Motorhead350's engine diagnosis.

[Zack]

I only took 2 pictures, my hands were real dirty.
#7 piston, stock motor, no blower, not even a tuner.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02041.JPG
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02042.JPG

We also found a follower from an exhaust valve on the #1 cylinder popped off and laying at the bottom of the head. The roller had been worn severely, how I do not know.

Ok about the piston.
Absolutely no damage to the head or valves or plug for thet matter. Got real lucky when it let go cause it went right out the exhaust valve.
You might think Im nuts, but this damage will not effect how the engine is running. It will still be quiet and make power. The compression will drop slightly, but it certainly would not make the car run rough like Dominick stated.
The follower that popped off the other side would not have affected the engine either. The other exhaust valve was opening and closing normally.
03 Cobras are notorious for this happening and nothing ever seems wrong until it is taken apart for an unrelated issue.

My main diagnosis:
# 7 and # 8 cylinders showed the most wear.
These 2 cylinders had the least abount of cross hatching, the pistons were worn the most and the bores had the most glazing on them as compared to the rest of the holes.
Whoever says the cooling mod is not needed, :bs:

[Hotrauder]

Zack, thanks for the good info. Making me rethink the cooling mod especially down here in the tropics. Dennis

[SID210SA]

Dont you have to remove the engine to install the cooling mod? or at least move it forward or can it be done without moving anything major?

[KillJoy]

Very interesting. So....are you guys thinking that the problem was two-fold (the Piston / Valve Damage AND the worn wire harness)?

I guess after this....you need to post up a How-To of the way YOU install the Cooling Mod with the engine and transmission still in the car ;)

KillJoy

[Tallboy]

The cooling mod was the very first mod done to my car. I figure a black car in South Florida [that I knew was going to get a blower] can use all the cooling help it can get.

Cheap, easy, effective. One quick call to Dennis Reinhart, and it was at my door two days later.

[magindat]

The cooling mod was the very first mod done to my car. I figure a black car in South Florida [that I knew was going to get a blower] can use all the cooling help it can get.

Cheap, easy, effective. One quick call to Dennis Reinhart, and it was at my door two days later.

I think most people here don't get the 'easy' part. Rumor has it you have to move the engine forward.

Please tell us about 'easy' so we can all benefit.

Thanx

[Tallboy]

I think most people here don't get the 'easy' part. Rumor has it you have to move the engine forward.

Please tell us about 'easy' so we can all benefit.

Thanx


By "easy" I mean, that whether you have access to a lift and yank then tranny, or use Zack's "in the driveway" method, it's just not very hard to do. Pop out a couple freeze-plugs and connect some heater hoses and you're done. The engine does not have to be moved, the tranny does not have to come out. It all depends on what tools are at you disposal.

I had Carfixer do mine while I watched and drank coffee.

I also let him buy me breakfast. I figured it was the least I could do...:)

[O's Fan Rich]

By "easy" I mean, that whether you have access to a lift and yank then tranny, or use Zack's "in the driveway" method, it's just not very hard to do. Pop out a couple freeze-plugs and connect some heater hoses and you're done. The engine does not have to be moved, the tranny does not have to come out. It all depends on what tools are at you disposal.

I had Carfixer do mine while I watched and drank coffee.

I also let him buy me breakfast. I figured it was the least I could do...:)

I'd Like more info / details on this install. I've always been under the belief that the tranny needs to come out.
Perhaps Claude could give us a run down with a tool list of some sort? Or maybe even Dennis could.
Might sell more kits that way.

[Tallboy]

I'd Like more info / details on this install. I've always been under the belief that the tranny needs to come out.
Perhaps Claude could give us a run down with a tool list of some sort? Or maybe even Dennis could.
Might sell more kits that way.

Call/PM Zack. He told me of his method for doing the install with all four wheels on the ground, but, see, we were at this restaurant. It had a bar...:drink: :drink:

Carfixer can also tell you what you need to install the cooling mod.

[magindat]

I'd Like more info / details on this install. I've always been under the belief that the tranny needs to come out.
Perhaps Claude could give us a run down with a tool list of some sort? Or maybe even Dennis could.
Might sell more kits that way.

