Cryptostorm

ive heard that the bottom end they put in the thunderbirts were all forged...

are the parts that ford put in the thuderbird's bottom end any less strong as the forged parts that delkperformance.com sells?

i know i can get athunderbird engine for about 4 bills... so im not going to go spending 1300 on a bottom end i can just pull out of a thunderbird

NeoTokyo

I think just the rods were steel and the pistons were Forged as well, as for the crank I think it was still cast.

If you want a steel crank then get a 4.2L crank. Those things can handle 700hp with Forged rods and pistons. With proper prep work the crank is capable of 1200hp (If you can make that much on a street car.)

I am not sure if Kellogg made the crank or what, but I know Ford commissioned them for the 03/04 Cobra cranks and Livernoise uses them for their 5.0L 3V stroker kits.

Cryptostorm

im planning on getting the 4.2 crank... but when i do it, im replacing the entire bottom end....

so if thats the case, i might as well just buy a $400 thunderbird engineand steal the pistons and rods and scrap the rest, and save myself $900

NeoTokyo

You should just get the long rod stroker kit that SSM offers for $1700.

Otherwise these are the costs.

$250 Crank
$400 that SC engine
$50 rod bearings (Been a while since I priced these.)
$50 Main Bearings (Been a while since I priced these.)
$50Rod Bolts
$100 Piston Rings
Thats already $900 For used stuff
Then you need to have a shop clean the rods and pistons and put the rings on, also you might need new wrist pins. Those are also estimated prices and I think I estimated on the cheaper side instead of on the performance side or even OE.

Just spend the cast for a long rod stroker kit and you will be happier.

LilRoush

Super Coupes have a forged rotating assembly. They are also lower compression than the 3.8L the Mustang got to take boost a lot easier. Cam is slightly different and heads have more coolant passanges in them as well. If I remember right, the valve springs are stiffer as well.

NeoTokyo

LilRoush is the crank forged too?

LilRoush

Yes, it's a forged 3.8 crank. But I think forged cranks are overrated unless you find one for close to free or something. The 4.2L crank is a stock cast unit. Nobody has found it to be "weak" by any means.

RED2000

lilroush...what would you say is the weakest part of the 3.8? rods?

ESG-642T

Nothing the 3.8 can never lose....

I would say the hyperpathetic pistons.

NeoTokyo

At least the 4.2L crank is steel instead of nodular iron.