Type 65 and Alluminator

[Sea Hut]

Hello all, and happy New Year. I’ve jumped into this challenge with both feet and am awaiting delivery of my 30th Anniversary coupe with carbon fiber body. As a newbie, I’ve been combing posts, saving pertinent thread advice, builds, and generally chomping at the bit as I await delivery from Cunningham Transport. I’ve been told that the cf bodies are trickling in and I have opted to wait till mid January for a pickup from F5, in hopes that my cf body will be received at F5. Otherwise, it’s paying for two separate shipments and charges (kit + cf body), or wait longer…. Of course, should I opt for two shipments, you know the cf body will show at F5 the day after my kit trucks out!!

Anyway, I digress. I’m looking to go all the way and order the Alluminator 5.2 for the build, but as a rookie, I am concerned that this will add complexity and challenge (space, clearance, electrical) over a conventional Coyote/TKX combo. Can I get some input from those who have gone down this path? My research indicates a larger footprint, but much of the threads are from years ago when the 5.2 was just beginning its availability as a “crate” engine, hence my search for more updated information. Thank you!

Craig

[Jphoenix]

I went with a Boss block 363, but seriously considered an aluminator. If you go that direction, please post your progress - I’ll be following!

[JimStone]

Edwardb/Paul has recently put an Aluminator in a Mk V Roadster, which now is essentially the same engine bay as a Gen 3 coupe.

If you're not very familiar with the board, Paul's build threads are must reads and essentially extensions of the FFR build manual.

Here's his Mk V thread. https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?51545-EdwardB%92s-Mk5-30th-Anniversary-Build-CAI-Radiator-Hoses-Expansion-Tank

I'd also read his 1.5M+ view Coupe thread, if you haven't already

[Papa]

Paul (edwardb) is building a MK5 with the 5.2XS Aluminator.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?51545-EdwardB%92s-Mk5-30th-Anniversary-Build-Seat-Mounting

He's also built a Type 65 Coupe with a Gen-3 Coyote, so he would be a great source of information.

[Papa]

Jim beat me to it!

[edwardb]

Thanks for the shout-out guys. I've done two Coyote builds (Gen 2 and Gen 3) and now the Aluminator 5.2 XS. The Aluminator has the same footprint as a Coyote so no concerns there. In general, it won't add complexity and challenge (space, clearance, electrical) over a conventional Coyote/TKX combo. The only thing I'd point out is the height. The Cobra Jet intake on the Aluminator 5.2 is definitely taller than a base Coyote. For my Roadster build, it does hit the hood just slightly. But fortunately exactly where the hood scoop cutout will be. So I'm OK. The Coupe has a pretty large bump in the hood. Maybe that matches up with the CJ intake? Factory Five put this same Aluminator 5.2 XS in a Coupe. Their Snap-on build. Several videos on YouTube if you search there. I don't know if they did anything special for the height. Nothing is mentioned. Maybe one of the FF guys (Jim or Jesper) that were involved with the build could answer that.

While no experience, I understand the Gen 4 Coyote has a different exhaust port layout (sorry don't know details) so something to watch for between the two. There's also apparently a difference with the KRC power steering mounting. Again, no experience but some have mentioned it. The Aluminator 5.2 XS uses a Gen 2 control pack. But it installs very similarly as the Gen 3 and Gen 4.

[Sea Hut]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I emailed FFtech with this question and await a response from Jim or Jesper per Paul’s post. I have been diligently following your posts and certainly it reinforces the long road ahead when I get my kit! Like a child on Christmas Eve, I anxiously await the delivery! And I definitely plan on charting my build thread here. Happy New Year.

[Sea Hut]

As a follow up, I received a response from Dan who said that they used a GT350 intake on the carbon fiber showroom model and to their knowledge nobody else has attempted the Aluminator with a cf body (makes sense based on their recent release). He also emphasized setting the body as high as possible on the frame for clearance. For all those reasons, and as much as I would like to contribute to this august body of knowledge ����, I will go with the Coyote 5.0. I’m sure I will be challenged enough as it is!

[edwardb]

As a follow up, I received a response from Dan who said that they used a GT350 intake on the carbon fiber showroom model and to their knowledge nobody else has attempted the Aluminator with a cf body (makes sense based on their recent release). He also emphasized setting the body as high as possible on the frame for clearance. For all those reasons, and as much as I would like to contribute to this august body of knowledge ����, I will go with the Coyote 5.0. I’m sure I will be challenged enough as it is!

I don't exactly understand the "setting the body as high as possible" response. It only goes on one way. I can't imagine re-engineering how the body is attached, where it's located, etc. If by any change, that's referring to ride height, that would make no difference for the hood clearance. To the best of my knowledge, the CF body is exactly the same form, size, shape, etc. as the glass body. Don't think that should change anything. Did you watch the videos I mentioned? Jim and Jesper (who I mentioned before) are featured prominently and would be the best to give you a real answer if they did anything special to fit that CJ intake under the Gen 3 Coyote body.

For grins, I captured the attached screen from one of the videos and compared where the engine is sitting compared to the Gen 3 Coyote in my Coupe. I can't see any obvious difference. Of course the CJ intake is taller but there's plenty of hood clearance with my Gen 3 Coyote. There's another piece in the videos where you can see the pan and how it's aligned to the bottom frame rails. Again, looks similar to mine. A low profile pan (probably a Moroso) and it's the same height as the frame. If they lowered the engine, you would expect to see the pan below the frame rails.

I agree, you don't want to be re-engineering a bunch for your first rodeo. But if you really want the Aluminator, hold out for a better answer. Just my opinion.

223436

[Jphoenix]

The only height adjustment for mounting the hood (I presume that's what FFR meant - not the body) is at the front where the hinges attach, and also the rod ends that those hinges bolt onto. Regardless, there's maybe and inch or two of adjustment at most - and all the adjustment up there is used to align the pontoons with the hood. In any case, raising up an inch at the front at the wings would not gain any additional room over the top of the engine.

As EdwardB noted, putting the suspension in race height does nothing to the hood location vs. the engine, it just lowers the chassis an inch. If I change to an Aluminator at some point in the future, I'll just cut a hole in the hood if it doesn't fit, but you won't want to do that on the finished CF hood.

[Sea Hut]

Thank you gents. To clear up what Dan said…

“With the Cobra Jet intake manifold on any Coyote engine in a Type 65, the inner liner reinforcement rib at the back of the nose needs to be notched to clear the intake at a minimum. It is also critical that when the nose is fit to the body, that the nose is set as high as possible to give clearance to the intake. Now, this has only been done on the fiberglass body to our knowledge, as our carbon coupe with a 5.2 has a GT 350 intake on it instead of the Cobra Jet intake.”

I should have been more specific in my previous post to clarify that Dan referred to nose height. I don’t have enough experience to discern the notch he refers to. Maybe if it’s as simple (ha!) as replacing it with a GT350 intake, it could be a possibility. Next week I’m going to try to get Jim or Jesper on the phone to talk specifics. Thanks again for your input!

[JimStone]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223465&d=1767244476

Yikes. GT350 intake isn't exactly a looker.

Gotta be some aftermarket intake that would fit and not be an eyesore


Edit: I should say that my LS intake ain't much prettier. I actually powder coated it gloss black so it looks a little nicer instead of the matte plastic (and yes, the composite material could handle the temperature to hot-flock powder coat)