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Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I never knew they even used HE in the 5.0. But Ford DID have some piston slap and high oil consumption issues with the early 5.4 Modular. Fixed it really quick, though, unlike the GM noises that went on for years.
I can believe that, though we've never owned one that made noise. They have very short pistons like the LSx engines, whilst the old 302 had quite tall pistons.
Quote:
I don't know enough to dispute that, but my understanding that all of the auto manufacturers have used a quasi-bulk fitting process for a long time- at least since the 60s. Pistons (and other parts) are binned into tolerance ranges for both size and weight (for engine balance), and then when a block comes down the line pistons are pulled from the bin that most closely matches that block's actual dimensions. Its halfway between true machine-shop hand fitting and blind plugging them in the holes. Maybe GM did away with the binning process, or reduced it to fewer tolerance ranges. GM doing that kind of thing is why I always preferred Mopars and Fords anyway...
Quite possible. I have heard (though I am not all that sure of the accuracy) that the 302HO's were hand-assembled.
I know the Cobra engines all are, but I imagine they are the exception.
I DO know that every stock ford engine (pre-Modular) I've had apart has had numbered caps on the rods, and the 302HO slugs I've seen have been machined on the bottom for balancing purposes, so it does indeed look like there is more done (or was in the 80's and early 90's) than just fitting the bulk pistons to the bores.
Quote:
The Jeep 4.0 got coated skirt pistons way back in the 90s (not sure what year exactly). Now and then you hear one that's a bit noisy and prone to very light piston slap, but nothing to the degree that the GMs were.
IIRC, the hypers in the Mustang were also coated. Only makes sense. GM of course was cheap
(oh, I'm surprised, lol!)
I never knew they even used HE in the 5.0. But Ford DID have some piston slap and high oil consumption issues with the early 5.4 Modular. Fixed it really quick, though, unlike the GM noises that went on for years.
I can believe that, though we've never owned one that made noise. They have very short pistons like the LSx engines, whilst the old 302 had quite tall pistons.
Quote:
I don't know enough to dispute that, but my understanding that all of the auto manufacturers have used a quasi-bulk fitting process for a long time- at least since the 60s. Pistons (and other parts) are binned into tolerance ranges for both size and weight (for engine balance), and then when a block comes down the line pistons are pulled from the bin that most closely matches that block's actual dimensions. Its halfway between true machine-shop hand fitting and blind plugging them in the holes. Maybe GM did away with the binning process, or reduced it to fewer tolerance ranges. GM doing that kind of thing is why I always preferred Mopars and Fords anyway...
Quite possible. I have heard (though I am not all that sure of the accuracy) that the 302HO's were hand-assembled.
I know the Cobra engines all are, but I imagine they are the exception.
I DO know that every stock ford engine (pre-Modular) I've had apart has had numbered caps on the rods, and the 302HO slugs I've seen have been machined on the bottom for balancing purposes, so it does indeed look like there is more done (or was in the 80's and early 90's) than just fitting the bulk pistons to the bores.
Quote:
The Jeep 4.0 got coated skirt pistons way back in the 90s (not sure what year exactly). Now and then you hear one that's a bit noisy and prone to very light piston slap, but nothing to the degree that the GMs were.
IIRC, the hypers in the Mustang were also coated. Only makes sense. GM of course was cheap
