How to tell if you have a Gen II engine ?

mitchster

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Been reading about this and some say that the 2018 GT350 late models may have the gen II engine. If I have this right all I have to do is remove the driver side coil cover and check the engine tag for: KA555350R. Now I read that the new engine only have one person sign the engine, would this be an easier way to tell? If anyone could post a picture of the engine tag it would be appreciated, Thanks
 

JAJ

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The "Gen II" engine is an internet myth - it truly doesn't exist. Ford hasn't announced any generational changes for the Voodoo, unlike the Coyote where they've announce two new versions since 2011.

Ford has made some running changes to the assembly, and a few hopeful souls are aching to believe that the newer engines are better in some way, but there's no evidence to support any of it. The Voodoo specs in 2020 are the same as MY2015.

So, the direct answer to your question is "It's easy - you don't because they don't exist." Maybe Ford will announce a Gen II Voodoo at some point, but they haven't yet.
 

me32

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There were block improvements that came from the GT500 project. But not sure of any changes on the internals.
 

Rjay

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Been reading about this and some say that the 2018 GT350 late models may have the gen II engine. If I have this right all I have to do is remove the driver side coil cover and check the engine tag for: KA555350R. Now I read that the new engine only have one person sign the engine, would this be an easier way to tell? If anyone could post a picture of the engine tag it would be appreciated, Thanks
Engine builders is not reliable - there are pics with both one and two signatures on 2019's.

Here is a pic from a 2019 - I have not seen anyone with a 2020 submit a photo of theirs yet.

IMG_4338.jpg
 

JAJ

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Didn't Ford make some major changes to the 2019 vodoo engine? So would it be called the "updated vodoo".
Since the original block was "just fine" the new block is not an "improvement". It's different, but for owners of GT350's, they'll never know the difference.

What nobody seems to have caught onto is that the 2015-16 engines have the lowest YouTube reported failure rates (from the website that has collected the data). If you want the best Vooodo, you might want to track down one of the earlier builds.
 

me32

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Since the original block was "just fine" the new block is not an "improvement". It's different, but for owners of GT350's, they'll never know the difference.

What nobody seems to have caught onto is that the 2015-16 engines have the lowest YouTube reported failure rates (from the website that has collected the data). If you want the best Vooodo, you might want to track down one of the earlier builds.

Hahahaha did you use YouTube as your bases of your stats?

15-16 builds had the most oil consumption issues for the 5.2.

There were improvements for the late 19/20 5.2 blocks. It was added strength for the GT500.

19/20 gt350 must of had some improvements because it seems less reported issues of oil consumption.
 

ANGREY

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Hahahaha did you use YouTube as your bases of your stats?

15-16 builds had the most oil consumption issues for the 5.2.

There were improvements for the late 19/20 5.2 blocks. It was added strength for the GT500.

19/20 gt350 must of had some improvements because it seems less reported issues of oil consumption.

You guys can debate which MY had more mechanical issues, my own personal opinion is that there's no definitive data on the matter and even if there were, I don't think the engine block is proximate to the issue. It's probably more to do with blowby and valve seats.

But his point is valid. If you're not going to put a blower on your voodoo, then having the previous gen or the latest gen isn't really going to matter. The improvements to the block were for better cooling to the rear cylinders and more strength in the valley for blown applications. It's equally as inconsequential for someone with the original gen 5.2 block to think it's inferior as someone with the latest to think it's superior. Unless of course you plan on running a blower, then those improvements have utility.
 

me32

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You guys can debate which MY had more mechanical issues, my own personal opinion is that there's no definitive data on the matter and even if there were, I don't think the engine block is proximate to the issue. It's probably more to do with blowby and valve seats.

But his point is valid. If you're not going to put a blower on your voodoo, then having the previous gen or the latest gen isn't really going to matter. The improvements to the block were for better cooling to the rear cylinders and more strength in the valley for blown applications. It's equally as inconsequential for someone with the original gen 5.2 block to think it's inferior as someone with the latest to think it's superior. Unless of course you plan on running a blower, then those improvements have utility.

