MarauderTJA
11-15-2006, 08:20 AM
As many of you already know when I was at MV IV without my car, after a final dyno run here in Fort Myers on Tuesday 11/7 (car made 585 RWHP on a 93 octane tune) I broke an exhaust cam sprocket on the drivers side bank. We thought it could be replaced in time to make MV IV, but also found out I bent two intakes valves in the #6 & #7 cylinders. No other damage occured. I did get the previsous tensioner problem resolved with some changes in pulley sizes. I just thank God the sprocket broke at idle and not going down Gainesville at 6500 rpm. What amazed me is how well the car drove on Alligator Alley and around town, just like a NA Marauder, but with a much more aggressive exhaust tone. I was really looking forward to bringing it to MV IV. Oh well, some things happen for the best. Could have been worse.
After considerable research, I am finding this is an extremely rare situation. Ford figures the sprocket was defective and I am sending it to them. I drove the car around for a week after the new forged motor was put in the car and it handled numerous dyno runs at Diablosport prior to the incident. My engine builder, Al Papitto @ Boss 330 racing is getting the engine back and will replace all components at no cost. I am going to replace all of the cam sprockets on the engine with special ordered hardened steel degree types. The ones that come on our cars are cast. While the engine is out I am also going to get a Lentech transmission ordered to handle the 116 octane race tune HP (650 RHWP blower only & 750 w/NOS). This has been quite the project and frustrating to say the least. But when you play in the high HP field with our heavy cars ***** happens. I wanted to let all you high HP S/C guys made of aware of this problem which also has been posted on other sites as well. I did receive an e-mail from a guy with e 2000 Cobra-R Mustang that had the same exact sprocket break with his car while drag racing it in Wisconsin. If you are considering building a high HP forged motor, getting the steel sprockets is recommended to avoid these potential problems.
Should have the car ready to take to Bradenton after I get back from a couple of business trips in Denver & New Orleans in December. Will keep everyone posted.
After considerable research, I am finding this is an extremely rare situation. Ford figures the sprocket was defective and I am sending it to them. I drove the car around for a week after the new forged motor was put in the car and it handled numerous dyno runs at Diablosport prior to the incident. My engine builder, Al Papitto @ Boss 330 racing is getting the engine back and will replace all components at no cost. I am going to replace all of the cam sprockets on the engine with special ordered hardened steel degree types. The ones that come on our cars are cast. While the engine is out I am also going to get a Lentech transmission ordered to handle the 116 octane race tune HP (650 RHWP blower only & 750 w/NOS). This has been quite the project and frustrating to say the least. But when you play in the high HP field with our heavy cars ***** happens. I wanted to let all you high HP S/C guys made of aware of this problem which also has been posted on other sites as well. I did receive an e-mail from a guy with e 2000 Cobra-R Mustang that had the same exact sprocket break with his car while drag racing it in Wisconsin. If you are considering building a high HP forged motor, getting the steel sprockets is recommended to avoid these potential problems.
Should have the car ready to take to Bradenton after I get back from a couple of business trips in Denver & New Orleans in December. Will keep everyone posted.