Absolutely, I have always been interested in this mod, especially after I read this:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10004&highlight=%27rear+engine+cooli ng%27
I drive the hell out of my MM and want it to last a LONG time.

I get the why. Please help us understand the how.

Thanks
Rich

and Zack, thanx for stirring this pot. Hopefully, it goes in a positive direction!!!!!

[Breadfan]

Call/PM Zack. He told me of his method for doing the install with all four wheels on the ground, but, see, we were at this restaurant. It had a bar...:drink: :drink:

Carfixer can also tell you what you need to install the cooling mod.

Heck with that just post it here in another thread, not like it's a trade secret right? No need to resort to private methods when someone has a tip. I'm sure Zack doesn't want 5,000 phone calls anyway. :)

BTW this discussion should be a new thread anyway.

Zack thanks for the pics, had been curious as to the diagnosis.

[Dennis Reinhart]

I only took 2 pictures, my hands were real dirty.
#7 piston, stock motor, no blower, not even a tuner.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02041.JPG
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02042.JPG

We also found a follower from an exhaust valve on the #1 cylinder popped off and laying at the bottom of the head. The roller had been worn severely, how I do not know.

Ok about the piston.
Absolutely no damage to the head or valves or plug for thet matter. Got real lucky when it let go cause it went right out the exhaust valve.
You might think Im nuts, but this damage will not effect how the engine is running. It will still be quiet and make power. The compression will drop slightly, but it certainly would not make the car run rough like Dominick stated.
The follower that popped off the other side would not have affected the engine either. The other exhaust valve was opening and closing normally.
03 Cobras are notorious for this happening and nothing ever seems wrong until it is taken apart for an unrelated issue.

My main diagnosis:
# 7 and # 8 cylinders showed the most wear.
These 2 cylinders had the least abount of cross hatching, the pistons were worn the most and the bores had the most glazing on them as compared to the rest of the holes.
Whoever says the cooling mod is not needed, :bs:

HERE HERE:beer: :beer:

[DEFYANT]

Zack, you mentioned a possible problem with the wiring harness in Motorheads car in another thread. Was his OK?

Oh, and thanks for the excuse for yet ANOTHER mod :D

[O's Fan Rich]

HERE HERE:beer: :beer:

No Dennis.... here here!http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=30178

Please.

[Dennis Reinhart]

No Dennis.... here here!http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=30178

Please.


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10004&highlight=cooling+mod+importan t

[TooManyFords]

Or, you could order your Fox Lake racing heads with the mod already installed!

http://john.frieltek.com/toomanyfords/Marauder/Engine2006/News122405/img/dsc02529.jpg

:D

john

[Dennis Reinhart]

John I added them for you Ron does not do that.

[TooManyFords]

You are absolutely correct. My bad!

FYI, I ordered my heads from Dennis!

:D

John

[SergntMac]

Nothing has to come out of the car to install the cooling mod. Once you own a kit, you'll see how it fits in place, with one retainer bolt on each bank.

It's a tight space for sure, but it looks tighter than it really is because the windshield wiper assembly hangs over the back og the engine. Some flexibility is necessary, but you can reach around and get it done.

IF...IF...You have any plans in the near future to pull your tranny, like a Stage II upgrade, or, Stallion upgrade, it's about as easy as it gets to pop out the freeze plugs and bolt the drain pipes and hoses in place.

Back to Dominick's engine...For an engine that has 100K miles on it, it's in surprizingly good condition. I don't think the kerosene treatment caused any damage. Some of the valve train (as Zack indicated) is showing some unusual wear, but over all this engine could have gone another 50K miles.

Mains and rod bearings look great, no sludge, or, crud anywhere (would have went out with the kerosene drain anyway). The upper idler pully was a bit tired too, but the water pump is fine.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the global durability of this version of the 4V DOHC engine, and I plan to build a conservative street race engine, about 500 HP to the wheels. There's a lot to work with here, well done, Ford.

[Zack]

Zack, you mentioned a possible problem with the wiring harness in Motorheads car in another thread. Was his OK?

Oh, and thanks for the excuse for yet ANOTHER mod :D

I believe the wiring harness was the cause of the poor running condition.
I fixed it with electrical tape and routed it in the correct place.