You are correct, but People would like to know when the updated block was actually put in the GT350. Doesnt see like have a exact build cycle.

Also there are people willing to pass on the 16-18 gt350 due to the known oil consumption issue.

Also over all there were some nice improvements on 19+ gt350 that made for a better handling ride.
 

JAJ

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Hahahaha did you use YouTube as your bases of your stats?

15-16 builds had the most oil consumption issues for the 5.2.

There were improvements for the late 19/20 5.2 blocks. It was added strength for the GT500.

19/20 gt350 must of had some improvements because it seems less reported issues of oil consumption.
To be clear, the only people with real data are the engineers at Ford who tore down the dead engines replaced under warranty. Sadly, they're not telling us anything.

A wide selection of inherently unreliable internet forum and YouTube data is summarized here: GT350 Engine Failure: By The Numbers - Overrun The person who put that data together did the best they could with what they had and they deserve credit for doing it. They were looking at catastrophic engine failures though, so they didn't capture engines with high oil consumption. Is there a source for high oil consumption data? I'd like to see it. As I remember it, it was a problem that started showing up in 2017 (the calendar year, not the model year) and just kept getting worse through 2018. I does seem to have eased up now, but since we don't know what caused it, we have no way of figuring out when or how it was fixed. Or if it was fixed - it could be that it's not showing up for 2019's because they're too new and it takes a while to develop.
 

DAVESVT2000

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A friend of mine and member here drove his 2017 from Long Island NY to Road America Wisconsin, did three days of open track, and drove it back home. Did not use a drop of oil.

and he is not one to baby a car either after the proper break in period.

one theory I read was the failure cars were the ones that were babied.
 

jvandy50

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To be clear, the only people with real data are the engineers at Ford who tore down the dead engines replaced under warranty. Sadly, they're not telling us anything.

A wide selection of inherently unreliable internet forum and YouTube data is summarized here: GT350 Engine Failure: By The Numbers - Overrun The person who put that data together did the best they could with what they had and they deserve credit for doing it. They were looking at catastrophic engine failures though, so they didn't capture engines with high oil consumption. Is there a source for high oil consumption data? I'd like to see it. As I remember it, it was a problem that started showing up in 2017 (the calendar year, not the model year) and just kept getting worse through 2018. I does seem to have eased up now, but since we don't know what caused it, we have no way of figuring out when or how it was fixed. Or if it was fixed - it could be that it's not showing up for 2019's because they're too new and it takes a while to develop.
I also noticed the 17-18 models seemed to be a couple replaced a week in the group. There was a definite increase in the time you mentioned...all new people, every single week for a good while...then it slowed finally.

And oh the irony...the author of that article being one of about 4-5 in that group on his 3rd motor. Really “calming the hysteria”.

My favorite looking mustang of all time while also being my most hated car ownership experience to date.
 

Evenmetal

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A friend of mine and member here drove his 2017 from Long Island NY to Road America Wisconsin, did three days of open track, and drove it back home. Did not use a drop of oil.

and he is not one to baby a car either after the proper break in period.

one theory I read was the failure cars were the ones that were babied.
Goddamn I love Road America. That is all
 

dom418

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For as many 350s that were made, the majority do not have excessive oil consumption. For what it’s worth yes the 19s have experienced excessive oil consumption as well. 19/20s are just too new.

I will say the fit and finish on my 19 is terrible vs my 18
 

HiTechRedneck

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A friend of mine and member here drove his 2017 from Long Island NY to Road America Wisconsin, did three days of open track, and drove it back home. Did not use a drop of oil.

and he is not one to baby a car either after the proper break in period.

one theory I read was the failure cars were the ones that were babied.
"Babied" is certainly a possibility as well as proper break in. I've been building engines since I was about 15 (and I'm OLD now) and proper seating of the rings is critical for eliminating oil consumption. Leaving break in oil in for the proper amount of miles can definitely play a factor here. I remember when Moly rings first came out and we had lots of issues with rings not seating properly due to the wrong oil etc.
 

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