Engine Differences of the 350R

[svttim]

Do we actually have a picture of a GT350R phaser? the one from the artical may not be an "R" engine we don't know. Like Dominator961 said, "fake news"
What are the part numbers for the two motors?
The Engine ID Tags only show build date (intended as a serial number), Plant code, and the Calibration code.

My contact at ford says there is no difference in the two engines, the "R" has some different calibrations due to rotational weight reduction and
the removal of the resonators, these calibrations are very minor and mostly are emissions related.

Consistent with my Ford Contact

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[svttim]

Engine tag doesn't show calibration code, that's incorrect. The calibration code, if it was on a sticker, would be on the PCM where the calibration is loaded. The operators don't look at the engine code sticker to see what calibration they load, they push a button which loads the calibration based on the VIN which has other items tied to it apart from just the engine. What's on the label is the engine code (the part number of the engine) itself.

We have internal Ford BOMs showing a different part number for each engine leading credence to them being different. And a Ford contact saying all GT350s come with the GR3E which we know is false now, leading me to believe "inside sources" don't know what they're talking about.

So, sine the engine is tracked to the chassis, would it not have to be identfied as such?

 

[GT350-H6088]

Engine tag doesn't show calibration code, that's incorrect. The calibration code, if it was on a sticker, would be on the PCM where the calibration is loaded. The operators don't look at the engine code sticker to see what calibration they load, they push a button which loads the calibration based on the VIN which has other items tied to it apart from just the engine. What's on the label is the engine code (the part number of the engine) itself.

We have internal Ford BOMs showing a different part number for each engine leading credence to them being different. And a Ford contact saying all GT350s come with the GR3E which we know is false now, leading me to believe "inside sources" don't know what they're talking about.

Maybe I am not using the right term for the information on the Engine Tag.

I was told that the code "HA 555 AA" was the build process date and the 555 = GT350R and the GT350 = 557
and these numbers are the code to enter into the PCM for emissions. the AA is the Version or revision level

That would also be Consistent with what SVTTim and My contact has said. because of the lower rotational weight, lower vehicle weight and no resonators
the emmissions will be different, minor but different. so even thought the engines are the same , depending on the car it's installed, the PCM needs to know.

The 4 digit alphanumeric code is a PCM strategy code, not calibration code.

 

[cosmo]

So, sine the engine is tracked to the chassis, would it not have to be identfied as such?

I worked at an automation company who installed lines at engine and assembly plants for the Big 3, so that's my background for this information.

No, the engine is not tracked to the chassis until the engine is already built, in the assembly plant, and "picked" to be placed on the dress line.

The assembly plants says "hey we need 50 gt350 (ha-557-aa) engines and 7 gt350r engines (ha-555-aa) delivered on XXXX date". So the engine plant builds per this direction, and ships them out. If the engines were identical, then they would say "hey we need 57 gt350/gt350r engines (same code, for example ha-555-aa) delivered on XXXX date." The assembly plant then organizes these shipping racks in the plant in seperate locations (floorspace taken up), and whenever a gt350 or gt350r is assigned a VIN, an engine is pulled from the rack. THAT is when the chassis/VIN and engine are tracked together, after the likely unique phaser has been built into the engine and the unique engine code is assigned.

My issue with having two identical engines with separate codes is that this needlessly takes up floorspace and time organizing/sorting the different engines. It would needlessly waste shipping rack space (empty spots on racks during shipping) as well. These aren't things that a large company like Ford would do.

 

[cosmo]

Maybe I am not using the right term for the information on the Engine Tag.

I was told that the code "HA 555 AA" was the build process and the 555 = GT350R and the GT350 = 557
and these numbers are the code to enter into the PCM for emissions.

That would also be Consistent with what SVTTim and My contact has said. because of the lower rotational weight, lower vehicle weight and no resonators
the emmissions will be different, minor but different. so even thought the engines are the same , depending on the car it's installed, the PCM needs to know.

The 4 digit alphanumeric code is a PCM strategy code, not calibration code.

That emissions information is already handled once the VIN is assigned. When the GT350 or GT350R VIN would be assigned, it is already understood which engine (555 or 557) would be selected. Then, once it is picked, the engine tag is scanned and the serial code is tied to that VIN.

The calibration is also already preselected once the VIN is assigned, and all the assumptions about that vehicle is assigned. There's no need for the engine to be scanned or even looked at, it's already understood.

 

[superman07]

At some point they will be built with the new block too. Parts change. Build date likely has a lot more to do with parts changes than the R non R portion.

 

[madlag]

Do we actually have a picture of a GT350R phaser? the one from the artical may not be an "R" engine we don't know. Like Dominator961 said, "fake news"
What are the part numbers for the two motors?
The Engine ID Tags only show build date (intended as a serial number), Plant code, and the Calibration code.

My contact at ford says there is no difference in the two engines, the "R" has some different calibrations due to rotational weight reduction and
the removal of the resonators, these calibrations are very minor and mostly are emissions related.

I have pics of the phasers on my R. Give me a bit to upload and post after my meeting.

 

[honeybadger]

From my buddy with a 2016 R

Pretty much confirmed at this point me thinks.

 

[madlag]

My 2018 350R confirming the GR3E phaser. Can y’all see the pics?

 

[svttim]

That emissions information is already handled once the VIN is assigned. When the GT350 or GT350R VIN would be assigned, it is already understood which engine (555 or 557) would be selected. Then, once it is picked, the engine tag is scanned and the serial code is tied to that VIN.

The calibration is also already preselected once the VIN is assigned, and all the assumptions about that vehicle is assigned. There's no need for the engine to be scanned or even looked at, it's already understood.

When does the VIN get stamped

 

[svttim]

1. Of interesting note, the GR3Z part runs about double the cost of the FR3Z part through Whitebearlake ($166 vs $78)

Cant find that part anywhere

 

[cosmo]

Thanks @honeybadger and @madlag that just about wraps this up I believe.

The GT350 and GT350R engines are in fact, not identical. Seems the GT350R gets the Ford Racing phasers, that's all we know at this time.

When does the VIN get stamped

Assembly Plant after it's been "picked", but where along the line changes in every plant usually.

 

[honeybadger]

Cant find that part anywhere

https://parts.autonationfordwhitebearlake.com/oem-parts/ford-cam-gr3z6c525b

 

[Demonic]

At some point they will be built with the new block too. Parts change. Build date likely has a lot more to do with parts changes than the R non R portion.

I was wondering the same thing. Putting differences in part numbers aside, how do we know that even if there are physical differences, they aren't associated with mid-year production changes instead of R vs non-R? For example, BMW was constantly upgrading their water pump impellers all the time - metal, then a cheap plastic that was breaking all the time, then to metal again, then to a new plastic that was much more durable, etc. These changes often took place within a model year. So if someone were to compare the water pump of a 2003 M3 built in November, to a 2003 330i built in January, the M3 could have the new water pump impeller design, and someone not knowing about the mid-year changes could conclude that M3's came with an upgraded water impeller over the 330i, when it reality it was based on the production date.

 

[btown93]

Thanks @honeybadger and @madlag that just about wraps this up I believe.

The GT350 and GT350R engines are in fact, not identical. Seems the GT350R gets the Ford Racing phasers, that's all we know at this time.



Assembly Plant after it's been "picked", but where along the line changes in every plant usually.

I also think its safe to assume the lifters as well.

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