[Agent M79]

...and I plan to build a conservative street race engine, about 500 HP to the wheels.

What an awesome day it is when 500HP and the word 'conservative' find a way into the same sentence. I love it. I hope I can one day be so conservative!

[Loco1234]

That piston looks really similar to what the piston in my marauder looked like after we took it apart....

...and when it happened you could hear the peice clang around a little bit then it shoot right out of the exhaust valve and down the exhaust.... heard it the whole way....

but like Zack said other than a little compression loss motor still ran fine...
Compression rings were perfectly intake...

I was out of town when it happened and had to make my way home...about (6 hour ride)

[Motorhead350]

Wow thanks for this tread. Looks like I drove it till I broke it. I'm still very happy with my new engine and can't wait to see number one when it's complete.

[fastblackmerc]

What an awesome day it is when 500HP and the word 'conservative' find a way into the same sentence. I love it. I hope I can one day be so conservative!

AMEN!!!!!!

[shakes_26]

Zack,

Thanks for taking the time to share, good stuff, always good to learn a little more about the internals on these beasts. I've often wondered what it looks like inside those cc's, then I decide I'm probably too squeamish to really want to know!!

[MarauderTJA]

What an awesome day it is when 500HP and the word 'conservative' find a way into the same sentence. I love it. I hope I can one day be so conservative!

Ditto^^^^^^^. The HP potential with this little 281 CI engine is really incredible.:D

[Motorhead350]

Mac would you like to share what your present was for buying my engine?

[Marauder2005]

before this happened, did you ever get blue smoke start-ups or

driver-side head tick?

[Motorhead350]

No ticks, but yes the blue smoke start. Heck I still have it, but I think it's because my cats are probably dirty.

[SergntMac]

What an awesome day it is when 500HP and the word 'conservative' find a way into the same sentence. I love it. I hope I can one day be so conservative!No joke intended, by "conservative" I meant to say spending only the money I need to spend, without a need to throw a lot of top drawer product names into the mix. Very much of the stock Marauder engine is very durable, but folks throw them out in favor of exotic brand name stuff.

[SergntMac]

Mac would you like to share what your present was for buying my engine?I don't think anyone would get it, or, laugh as hard as you and I did. A good sense of humor here is a quality that seems to drift in and out.

[Motorhead350]

You should at least tell Zack. :D

[Loco1234]

I think we all wanna know.....

[Dragcity]

Now that there is a testament to FORGED pistons....

[Motorhead350]

Lets see what Mac says.

[MM03MOK]

Mac would you like to share what your present was for buying my engine?He told me! We laughed....! http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif :lol:

[Loco1234]

why does the rest of the board get left in the dark.........

[SergntMac]

Hint...

http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif

Dance, pickle, dance!

[Motorhead350]

The people have a right to know Mac! Well actually they don't, but I'd love to hear the reaction.

[O's Fan Rich]

Hint...

http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif

Dance, pickle, dance!

I don't want nuthin' ta do wita dancin' pickle.....:banana: :banana: :banana:

[Mad4Macs]

I don't want nuthin' ta do wita dancin' pickle.....:banana: :banana: :banana:

Yeah! And don't EVEN tell us it had something to do with a kilt!!!
:lol:

[SergntMac]

The people have a right to know Mac! Well actually they don't, but I'd love to hear the reaction.Well, okay then. But, remember that you voted for this, 'K?

Folks...At our last Chicagoland "Chicken Run" on September 3rd, Dominick and I ended up sitting at one of our two reserved dinner tables elbow to elbow.

We both ordered the house version of a bacon double cheeseburger (a Chicago classic in it's own right), which is delicious and very filling. In the four years we have been meeting here, I haven't finished one yet.

My favorite condiment is pickles, I like a lot of pickles, and I got only two today. I nudged Dominick and said "give me your pickles" and he replied "NO!...I like them too!" But, someone within earshot over heard this and ordered more pickles for the table. Now comes the "punch line" of an inside joke between friends...Ready?

Dominick's "gift" to me is a 5 gallon pail of genuine Kosher quarter sliced dill pickles. A hot dog lover's dream!

16 pounds of quarter sliced Kosher dill pickles in brine, over 300 slices in the pail, albeit under 280 left as I type this.

