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Discussion starter · #881 · (Edited)
You can see, that’s a 2.7 piston I put in there just to compare sizes. Pretty cool @GearHead_1 in case you didn’t see this post. here’s a better pic
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Discussion starter · #882 ·
Something I noticed is the 2.7 cylinder wall was way thinner than the 3.5 cylinder wall. 2.7 had some bracing though, 3.5 doesn’t.
 
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Discussion starter · #883 ·
As you guys might have seen in the above picture, I stuck that 2.7 rod and piston on there to compare bore size.

It made me think about my old 2.7 truck, holding the piston and rod and seeing how that rod is bent… you can see it in the picture.

I heard someone talking about LS blocks and how the bottom end can do 1500hp if it’s tuned just right. They had gotten some bent rods and caught it before it blew up and said that because their tune wasn’t perfect, it got bent rods.

that got me thinking… “it can live at high hp, but if the tune isn’t just right, it will bend rods” is what was said.
my 2.7 obviously bent rods too and I wonder if I had stayed on the ZFG tune if it would have kept that from happening. I had been on the Unleashed tune for a couple months. It had a boost spike during low rpm, and some other issues, but I kept driving it.

I am not blaming anyone except myself, but bent rods kind of points to an unrefined tune. Especially when ALL the rods were bent, even the ones that were still ok.

Steven Boswell’s 2.7 still hasn’t blown up… and he has another 150hp above mine. Side note, Looking back, I thought we were running 22.5 psi on Adams tune, but it was actually 26. We are running 23-26 psi on my red truck as well.

Anyways, just some thoughts on bent rods and tuning.
 
Discussion starter · #885 ·
Not saying you are wrong but I think when even just one rod or piston let’s go other rods become collateral damage.
That is true, but I still think it relates to the 5.3 LS, where if it’s not tuned perfectly, it can’t handle the power and will bend rods and blow up.
 
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I had a ford V8 push rod motor let go at around 6000 rpm’s. Two rods looked like pretzels. Neither one vented the block but some how shot upwards and took the cam out. Then the cam tried to exit the motor forward through the water pump. Pump and timing cover was just hanging on with a few bolts. And found 3 lifters in the oil pan. Crazy on the carnage that happens.
 
The 3.5 is an open deck block, which you can see of course. Better to do the deck supports now. It's never gonna get any easier to do than right now. Better to over-build it once than under build it and regret it later. Spending the time and money now will be much less than doing it over. Planning to do it later is a shaky plan. Even if it doesn't catastrophically fail, the time and aggravation of removal and disassembly will likely mean that it gets put off until it's too late. Obviously this is just the irrelevant opinion of an old guy who has been down this road before. I only mention it because I care.
 
Discussion starter · #888 ·
The 3.5 is an open deck block, which you can see of course. Better to do the deck supports now. It's never gonna get any easier to do than right now. Better to over-build it once than under build it and regret it later. Spending the time and money now will be much less than doing it over. Planning to do it later is a shaky plan. Even if it doesn't catastrophically fail, the time and aggravation of removal and disassembly will likely mean that it gets put off until it's too late. Obviously this is just the irrelevant opinion of an old guy who has been down this road before. I only mention it because I care.
Don’t worry, I’ll be getting it closed before it goes into my truck.
 
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Ok, that sounds more like the Matt I know....lol. I may have misunderstood your intentions anyway. Normally I don't ever post ANYTHING about things like this, but I was hoping you knew I wasn't being a know it all or being critical. That it was coming from a good place!
 
Havs, funny mentioning that.
I never heard much turbo sound from my 2.7, never thought much of it. I use a 4 inch cat back Pypes system, no resonator but a big volume perforated straight thru muffler,
View attachment 202882 View attachment 202883

Recently 2 different neighbors in different building stopped by to ask a few questions about my truck. Both mentioned the distinctive turbo whistle sound it makes. It can only be thru the exhaust as I run a closed airbox. Anyway it may not be all that difficult. I'm thinking more about the volume of the system may make a large difference. Mine is short overall but a large muffler volume in comparison. No drone noticed by Cathy or me on 6000 road trips, quiet enough for normal conversation but can get lout with pedal application. I'm no stranger to exotics and their exhaust sounds being a regular Historic/Vintage Road Race attendee.
I guess a louvered straight thru can generate noticeable turbo whistling, I can't hear it from the drivers spot but neighbors certainly do! Sometimes simple can work well. KM
That pic you posted of the muffler is one of a louvered core not a perforated core.

IF you want more 'whistle' out of it you could try using the inlet as the outlet so that the louvers are facing away from the direction of flow.
 
Discussion starter · #891 ·
Ok, that sounds more like the Matt I know....lol. I may have misunderstood your intentions anyway. Normally I don't ever post ANYTHING about things like this, but I was hoping you knew I wasn't being a know it all or being critical. That it was coming from a good place!
Oh you are fine man. I know you well enough to know you weren’t being a know it all. You were just making sure my mind was thinking correctly.
 
That pic you posted of the muffler is one of a louvered core not a perforated core.

IF you want more 'whistle' out of it you could try using the inlet as the outlet so that the louvers are facing away from the direction of flow.
Sorry if I used the wrong term, but in my world louvers also includes perforations. I have mounted it both ways, slight sound reduction is all. Tonals are identical. This is my second Pypes system since 2017 and the same F150. WI winters are hard on even SS exhaust. By the way I'm not looking for turbo whistle don't care. Odd thing I do not hear any but the neighbors do. KM
 
owns 2017 Ford F150 XL
Matt ya gotta slow down. I leave for 4 days and needed to back up a page to read all the stuff ya got going on!
Aww heck keep it up! KM
 
Discussion starter · #894 ·
Matt ya gotta slow down. I leave for 4 days and needed to back up a page to read all the stuff ya got going on!
Aww heck keep it up! KM
Haha sorry lol. But I can’t help it!!
 
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Discussion starter · #895 ·
Take a look at these two pistons from my blown motor. The silver one was still ok, and was in tact with the rod on it. Gold one had the rod blow off it, through the block. What do you guys think the reason for the color difference is? I scrubbed both of them and the gold one was “stained” and it wouldn’t scrub off.
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Then, dealing with some spark plug demons right now, trying to get gap right on this tune because torque falls on its face at 4000 rpm and up, so trying to figure that out.
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Did you forget a picture, Matt?
 
It's there.
 
Discussion starter · #900 ·
Wondering if the gold piston experienced more heat and discolored the aluminum.
Yeah that’s what I’m thinking. Possibly slightly lean… this is what I was saying about the engine not being tuned very well… needs to be perfect if you want it to hold together.
 
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