Because of people from the late 90's to early 00's that grenaded their engines making 450-475RWHP on a stock bottom end. I've personally witnessed two cars a 99 GT and a 02 GT both put holes in the side of their block after a rod snapped it half. People like that did it and told others to keep the power below 450 and that info just gets passed on so people don't make the same mistakes they did.
Yes these were properly built cars not pieced together cars/kits. Bad tunes take out the pistons first these cars has broken rods. I've seen my fair share of broken engines from detonation as well.
I'm not saying someone can't make 550RWHP on a stock bottom end because it has been done. However it's the exception and not the rule. It seems like the guys that make mid 400RWHP power do fairly well and some still break. The ones with 400RWHP rarely break and it's usually tune related when they do. So when someone blinding comes in saying what can they handle it's usually best to be conservative and tell them the 400RWHP mark. You get someone that is completely clueless on Mustangs and say hey someone made 550RWHP so they think that's fine and they do it and break then it just screws up someones day.
The Mach 1's are pretty much the same they say stick to under 450RWHP if you want it to live for any length of time. Mine makes 468RWHP and I know I'm pushing the limits of it. Sure some have made 500+RWHP but that one envelope I'm not willing to push.
Something else to keep in mind is RPM. That is truely where I think the weakness in the rods that break is. The guys w/ 4v cars that shift at 6800-7k RPM with 450+RWHP seem to break more often. Same thing with the 2v guys if you keep the RPMs reasonable they seem to live longer with more power. There are always some exceptions.
I dont know if he's on this forum or not but my friend jeremy here in okc just made 487rwhp on completely stock internals. Its an 03 gt with a T-Trim, front mount intercooler, modular powerhouse blower cams, full bolt on's and a modular powerhouse tune. Heads have never been off the car
Yes these were properly built cars not pieced together cars/kits. Bad tunes take out the pistons first these cars has broken rods. I've seen my fair share of broken engines from detonation as well.
I'm not saying someone can't make 550RWHP on a stock bottom end because it has been done. However it's the exception and not the rule. It seems like the guys that make mid 400RWHP power do fairly well and some still break. The ones with 400RWHP rarely break and it's usually tune related when they do. So when someone blinding comes in saying what can they handle it's usually best to be conservative and tell them the 400RWHP mark. You get someone that is completely clueless on Mustangs and say hey someone made 550RWHP so they think that's fine and they do it and break then it just screws up someones day.
The Mach 1's are pretty much the same they say stick to under 450RWHP if you want it to live for any length of time. Mine makes 468RWHP and I know I'm pushing the limits of it. Sure some have made 500+RWHP but that one envelope I'm not willing to push.
Something else to keep in mind is RPM. That is truely where I think the weakness in the rods that break is. The guys w/ 4v cars that shift at 6800-7k RPM with 450+RWHP seem to break more often. Same thing with the 2v guys if you keep the RPMs reasonable they seem to live longer with more power. There are always some exceptions.