I've got pickles now, enough to become picked myself (and in another way that many of you have suggested in the past). More than I can dream of consuming on my own!

But OTOH, this style of pickle is what makes an ordinary Chicago style hot dog exceptional above the rest. A slice of kosher dill pickle is an upscale hot dog, rather than just adding a scent of rellish and I cannot enjoy, or, consider any hot dog "Chicago style", without the correct pickle slice in place. Likewise, tomato slices, and Lawry's seasoning. The difference between ordinary fast food, and quality Chicago eats.

That's our story and I am sticking to it. Laugh if you want, but no negative remarks, please. It is very intuitive of Dominick to sense my feelings about Chicago, it's spin and style of Chicagoland food, hot dogs, and so on...

Dominick's "gift" to me is a genuine (and well thought out) "joke" between us. Guess you have to live here a while to get that detail, eh?

[Hotrauder]

Not at all. thanks for sharing. My apologies to Motorhead. I have to confess that I considered him a full time ahole. Not the case at all it seems. Thanks Mac. I didn't like they way I reacted to his posts so I ignored them. Second chances are good for both of us. Dennis:beer:

[MM2004]

Hey Mac,

-> http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,kosher_dill_pickles,FF.html

[MM03MOK]

Hey Mac,

-> http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,kosher_dill_pickles,FF.html: lol: They're already pickled! He needs recipes for pickle dishes. Oooo - I have one.... Ham Salad: grind up some ham, mince the pickles, add a little mayo (or even blue cheese dressing). Spread it on some pumpernickel and there ya go!

http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif Pickle Party at Mac's! http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif

[KillJoy]

http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif Pickle Party at Mac's! http://usera.imagecave.com/phaty33/dancing_pickle.gif

That just don't sound right! :eek: :nono:

KillJoy

[Motorhead350]

My apologies to Motorhead. I have to confess that I considered him a full time ahole. Not the case at all it seems.

I'm now part time now that school started. :D It's alright it's not the first time I have been misunderstood. Enjoy the pickles Mac. ;)

[the_pack_rat]

Who can whip up a batch of pickled tomatoes ?

:drool:

[Motorhead350]

mmmmmmmmm Goody Goody

[Loco1234]

I have a batch a pickled green cherry tomato's that my dad made about 1.5 years ago... there actually rather good...

[Dragcity]

I have only 1 jar of pickled Habaneros from last year. Can you say "HOT" ?

[SergntMac]

From a chipped piston to pickles...Go figure?

Y'all a nuts, ya know?

[Loco1234]

Oh we know it.....

[Agent M79]

No joke intended, by "conservative" I meant to say spending only the money I need to spend, without a need to throw a lot of top drawer product names into the mix. Very much of the stock Marauder engine is very durable, but folks throw them out in favor of exotic brand name stuff.

OOOH! A 'conservatively' built 500HP engine, not an engine with a 'conservative' 500HP!

I think I'd might like one still. I mean, I don't want it to be still... ug. This crazy english language.

[SergntMac]

I think I'd might like one still. I mean, I don't want it to be still... ug. This crazy english language.No worries, I get you. When I start the build, I'll be starting a thread on it in the Windy City forum. A complete step-by-step, maybe some pics too.

[Zack]

No worries, I get you. When I start the build, I'll be starting a thread on it in the Windy City forum. A complete step-by-step, maybe some pics too.

Everything except the cooling mod :coolman:

[SergntMac]

Yeah, don't wanna lose any HP or spend any bucks on a totally worthless mod, eh?

[Loco1234]

LOL U guys make the work day pass by...

[JohnE]

Don't forget to retrieve the piston piece from the cat on that side.

[Loco1234]

wonder if thats why you think your cat is clogged.....
There a piece of piston in it....

[Motorhead350]

Yea that might be the answer. I'll have that fixed when I get my next paycheck. :D

[SergntMac]

My kitchen smells like a freakin' deli...

[SergntMac]

wonder if thats why you think your cat is clogged.....
There a piece of piston in it....Won't find anything, Zack cleaned everything out. But still, the cat may be damaged and not flowing.

[Motorhead350]

I still got a ton of smoke on a start up so I know those cats are dirty or shot.