2008 Stage 3 ROUSH - Rebirth...

[Scott]

Rear seat delete carpet looks like a good match if that is your OEM carpeting on the floor? Looks great, where did you get the carpeting for the rear seat delete?

 

[AutoXRacer]

looks very nice!

Thanks!!

Rear seat delete carpet looks like a good match if that is your OEM carpeting on the floor? Looks great, where did you get the carpeting for the rear seat delete?

I got it from Watson Racing.

Yep, OEM carpeting on the floor; matches perfectly.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Passenger side complete!!! Just have to adjust the belts to length for the girlfriend (she loves to ride shotgun on track days...or anytime the car is running... LOL).

I could more days of interior work and two weeks from now we will start the technical stuff of assembling the motor and degreeing cams (sigh). Luckily, I live near Bruce...

 

[Scott]

Thanks!!

I got it from Watson Racing.

Yep, OEM carpeting on the floor; matches perfectly.

Ok, Watson Racing, thank you Sir!

 

[AutoXRacer]

Finally got the front rotors rebuilt!!

Left hand rotor!!

All torqued to 67 in/lbs

Right hand said complete!!!

Ready to install!!!
These will be mated to Carbotech 1521 pads for the street and XP20s for the track.

 

[BruceH]

When is that motor going to be done? I'm starting mandatory ot next week, is there any chance it will be ready by this weekend?

 

[AutoXRacer]

When is that motor going to be done? I'm starting mandatory ot next week, is there any chance it will be ready by this weekend?

Ha!!! No...

I get the pistons tomorrow. Then I am taking them to the engine builder on Friday. Then who knows how long it will take to get the short block redone/built.

Once I get it back, then the assembly will start.
How long will the mandatory OT last for?

 

[AutoXRacer]

Finally got my pistons after what seemed to take forever!!!

The engine builder said it would take 2-4 weeks!! sigh

 

[AutoXRacer]

I also got some new freeze plugs. These are 36.6mm, 0.6mm larger than the valve cover opening.

It matches the VCT seal pretty well...but 0.6mm too large. I have another set coming that will only be 0.3mm.

 

[one eyed willy]

you may want to consider going to a larger wrist pin? those become the next weakest link once you have the forged rods and pistons. They are not expensive and you need to add them before you get it balanced.

 

[AutoXRacer]

you may want to consider going to a larger wrist pin? those become the next weakest link once you have the forged rods and pistons. They are not expensive and you need to add them before you get it balanced.

Wait, so you are telling me that my "custom" pistons rated for a 1000HP motor has weak pins?

I would have assumed these were already upgraded.

How do I go to a larger size if the pistons are already made; wouldn't that require additional machining?

 

[BruceH]

Wait, so you are telling me that my "custom" pistons rated for a 1000HP motor has weak pins?

I would have assumed these were already upgraded.

How do I go to a larger size if the pistons are already made; wouldn't that require additional machining?

A different wall thickness and or material. The od stays the same usually.

Research it before you go ordering parts. It's always an option when ordering pistons but due to lack of information I've always stayed with what the manufacturer matches to the pistons.

 

[one eyed willy]

Wait, so you are telling me that my "custom" pistons rated for a 1000HP motor has weak pins?

I would have assumed these were already upgraded.

How do I go to a larger size if the pistons are already made; wouldn't that require additional machining?

im not sure what the goal with the car is, no machining, like Bruce said, they are just thicker on the inside and made of a different material. When i ordered my Manley pistons they came with the smallest one offered at that time. I called Manley and they actually sent me a thicker set for free. Not saying you need to replace yours but you need to look into it before you get it balanced and make sure you are comfortable with them, Manley may have upgraded them since 2 years ago when i built mine. I felt the same way when i learned my wrist pins were not meant to handle the same power as the piston. Look into them!

edit:i looked at my old thread, my Manley pistons originally came with 42203 with .120" wall thickness, i called Manley and they sent bigger 42207 .150" wall thickness for free....their catalog even showed they should have come with the 42207, but they didn't.

 

[AutoXRacer]

OK, I'll make sure Manley sent me the right ones!!

I'll ask the machine shop to triple check the pins!! Thank you for the warning!!
Its nuts that you have to go behind everyone/every service and double and triple check the work. sigh

 

[AutoXRacer]

So I was building my heads; swapping out the springs and I found this on the RH side head. sigh

Close up:

Question is, is this a concern? I am worried as it falls right where the gasket will sit. sigh

 

[skwerl]

Looks like they filled in a booboo. Does your intake use a gasket or O rings? With a gasket you probably have plenty of area around it to seal it up. With an O ring, I'm not so sure. Worst case you could put a small dab of RTV on it before assembly.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Mine uses the same OEM gasket...those green o-rings.

 

[AutoXRacer]

OK, and another issue... sigh

Found an issue with the LH head:

Look at the numbering of the cam journal caps:

So from the front of the engine it starts 3, 4, 5, 1, 2.

While the RH side cylinder head is clearly scribed:

So the RH head is scribed in order; from the front 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

What is going on with the LH head?

Do I need to package these head back up and return them?

 

[one eyed willy]

Are they new? Or suppose to be? Looks like epoxy or JB weld they used on that hole. Ford castings on their heads suck IMO. It was probably an air pocket in the original casting. I had one on my stock motor between a oil gally and water jacket....kept seeing oil in my coolant overflow....finally found a little pocket with a pinhole in it. I had it welded and resurfaced but it was at the head matting surface to the block. In your case I'd say there won't be a problem. Cam caps would definitely be a issue, I'd call them and ask them WTF?

 

[BruceH]

FRPP heads? It shouldn't make any difference. Looks like a couple of "Frosty the snowman" drill starts. It sure is odd though.

I'd still report it to FRPP. More than likely they would send you a new head unless you bought them used or through another party where the chain of command can't be verified.

Someone has to have the frpp email address. It's something9. rayhernadez9? Someone should have it or you can call them too.