Well, as some of you know, our PSP test truck was running strong last year, rivaled by only Johnny and Spiro, but towards the end of the year, it started seeming like it was down on power. I finished the 00 season with a best of 12.58 @ 109 mph. Over the winter, the truck got a few new mods, the main one being a converter. For the 01 season, so far it seems like the truck las slowed down even more, which has been very frustrating for me. The only track time it's seen in 01, was the JDM/SVTPerf event and this past weekend at Cecil County. The converter seems to be working as I've clicked off a few 1.72 60fts, but the truck has been low on mph, to the tune of 106. She was still running strong at Cecil, with a best of 12.65, but not near where it should be running.

So why am I recapping this? Well, this is the second motor in the truck. The first was replaced at 2200 miles for the piston slap. This new motor has smoked since day one, and delveloped the same slap a few thousand later, eventually becoming a permanent noise. Now that I'll be trading the 99 in on an 01, I have to fix the slap before they will take it. So I just tore the motor down to the bare block (in the truck I might add, not very fun), and it was looking like I was not going to find an obvious cause until I took the VERY LAST piston/rod out, which was number 5. The piston, rings and cylinder wall are totally WIPED OUT. No way this cyinder was contibuting much to the output of the motor . Now the battle is to get the replacement parts and get it back together for the WFC, which is TWO WEEKS away!! DOH! Not going to be fun.

Oh, and don't think I'm weird because I'm excited my motor is broke. I would have been REALLY pissed if I tore this down and found nothing

I'll try to snap some pics to post...

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SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor

[This message has been edited by LightningTuner (edited 04-29-2001).]

 

It's like a traffic jam. Once you get to the scene, there's nothing to look at. You just want to see something wrecked for all your trouble. Good luck on the parts.

 

WOW! Sal i'm glad you found the problem and then again! well you know. here we go again! i'm sure i'll have my hands full once more! Hope you get it back together in time! Good Luck! JL

------------------
93 cobra 10.90@127.00
99 lightning (black)
E.T. 12.06
best mph 112
60 ft. 1.65
(All Throttle No Bottle!)
JL ram air
JL Powercooler
2# pulley
Level 10 shift kit
Test Converter!
DiabloSport Dist.!
(KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES!)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
JohnnyLightning Performance
E-mail: jlightningracing@cs.com
JohnnyLightningWebpage

 

Sounds like you are going to have a busy week. And I understand completly about tearing down the motor and finding nothing. Good luck

------------------
2001 Silver Bolt...
Adopted 3/24/01...
Red Line Water Wetter... Wet Okole's... Bedrug... JL Ram Air...
Chipless in NJ

 

I am wondering why that wasn't the first piston you pulled, that one or number 6. Seam to be the two leanest cylinders there are in these motors.

Hummm.

 

what do you think caused it?? Was it your chip?

[This message has been edited by Yoda (edited 04-29-2001).]

 

Sal,
Glad you found the source of that knock. Good luck getting her back together for WFC, I wish I could be there

------------------
GalaxyEng
2000 RED #2926
13.2@104
BedRug
Haig custom mats
PSP Filter
PSP 4-way
Pro-Sport Tonneau still waiting install

 

Well, got the short block all together today. All new pistons, rod, rings, bearing, and oil pump and screen. Luckily we still had all the parts in stock at work from when I was going to build a spare motor a while back. Got a new set of heads waiting to go on once the gaskets come. Looking good so far, might even be done for the weekend.

I also found some REALLY interesting things in this motor. As you know these motors are getting replaced like crazy and Ford is telling dealers they are to NOT take any of these motors apart before sending them back. I think I know why, but I'll write up a detailed post after the motor is all back together.

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SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor

 

What a tease !!!

Doug

 

You had better write us an essay after a lead-in like that...

 

Sal,

Sounds like what SVT is telling the dealers about the 4.6DOHC engines...don't fix, replace.

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Paul
'01 Silver L

 

So have these new heads been shined up a bit?
Or are they factory fresh? :-)
Dale

 

Everything is going to be bone stock. Two reasons for that. One, the truck is getting traded in on an 01 after the WFC so no reason to but extra $$ into it. And two, even if I was keeping it, I have to keep the internals stock, because of all the chip testing and tuning I do. Can't really develop programs for regular trucks if mine is not stock inside .

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SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor

 

LightningTuner- Do you think that the nitrous you were running on your L had anything to do with the engine damage?




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00 Silver L #1205
Built 3/16/00

Mods:
AAD F-1 Hood
Eibach Front Coils
AIM 2" Drop Shackles
80hp NOS Dry Shot
JDM Nitrous Program
JDM 2# Lower Pulley
90mm MAFS
JL Air Intake
Oval Bore Throttle Body
PSP Electric Fan
Redline Water Wetter


HANKFAN

 

Brian, I've never run nitrous. I don't think anything aftermarket is responsable for this. I think that it is a design problem. Remember, the lower end noise is not just on the Lightnings, it's on all Triton truck engines since 97. I think it's a design problem, but I don't want to sent the world into a panic. It's just really odd that Ford doesn't want dealers to take these motors apart with this problem. Ford knows there is a problem, and obviously doesn't want word getting out until they can figure out a cure.

------------------
SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor