Okay, maybe in your case it would be more economical to start with the n/a route.

Another option is to do a LS1 swap (or a 460 like liljojo said) and throw a shot of nitrous at it. That may not be too costly, but i don't know for sure. I know nitrous can be done very cheap if you approach it right.

 

You can get Goat motors w/ trans... cheap like $1000 or less in some cases.

 

OK you guys have been helpful, so I appreciate it. Is there anyone who I could talk to that anyones knows that has done the ls/lq4 swap, or the 5.4? I just wanna know some basic ideas thats all.

 

Just to let you know, you need to have realistic goals... a big power car is not going to be the fun street car you think it would be, anything over 600-700 is FKN dangerous and will get you killed quickly. Even 400+ rwhp must be respected. Check out ls1tech.com and look in the hybrids section, tons of swaps and all the info you need. Send a pm and search the forums for posts from a guy called phil99vette

 

do the 5.4 4v have forged internals

 

I am well aware of the power and the danger, this will mainly be for the track. Where could I find forged 5.4 internals? I looked online a bit and didnt have much luck. Like i said eariler I have all the resources to do a swap, i just need to know what I will need to make it successful. I dont wanna run in blind and not know what to do. This has all been great help, I appreciate it

 

mm and mod max have 5.4 rotating aseemblies