Lightning internals

[MTCFORUM]

Hello all

I joined a thread over on svtperformance.com about the differences b/w a lightning and an '03 cobra motor (other than 2v vs. 4v). One of the posters, a lightning owner, said that the cobra has forged internals while the lightning does not.......

yeah...i opened my big yap right away. Why would Ford put a supercharger on a motor w/o forged internals??? anyway, I've convinced him of the forged pistons and crank, however, he says the rods are 'normal.' I've not been able to find any information on the rods of a Lightning motor.

Can anyone help me with this???? I know it's kind of a dumb question, but it scares me when people post completely invalid information on a motor, especially one that has a roots blower on top of it (or any blower for that matter).

thanks for any help!

[MTCFORUM]

And a "normal" rod is a forging. All connecting rods are forged or billet in all engines. You couldn't have a cast connecting rod, those would snap like toothpicks, that's simple common sense(something that obviously way too many people lack anymore).

I mean DUH, there's 3 ways to make something out of steel. One, pour molten steel into a mold and let it set up, a casting. Two, take steel hot enough to be in an elastic state, and form it into the desired shape under very high pressure, a forging. Three, take a raw piece of steel and cold machine it to the desired shape, a billet. What the hell is wrong with these people? Are they incapable of independent thought? How can anyone be so stupid to think a part that takes as much beating as a connecting rod could ever be a casting? Why am I wasting my time typing this?

Anyhow, the rod does suck ass, much like all of the 4.6 rods, it is not a big H beam Manley rod like on the 03 Cobra, so they are not that difficult to break when you start making power.

[MTCFORUM]

thanks for the reply

Like I said, I had to convince him that the pistons were forged..........
had to show him the PDF file from svt.ford.com (lightning brochure).

so i guess we're both right though....i'm right in the fact that they are forged...but he's right in the fact that they do not hold up ...
*shrug*

thanks for the help!

[MTCFORUM]

ALL 5.4 Truck engines have a Forged Steel crank... the L's come with Forged pistons while they have cast steel rods. The Cobra motor has Manley rods...

Working with my uncle... he just got his manley rods/JE pistons and rings in two days ago... he is shooting for 750rwhp / 900rwtq

[MTCFORUM]

<i>"the L's come with Forged pistons while they have cast steel rods."</i>

Is there even such thing as cast rods anywhere? Tally please read kdanner's reply. THEY ARE ALL FORGED RODS!

[MTCFORUM]

Seabass,

Is it true that the modular rods are a powdered steel rod? I could maybe see where someone could mistake a powdered rod for a casting since it starts in a mold of sorts....Anyways just curious because I think powdered metal forging is kind of cool I mean we are just starting to use this in the automotive industry and it has been in use in aviation since the 40's

[MTCFORUM]

No... seabass is correct, I was mistaken. They are forged.... handle right up to 550HP after that you should upgrade to a manley.