How hard can ya boost a gen 1 before it breaks?

[bojo68]

Just curious what breaks, and when, as far as the engine goes when boosting a first gen?? I don't need the tune up warnings...:)

[luxuryrules]

It's an aluminum block and aluminum heads, and relatively high compression to boot. Really, when you go beyond 6 or 8 psi, you run the risk of cracking a head or block.

[bojo68]

That's interesting. So what are the levels people here have cracked them at?

[luxuryrules]

No boosted Marks here to speak of, just folks who know a lot more than I do about aluminum motors :)

[bojo68]

No boosted Marks here to speak of, just folks who know a lot more than I do about aluminum motors :)

NONE?? Dang, I'd have thought that somebody would have stepped up at least enough to keep the Markvii guys in the rear view mirror...:)

[luxuryrules]

Nah, these cars are really not very boost friendly. When you start to figure out how to properly boost these cars, the costs very quickly get astronomical.

When you figure in not only the induction unit itself, but the fuel system upgrades, transmission uprgrades, new torque converter, new driveshaft, upgraded halfshafts, posi rear end, and brake upgrades... it adds up pretty quickly. And that's not even swapping any internal parts :)

[JP]

I know a few boosted Mark VIIIs. Done right they can safely run 8 psi with supporting mods and stock internals. Better rotating elements are needed for serious boost.

[bojo68]

I know a few boosted Mark VIIIs. Done right they can safely run 8 psi with supporting mods and stock internals. Better rotating elements are needed for serious boost.

8?? That's just about where I consider the not worthwhile point....:)

[93' Blue on blue]

It's an aluminum block and aluminum heads, and relatively high compression to boot. Really, when you go beyond 6 or 8 psi, you run the risk of cracking a head or block.

I have read, from many, many sources, that our Teksid block is one of the strongest production alloy castings ever made! Built carefully with quality internals, they are supposedly over 1000 HP capable and are a desirable commodity among Mustang enthusiasts.

The main weak links are the cast crank, powdered rods, cast hypereutectic pistons, weak spark plug threads and weak valve springs. (before they changed over to the beehive type)

Search the 'tube and streetfire for some nice S.C. Mark VIII video clips!

[bojo68]

I have read, from many, many sources, that our Teksid block is one of the strongest production alloy castings ever made! Built carefully with quality internals, they are supposedly over 1000 HP capable and are a desirable commodity among Mustang enthusiasts.

The main weak links are the cast crank, powdered rods, cast hypereutectic pistons, weak spark plug threads and weak valve springs. (before they changed over to the beehive type)

Search the 'tube and streetfire for some nice S.C. Mark VIII video clips!

Or just do like I do, and have Jon Mihovetz's phone # and call and ask him. He claims 2000hp, 45# boost, STOCK BLOCK AND HEAD CASTINGS, 10k rpm, and world record holder for fastest modular on the planet. 6.23@223mph. On gasoline.
So let's just say if I'm gonna buy crank, pistons, rods, and head gaskets, you can believe I intend to make some power.
For the moment I was just trying to see where they blew at stock.

[93' Blue on blue]

Yup, i read about that - very fast! (wish i had some contacts in the industry!) :(

Anyway, good luck with the build! Sounds like an exciting project!

[bojo68]

Yup, i read about that - very fast! (wish i had some contacts in the industry!) :(

Anyway, good luck with the build! Sounds like an exciting project!

Well, mine isn't going to be anywhere near his, but ya knoow a guy can spend a lot of money replacing parts that "might" break, I just figured if
I could get my hands on a decent spare engine, might be fun to see how far this one will go...:)

[pro-five-oh]

Nah, these cars are really not very boost friendly.


The blocks are good for 800-1000hp, just ask Sean Hyland. Its the rods/pistons that are the problem.

[pro-five-oh]

8?? That's just about where I consider the not worthwhile point....:)

It doesn't have forged pistons. Then again, I've seen Cobras @ 8psi and they make 400 at the wheels.

[bojo68]

It doesn't have forged pistons. Then again, I've seen Cobras @ 8psi and they make 400 at the wheels.

Yeah, and there are some folks that contend that non-forged high silicone pistons can take up around 12psi with a good tune. (have no idea what they have for pistons, but many stangs came with such)
I know all the mustang guys say ya need to replace the rods and pistons because they blow up on stangs. I think that Lincolns, being all automatics, may not have those problems. I personally haven't heard of many automatic equipped teksid blocks losing a bottom end. Certainly the loading on them is much more gentle. Of course, you'd need a good automatic to find out, and somebody that wanted to race a markviii to boot...:) It seems there's not a whole lot of guys pushing the markviii envelope here...:)

[pro-five-oh]

Yeah, and there are some folks that contend that non-forged high silicone pistons can take up around 12psi with a good tune.

I've seen LS1s do it with no problems, not sure if the 96-99 Cobras can say the same thing.

I know all the mustang guys say ya need to replace the rods and pistons because they blow up on stangs. I think that Lincolns, being all automatics, may not have those problems.

Marks don't have the same crank/rods as a 1996 Cobra, so I wouldn't hold my breath on it handling any more than 8-10psi.

[93' Blue on blue]

There is a pic of a Mark VIII engine on the TCCOA forums with one side of its block literally ripped in half! Looks like the cast crank snapped, sending rods through the side! Apparently, that car was running a Vortech centrifugal blower at 8 PSI. Why it failed? I dunno. Bad tune? Detonation from something else? Not sure.

[bojo68]

I've seen LS1s do it with no problems, not sure if the 96-99 Cobras can say the same thing.



Marks don't have the same crank/rods as a 1996 Cobra, so I wouldn't hold my breath on it handling any more than 8-10psi.

Well,when ya consider that a set of pistons cost probably 4~5 times what a used engine can be bought for, not to mention the overpriced gaskets, and rods to boot, seems to me like it's time to blow up a few stockers...:)
Far as the cranks go, yeah, cast vs. forged, but I've seen some cast cranks do pretty good in my day. Not saying forged won't beat them, Just that they may work good enough for a half hearted effort.

[bojo68]

There is a pic of a Mark VIII engine on the TCCOA forums with one side of its block literally ripped in half! Looks like the cast crank snapped, sending rods through the side! Apparently, that car was running a Vortech centrifugal blower at 8 PSI. Why it failed? I dunno. Bad tune? Detonation from something else? Not sure.

Haven't seen that. Per chance is it the drivers side that let go?? There are rumored heat problems on the drivers side that could have played a part.
I'll check it out. thanks!:)