GT350 Engine Refresh Time!

[honeybadger]

Ugh, now I can't find it. Either the FB search is complete garbage (likely) or it sold. I'll keep my eyes open.

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[Tomster]

Ugh, now I can't find it. Either the FB search is complete garbage (likely) or it sold. I'll keep my eyes open.

Ok, thanks. Timing isn't good right now anyway. In a few months, I'll be prime time ready.

 

[JAJ]

Assume it is something along these lines as well. I think @JAJ upgraded the factory tune to a new factory tune. Did the idle change?

I was wondering that myself.

Here's Sport mode this afternoon with the factory tune:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QeYvydbNAoGJFd3V7

Hopefully this link works...

It's got a thumping sound going on in the background, but the actual exhaust note is steady.

 

[JAJ]

Here's non-Sport mode: The thumping in the background is still there, just quieter.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QA8keBtvaAABCUeE6

I wonder if that's the sound of the the little bonfire that burns in the catalytic converters. Idle is rock steady, but the thumping is there too.

 

[hp1000]

@honeybadger did you ever find a solution to the scatter shield/bellhousing sandwich plate rattle?

 

[Spart]

I've heard a slow-mo video of the idle and it was pretty clear that there was a miss every so often.

I should record it with my Tascam at 96kHz sample rate sometime....

 

[honeybadger]

FINALLY was able to get to the engine re-assembly video. I had tons, so it took a good bit of time to put together. It's not the most sexy, but I figured at least 2 of you might like it

 

[loco_GT350]

Awesome video, man. Thanks for taking the time to document things. Having done a full restoration on an old school muscle car, I know how hard it is to remember to stop and take pictures or video along the way. Looking forward to seeing the dyno numbers.

 

[honeybadger]

Awesome video, man. Thanks for taking the time to document things. Having done a full restoration on an old school muscle car, I know how hard it is to remember to stop and take pictures or video along the way. Looking forward to seeing the dyno numbers.

I'll have more to share, but here are the numbers. Very conservative road race tune and on a mustang dyno.

 

[Laststandard]

I'll have more to share, but here are the numbers. Very conservative road race tune and on a mustang dyno.

Never thought I'd say this to a man, but damn those are some nice curves

 

[Zeromaz]

 

[honeybadger]

Figured I should give yall an update now that I have about 15 track hours on the new engine.

In short, it's bloody awesome. I can't quite figure out how to describe it to folks, but it just feels different. It not only has more power, but it feels smoother, nastier, and angrier all at the same time. You can sit at 8km rpm vs. shifting to a higher gear and not really have to worry. It just keeps taking it and asking for more.

It revs like an animal, pulls like a bull and sounds like 10,000 angry honey badgers .

On top of all that, I can literally push it as hard as I can and have yet to get engine oil temps above 265* with the new cooler. At vir it was an open lapping event and I pushed it as hard as I could for 40 straight minutes and it was like "meh, that all you got?"

Also far, no signs of oil starvation. I haven't seen the accusump have to come on yet (knock on wood).

It ain't all perfect, tho. It's definitely more high maintenance than a stock motor. The E85 makes it a bit more work, I'm constantly checking spark plugs, compression, etc. After every event since I'm the warranty now.

Lastly, it does burn a good amount of oil. It's a race engine, so not super surprising. But at about 1 quart a track day (with visible blue smoke), well we'll have some work to do to iterate on it.

I'm still researching, but so far it looks like it might be a rings issue. And it's not unique to my engine or even the parts Tim used. I've spoken with 2 other built FPCs that are seeing similar oil burn/smoke. I'll keep you updated as I dig in.

 

[nastang87xx]

I can't quite figure out how to describe it to folks, but it just feels different. It not only has more power, but it feels smoother, nastier, and angrier all at the same time.

I'm guessing with the new bottom end it's balanced better perhaps?

 

[honeybadger]

I'm guessing with the new bottom end it's balanced better perhaps?

This could definitely be it. This is my first engine of caliber, so a lot of this unknown territory to me. Spent time racing motocross growing up and can definitely tell you it feels similar to the race engines back then. It also sounds similar to the racing engines you see at an IMSA track weekend - they don't like idling, but they sound happy at WOT. Very similar.

 

[JAJ]

... at about 1 quart a track day (with visible blue smoke), well we'll have some work to do to iterate on it...

You could use the same strategy that OEM's use to prevent smoke from a high consuming engine - just stick a catalytic converter on and you'll never see smoke again ;-)

As for the consumption, have you talked to people who build and run race engines about it? It could be normal for cast iron sleeves and forged pistons. Particularly if there's no "relief" in the tune from full intake vacuum during engine braking - that puts a real load on the valve stem seals.

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