Are the blocks cast iron on the newer 3v's or are they aluminum ?


What about the crankshafts ?

 

Neither are aluminum. Cast iron block. Steel crank.

 

We have a long stroke in our 5.4's, a very long stroke, how is that determined.

 

It is the length of the travel of the piston in the cylinder. It is part of the equation for determining the displacement (5.4 liter, 330 cubic inches). Bore (width of the cylinder) is the other. Not sure if they factor combustion chamber volume in the equation though. Crap, just go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_displacement

 

5.4 = 3.55 inch bore x 4.15 inch stroke.

 

I would not want an aluminum engine in a work truck....uh light duty work truck.

 

An aluminum crankshaft?? Thats a first, you will never see aluminum rods or crankshaft in daily driven street engines. Aluminum just isnt strong enough. Now a designated race engine that runs 1/4 mile at a time will have aluminum rods, but Ive never seen or heard of an aluminum crank.

Also, most truck blocks are cast iron, as are ours. Aluminum blocks are reserved for sports cars, again its a strength issue.

 

Our heads are aluminum though, right?

 

Aluminium blocks can be just as strong as cast iron blocks.

They are just more expensive to make.

 

I doubt that you will ever see aluminum crank or rods in ANY race engine...they've all gone to titanium. It's lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel. Pretty amazing and expensive stuff. Some have even started using what's called "sodium filled" valves to lighten them even further. The lower the rotating mass of an engine, the higher the peak RPM of the engine. That's how all these new sportbikes can achieve 17,000RPM.

 

yes we have aluminum 3v heads...new design in 04'

 

The main purpose of the sodium-filled valve is to aid in heat transfer from the face of the valve to the stem... Which it does quite well infact, with face temps dropping as much as 300*f!

 

Sodium filled valves are actually very common, they come stock on LS1 engines and most diesel engines. Titanium valves are what the racers use. Titanium is some amazing stuff, very expensive though.

 

I knew thw crank wasnt alu.. I was just asking if it was forged or not. Is it forged ?

 

yup