Don't be Just Another Failure!

[desant89]

Funniest thing about the dozen threads about this is that nobody changes their mind. If you don't think you need it, this does not change your mind. Maybe real people using FI that blow it in a real situation (not 1 for every 10,000) would have an impact. I'm sure having and opg can never hurt, unless installed incorrectly (probably another 1 in 10,000 scenario). I myself was on the fence, and just can't seem to get myself to spend the money on it. I did go for balancer as both Ford, and Whipple mention it. However, if my engine went, I'd use this 1500 towards a more bulletproof solution. I say this as if you keep going on to the next weakest link to be "safe", that's where you would end up anyway, with a new engine...

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[foghat]

First he says that its not the material, and then he says the steel gears are stronger and "survive longer"

"the production vibration damper is designed to work within production vehicle RPM and power limit"

So what does this mean?

If you buy headers and a tune, you are now within the realm of "uncontrolled torsional vibrations" and all bets are off?

OPG and crank sprocket is an expensive mod , 10-20% of the costs of a new engine. With no fun factor. Is there some reason that Ford doesn't use the steel gears that he is referring to? Ford's mass produced costs would be minimal. I would rather have the stronger steel gears than the blinkers on my hood.

He is not contradicting anything.

All he is saying is uncontrolled torsional vibration is what kills the stock opg.

The fact that the steel gear is stronger and can better withstand uncontrolled torsional vibrations is irrelevant to this point.

If you move beyond factory limits, you are at risk of uncontrolled torsional vibration if you continue to use the factory damper. Upgrading the damper should take care of/reduce said uncontrolled torsional vibrations.

I suspect the main reason they make the stronger opg gears to better deal with uncontrolled torsional vibrations one may encounter.

I suspect the reason they do not include the steel gear is because it is not required on a stock vehicle.

 

[Bartly]

...

I suspect the reason they do not include the steel gear is because it is not required on a stock vehicle.

^ pretty much sums it up. Bean counters helped with this decision. Probably a $2-$5 powder metal part with some tooling investment vs. $20-$30 part machined out of billet on a cnc machine.

 

[Roh92cp]

A couple things, if uncontrolled torsional vibration is not put in check with a race damper then even billet gears are at risk and can break, that has happened. Furthermore the reason I understand is Ford used the powdered metal gears is it also has better longevity over the billet gears as well as cost and ease of manufacturing.

The Ford engineer is right one must attack the cause of gears breaking (torsional vibration) and not just the symptom (gears breaking) replacing just the billet gears only is still a bandaid approach.

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

A couple things, if uncontrolled torsional vibration is not put in check with a race damper then even billet gears are at risk and can break, that has happened. Furthermore the reason I understand is Ford used the powdered metal gears is it also has better longevity over the billet gears as well as cost and ease of manufacturing.

The Ford engineer is right one must attack the cause of gears breaking (torsional vibration) and not just the symptom (gears breaking) replacing just the billet gears only is still a bandaid approach.

To address this issue a ATI Super is a must. I did this with less than 2000 miles on car. The ATI damper will help preserve the life of both stock and after market gears. Now at 4100 miles I just added the TG and OPG.

 

[Super Werty]

So the cobra jet is running the Whipple Kit with ATI dampener.... Does it have Billet opg's???

 

[Roh92cp]

To address this issue a ATI Super is a must. I did this with less than 2000 miles on car. The ATI damper will help preserve the life of both stock and after market gears. Now at 4100 miles I just added the TG and OPG.

I went with the MMR/Romac race damper, my understanding is the Cobra jet and the Shelby cobra both use stock OPG as well with the Whipple 2.9.

 

[BMR Tech]

[MENTION=11090]Livernois Motorsports[/MENTION] you should post a pic of those pretty gears going on the pretty sleeved GT350 block that I heard rumors about, when you get a chance. Just saying.

 

[daltron]

Funniest thing about the dozen threads about this is that nobody changes their mind. If you don't think you need it, this does not change your mind. Maybe real people using FI that blow it in a real situation (not 1 for every 10,000) would have an impact. I'm sure having and opg can never hurt, unless installed incorrectly (probably another 1 in 10,000 scenario). I myself was on the fence, and just can't seem to get myself to spend the money on it. I did go for balancer as both Ford, and Whipple mention it. However, if my engine went, I'd use this 1500 towards a more bulletproof solution. I say this as if you keep going on to the next weakest link to be "safe", that's where you would end up anyway, with a new engine...

I actually changed my mind after initially thinking I would get them. What swayed me against them is that Whipple offers a warranty without them (and they just use a damper) so I thought shoot, do I really need them? The warranty was roughly 25% of what it would cost me for parts and labor for the OPG and crankshaft timing gear. If Whipple, at least concerning their setup, thinks that the damper is a safe enough solution to offer a warranty then that is good enough for me.

So the cobra jet is running the Whipple Kit with ATI dampener.... Does it have Billet opg's???

Yes, the different oil pump. Then again, that is a legit race car lol.

 

[Livernois Motorsports]

[MENTION=11090]Livernois Motorsports[/MENTION] you should post a pic of those pretty gears going on the pretty sleeved GT350 block that I heard rumors about, when you get a chance. Just saying.

[ame="[MEDIA=youtube]mlUZG2UQ6FI[/MEDIA]"]

 

[BMR Tech]

ROFLMAO!

 

[Bartly]

So from what I gather this gear is what actually pumps the oil? The OEM gear being powder metal has a harder outer surface than the aftermarket cut steel gear. If this is the case, would their be any concern of the aftermarket gears wearing and not keeping the oil pressure over time? I don't know how likely it is, just got to thinking I don't recall an accurate oil pressure gauge in the instrument panel. I'm guessing it is pretty far fetched to think the gear could wear and cause any catastrophic failure?

 

[Reds197]

Out of the 30ish people in my area that I personally know with supercharged cars 3 have cracked the OPG. Same people for and against this mod on all the forums I read.

I should cancel my insurance policy because I am never having an accident. The 1 in 10,0000 odds are in my favor.

 

[daltron]

Out of the 30ish people in my area that I personally know with supercharged cars 3 have cracked the OPG.

Curious if they changed the damper or not.

 

[Livnpaintball2]

Here is the cobra jet oil pump. Billet!

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