I was under the impression that the stock rods are not forged. I thought they were powder sintered or something like that. The reason why is I was interested in an engine for sell on the F150 classifieds section(ad # 13908). The seller claims the rods are forged, when I asked what brand of rods he used he claims the rods are factory Ford rods and that all navigator and Lightning engines have the forged rods.

Here is the ad:
"1999 Ford 5.4 DOHC 4V V8 Engine 9,980 miles 350 + HP 400 FP Torque, Forged Crank, Rods, Pistons, Ported & Polished Heads, Excellent Shape. Complete from Throttle Body to Oil Pan, including Engine Wiring Harness. $4500.00 OBO. "

Here is my email to him and his reply:

From: leonard embody
Email: leonard@etoppers.com

Message:
Why are you getting rid of the engine? What was it installed in? What aftermarket rods and pistons are in it?

I'm interested.


From: John Riley
To: leonard@etoppers.com
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Response To Your Classified Ad On F150online


Leonard,

I bought the engine directly from Ford, it was exchanged for a big block and was in a 1999 Cobra. The crank, rods and pistons are the stock forged pieces. The reason I'm selling it is I'm using a 5.4 DOHC 4 Valve Engine in the car I'm building instead of the 4.6 DOHC Cobra. The heads are ported and matched to the Ford Prototype Intake that flows 30% more air than stock. If you want it, the price is $6000.00, cash or cashiers check.

Thanks,

JR


leonard@etoppers.com wrote:

"1999 Ford 5.4 DOHC 4V V8 Engine 9,980 miles 350 + HP 400 FP Torque, Forged Crank, Rods, Pistons, Ported & Polished Heads, Excellent Shape. Complete from Throttle Body to Oil Pan, including Engine Wiring Harness. $4500.00 OBO. "

This is the ad I was looking at. I have a couple more questions. Why did the price go up so much? If you are doing a build up with another 5.4 why not use this engine? Also is this a Cobra R engine? Those are the only 5.4 engines which Ford makes with the forged carillo rods. I didn't think Ford made all 5.4 4 valve engines with forged rods.


Leonard,
First, the Lightning Blocks have forged components as do the 97 through 2000 Navigators. This engine has ported heads, but if you want Stock DOHC Heads I can put on the stock heads an reduce the price to $3000.00. About the rods, they are I - beam forged rods that come stock in the Navigator & Lightning. The engine I'm building has a set of race only CNC Heads, a Bored & Sleeved Block to 355 cid, a prototype valve train and will cost $40,000.00 + when finished. I bought several engine when I started the Race Project and now I'm selling the ones I don't need. Regarding the price going up I had another engine for sale at $2500.00 which was sold, this is a different engine in better shape.

JR

So, are the factory rods forged? If they aren't anyone purchasing from this guy should beware, not only because he doesn't know what he is talking about, but because he might raise the selling price $1500 on you.

 

Powder forged junk.

 

Are you sure it is junk? I just read some of the website of the company who makes the rods for Ford and they say that powder forgings are of superior performance and value. link

I just assumed that the rods weren't forged. I guess I should have did some research.

 

I have not had a failure yet, but many on here have. Ford also did not put them in the 03 Cobra (Manley). Long stroke (5.4) + high RPM + boost = broken rods and holes in block.

 

Mine failed last year when the rod broke in half. I wish they were as good as metaldyne says. I wouldn't have spent the big bucks on some good old fashioned forged manley rods.

 

People are wrongly using forged for sintered. It is not the same.

"Forged Pistons and Rods Lightning's connecting rods are sinter-forged alloy, featuring the most robust "big ends" found in any Ford Modular V-8. Made from powdered metal that is compacted into the rough shape of a connecting rod and then hot-struck in a forge, these connecting rods are remarkably strong, thanks to the millions of bonds created on the molecular level during the forging process.

After forging, the big ends are mechanically fracture-split to separate the bearing caps. Due to the irregular, interlocking surfaces that result along the fracture line, a bearing cap and the rod with which it was forged can be reassembled only one way, ensuring a perfect fit and an especially strong bearing cap assembly. "

http://autonet.ca/KennedyFord/SVTLig...on=Description


drop forged:
A part that has been formed by heating the steel blank red hot and pounding it into shape with a powerful drop hammer.

sinter:
[1] To manufacture parts from powdered metals by heating or pressure or both.
[2] The fine powdered metal itself

sintered bronze:
Tiny particles of bronze pressed tightly together so that they form a solid piece. The piece is highly porous and is often used for filtering purposes.

http://www.100megsfree4.com/dictionary/index.htm