Buying Teksid this week... need crucial ?'s answered b4 purchasing

DropTopPony said:

01Steed,
are the 5.4 3V blocks also aluminum? If so what is needed to mate my 2V heads to them?

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Nope, they're iron, with exception to the Ford GT block which is cost prohibitive for 99.99% of us.
Your 2V heads will bolt right up to any 3V V8 modular block. The block doesn't have any characteristics that make it a 3V or 2V (except maybe that front left coolant passage like the 4V's).

ModFever said:

Nope, they're iron, with exception to the Ford GT block which is cost prohibitive for 99.99% of us.
Your 2V heads will bolt right up to any 3V V8 modular block. The block doesn't have any characteristics that make it a 3V or 2V (except maybe that front left coolant passage like the 4V's).

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+1

You have already bought it, but for what it's worth, I am 99% sure the 98 was the BEST block as of 2002 (when I read up on them). Now I can't comment on if the stock block of ALL 01 cobra's is Teksid - maybe it was a limited number of cars, but if they are ALL Teksid, I still think the 98's were better because I researched that 5 years ago...for what it's worth. Obviously, you won't build a car that will "likely" have too much HP that the 98 "would have held up" but the "01 didnt hold up" I think in a situation like that you would just have shhitttty luck......Good luck Cuz

Whats different about the 98 Teksid that makes it better then the 96-97 or 99?

I think the SHM book outlined the difference, but there may not be one - it's from five years ago so I am a LITTLE rusty on specifics, but this may end the debate:
This is a quote from a man in the know from another site but was basically the same write up as SHM

Let me provide a history lesson here to the uninformed.............

Back in 1996-1999, the aluminum heads and blocks were cast at a foundry (TEKSID) in italy, the same manufacturer of aluminum blocks and heads for Ferrari. Threre are a few reasons why ford, at the time outsourced production on these pieces. They did not have the experience and knowhow on the casting technology and engineering aspects of a durable aluminum block. Ford ended its contract with Teksid in 1998, enough blocks were produced for the 1999 run. Ford tried to get into the aluminum block design and foundry process in 1999 and released the "explorer block, or more commonly called the "mountain" motor. It had extra material around the outside of the cylinders and in the valley of the block. The problem was not the engineering or cast shape or amount of material that the explorer block had over the Teksid block. The metalurgy was incorrect and fatigued at the 700 rwhp mark. The explorer blocks cracked in the valley and in between the cylinders. Several proven racers like Joe Stewart, Dave King, Bob Trianese, Tim palmer, and John Mijovitz have identified the shortcomings of the "explorer" blocks and have found that they are useless after 700 rwhp mark period. Not One Teksid block had failed due to too much horsepower.
Moving forward.......

With the 2003 cobra in the drawing board, ford found that its current technology with aluminum blocks did not meet the durability standards that they desired (remember this is basicly the weaker Explorer block not the Teksid block). They went with a GT romeo block that was CNC machined for straightness, thats it. They have 4 mains, not six. The cobra crank was carried over from the previous versions.

The only reason why the 03 cobras are so stout is the manley rods and the forged manley pistons.......If you put those components in a 96-98 block I can guarantee you that the aluminum block will hold up to any cast iron block in fords inventory.

Now if you look at the recent hot rod magazine, you will see that ford invested huge capital on the CNC machined aluminum blocks that have found their way in the GT40. They have finally got the foundry process right. If aluminum is so weak, why is it in a car capable of more power than an 03 cobra? I need not go on with this any more.....................

So your 01 cobra "teksid" block would not appear to be a stock part on the cobra if you follow this above information...that's why I posted on this thread to begin with...to inform...

DropTopPony said:

Whats different about the 98 Teksid that makes it better then the 96-97 or 99?

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nothing, just more mis-information as 1996, 1997 and 1998 ALL use the same aluminum block and that goes for Cobra's or MK8's of those years

can't speak for the 1999 aluminum block as they have been out of production for sometime.

also watch-out for 93 to 95 MK8 blocks as some of the parts for those are obsolete. ie: side load bolts and some of the timing componets

RandyStinchcomb said:

nothing, just more mis-information as 1996, 1997 and 1998 ALL use the same aluminum block and that goes for Cobra's or MK8's of those years

can't speak for the 1999 aluminum block as they have been out of production for sometime.

also watch-out for 93 to 95 MK8 blocks as some of the parts for those are obsolete. ie: side load bolts and some of the timing componets

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Thats what i thought, when i picked up my Teksid out of a 96 Cobra i was under the impression it was exactly the same as the others from 96-98.

Back2Mustangs said:

I'm not arguing, just voicing a thought - It would seem odd that for only one random year of Cobra produciton the block was stronger than any other. And how would Ford manage to put this block in only the 1998 run? Wouldn't there be some record of specific casting numbers for this exclusive block that is like all the others in every way but somehow stronger? Again, I'm only wondering.

What I know so far is that some '01 Cobra's got Teksid blocks as has been discovered here: http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192162, and that this model Teksid block has physically larger main caps, stronger main bolts(supposedly) and they eliminated the pre-loading jacking screws. Thats really the only difference that I know of between this block and any of the very early Teksids(ie: Crown Vic's).

Will it safely contain and perform the level of power I want? = Yes
Will it play a positive role in my continuing quest to lighten the front end for better front/rear weight proprotioning? = Yes

Then I'm

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That was my reasoning for seeking one out...i wanted to offset the 60lb front weight gain from my supercharger.

What is a fair price for a Teksid Block?

300-400

Back2Mustangs said:

I'm not arguing, just voicing a thought - It would seem odd that for only one random year of Cobra produciton the block was stronger than any other. And how would Ford manage to put this block in only the 1998 run? Wouldn't there be some record of specific casting numbers for this exclusive block that is like all the others in every way but somehow stronger? Again, I'm only wondering.

What I know so far is that some '01 Cobra's got Teksid blocks as has been discovered here: http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192162, and that this model Teksid block has physically larger main caps, stronger main bolts(supposedly) and they eliminated the pre-loading jacking screws. Thats really the only difference that I know of between this block and any of the very early Teksids(ie: Crown Vic's).

Will it safely contain and perform the level of power I want? = Yes
Will it play a positive role in my continuing quest to lighten the front end for better front/rear weight proprotioning? = Yes

Then I'm

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From what I understand, the tooling was moved to Mexico at some point. Soon after, there were quality issues.
I think this is why Ford created the RF1L2E- castings, and then the RF3L2E-'s, with each iteration getting stronger and stronger. Currently, the RF3L2E- is the strongest 4.6L al block ever produced by FoMoCo.

DropTopPony said:

300-400

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What about one described like this:

I Have A 99 Teksid Block Bored .030 Over Acid Dipped Pressure Checked Decked Ready For Anything.
Casting Number is: RF-XR3E 6015-CA

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