Mahle pistons or rods? How has your experience with them been? I'm looking into a set right now for about $900 (rods, pistons, ARP bolts, wrist pins, etc) and I wanna know if they hold up to the claimed 1000 hp at 7000 RPM. Also, they've got a 16mm dish to them. Anyone know of a chart that can tell me what C/R that would put me at with non-PI heads?

This is to complement my soon-to-be-ported heads with GT cams and the twins I will be expecting this summer....

 

I believe I read somewhere on here that Neal is using Mahle pistons in his new built motor.

If he is using them, I would think they must be pretty good...

 

I've been reading up and I understand the new Ford GT will use them, and possibly the new Cobras. Anyone else heard this?

 

HI!... I'm running MAHLE pistons in my built 5.4 I'm currently building. Some of the LIGHTNING guys are running them. There is supposed to be *NO8 piston slap or noise with these pistons at all. But that all depends on your engine builders techniques. Always used the TQ plates during honing and boring. I paid about $950.00(CAN) for my set which contains the pistons, rings, pins. I got mine with the GRAFAL coatings on the skirts and the phosphate coating on the 16cc inverted dome. They also have forced pin oiling. I'll be running the EAGLES ESP "H" beam rods with the ARP L-19 rod bolts.

 

I've read up on that pin oiling... pretty slick.

You wouldn't tackle the engine yourself?

 

HI!... I'm getting the short block machined at my engine builder's. I'll be assembling the rest. I'm also building a custom fabricated sheet aluminum upper lower intake manifold from scratch. I've shortened the intake runners down to 6", from the stock intakes 9". Also the plenum will be a bit larger than stock. Working on the mid range top end for this engine. The cams are good for 6500-6700RPM so I want to make good use of the upper power. Trans will be getting a 2800 - 3000 stall.

 

What lift/duration cam are you using?

I'll probably be breaking down my block and rebuilding this summer with (I know you hate them) two T04 turbochargers.

 

HI!... I have nothing against turbo's. Actually I was going to built this new 5.4 with a twin turbo set-up in mind, but it's just not cost effecive for me. Going to go N/A route with a 300 shot

 

What happened to the supercharger?

 

HI!... That's next years project. It will be getting a WHIPPLE.

 

Noooice... waiting on that kit that is "weeks away from release?"

 

HI!... Ya exactly! LOL! Actually there are some kits out there. A few of my buddies were at MILAN dragway last WEDNESDAY and they saw two F-150's from WHIPPLE there. One "04' and a older 5.4 2 valve. Both with the new SC'ers on them. They were apparently testing them.

 

How'd they do?

 

HI!... I asked the same question but because their *RICERS* they didn't care to get that info.