EI-03-GT

what do you think the benefits would be of going from a ohc engine to a push rod engine? i know that you can run the ohc engine up higher in the rpm range. other then that my knowledge of what would make one engine better is non-existent. before someone says something i know "better" is a relative term. it depends on what i want to do and how i wanna do it. im just speaking generally when i say better

945LSTANG

i want to say that push rod engines have a broader torque curve, but sacrifice top end in the process. the OHC engine is the opposite. i know this is very general, but thats all i know off of the top of my head. someone feel free to chime in and correct me if im wrong.

cliffyk

How can a torque curve that falls off a cliff 1000 rpm sooner be "broader"?

From a performance perspective there is nothing about a OHV "pushrod" engine that is superior to an OHC engine, with the possible exception that they are easier to "wrench" in the shade of a nice tree...

uberstang1

You can build big horsepower from a pushrod for ALOT cheaper than building a mod motor. More parts are availiable as well.

grogan

+1

if i wasnt running in mod muscle and already dumped a ton of money into running a modular, i woulda went pushrod and done away with efi

Xemeth

Put it this way. The 2v is OHC and the LSX motors are pushrod. Does that help?

Seriously, though. You can make more power out of an OHV easier and cheaper. I'm talking NA, anything can make power with FI.

boduke0220

whats the going rate for a pushrod motor swap these days?

MU71L4710N

no that doesnt help. your talking about the 5.7 liter lsx versus a 4.6 liter. your analogy holds no water in a pushrod vs ohc debate.

Xemeth

Oh, I should have realized mentioning an LSX would put a bunch in people's panties. It was a joke, notice how I said "Seriously, though..." in the next sentence?

Although I do still hold true to my belief that pushrod is a better platform for making power for less money than an OHC motor.

However, the 5.4 is an OHC motor, and the LS1 is 5.7, and stock for stock the LS1 makes more power, and will make more power with aftermarket upgrades.

Even the 5.0 is easier and cheaper to make power with than the 4.6.

Top fuel dragsters are pushrod, too.

MU71L4710N

the 5.4 is just a stroked out 4.6. the 5.4 X valve motors make no more horsepower than their 4.6 counterparts, just more torque. if the 5.4 were to have a bigger bore, then it would be different. the 5.7 has a much larger bore than a 4.6 or 5.4 (again, both have the same bore). you cant compare apples to oranges. the 5.7 is beast, and the power it makes has nothing to do with it being a pushrod vers ohc. i would venture to say it would make the same amount of power if it were an OHC motor assuming cam profiles and such stayed the same.