If that’s the case, the major exclusivity would be a high price rather than low production numbers. And if numbers produced are high, then that should mean economics of scale would lower the prices. Well, that ain’t gonna happen! Another conundrum!
My ‘23 “R”.
- Thread starter mrud1998
- Start date
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nelsonr103
Active Member
23s saw about 4-5k, 24s were half that. Ford can only make so many of those 5.2s since they're hand built
They are certainly not "hand built".
For example- nobody is torquing heads one bolt at a time with a Snap On digital wrench. Why? Because the giant hydrauilc powered automated head bolt machine they have is WAY better, and faster. It does all the bolts at one time.
Look up the Ford niche line and watch a few engines get built. Then go watch some videos on how to build a race engine.
The Ford niche engines are FAR from hand built. The pistons are not fitted to each cylinder like a hand built engine would be. They use the standard 3 sizes like all other Ford engines and select based on what's closest. A "hand built engine" would have all the holes and pistons perfectly matched- not just close. That's just one example. Another? Cams are not indexed, like a hand built enigne would be.
The niche line is a just an assembly line for low production numbers engines. Nearly every tool and method used to assemble the niche line engines is the same as used to build every other Ford engine.
The one BIG difference is the 2 person team doing the whole engine, instead of one step over and over. Is that really a better method of building them compared to keeping people at one "station"? I don't think it is. The niche line doesn't haver enough volume to require dedicated people at each step of the assembly process, so you get the 2 person team doing the whole engine.
For example- nobody is torquing heads one bolt at a time with a Snap On digital wrench. Why? Because the giant hydrauilc powered automated head bolt machine they have is WAY better, and faster. It does all the bolts at one time.
Look up the Ford niche line and watch a few engines get built. Then go watch some videos on how to build a race engine.
The Ford niche engines are FAR from hand built. The pistons are not fitted to each cylinder like a hand built engine would be. They use the standard 3 sizes like all other Ford engines and select based on what's closest. A "hand built engine" would have all the holes and pistons perfectly matched- not just close. That's just one example. Another? Cams are not indexed, like a hand built enigne would be.
The niche line is a just an assembly line for low production numbers engines. Nearly every tool and method used to assemble the niche line engines is the same as used to build every other Ford engine.
The one BIG difference is the 2 person team doing the whole engine, instead of one step over and over. Is that really a better method of building them compared to keeping people at one "station"? I don't think it is. The niche line doesn't haver enough volume to require dedicated people at each step of the assembly process, so you get the 2 person team doing the whole engine.
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nelsonr103
Active Member
Right so more "hand built" than any other Ford engine put in every other Ford
Maybe in some ways?
It's essentially just a low production engine line. They don't need 5000 Predator engines a day, but they still need many thousands per year.
They are not being built anywhere clost to what a "hand built" engine is typically assumed to be though IMO. Hand built engines to me mean custom fit pistons, hand filed rings, lapped valves, degreed camshafts- none of that is done on the niche line AFAIK. It takes hours to degree a 4V engine's cams, and even if they wanted to degree them, Ford's builders have no way to adjust the cam timing due to the parts they use.
It's essentially just a low production engine line. They don't need 5000 Predator engines a day, but they still need many thousands per year.
They are not being built anywhere clost to what a "hand built" engine is typically assumed to be though IMO. Hand built engines to me mean custom fit pistons, hand filed rings, lapped valves, degreed camshafts- none of that is done on the niche line AFAIK. It takes hours to degree a 4V engine's cams, and even if they wanted to degree them, Ford's builders have no way to adjust the cam timing due to the parts they use.
SeasickLI
Full Access Member
Hopefully I’ll see you out on the sand at Democrat point or Gilgo someday!
LordxEkim
Active Member
Still adm 10k or more?
Arizona Free
Full Access Member
Ya… around here we use our wallets to do the talking and we don’t brag about. lol
Arizona Free
Full Access Member
Ahh, but my 12 cylinder Italian beauty sounds magical and its hand built too
