Iron Block mach 1?

[rsnider]

Ok... I thought I'd read an awful lot about the 03/04 Mach 1. I bought my mach in October 02 and waited around seven months for it. In that whole time I've watched the forums for information. But today at the Cool 94.5 car show I struck up a conversation with the owner of a white 03. He had a ricer wing on the back and some road race stickers on the side. I noticed a for sale sign in the window and walked over to read the list of mods he had printed and displayed under the hood. He had put a six-spd in it, and after a very brief conversation he told me "This is a very special R code mach that was built with an iron block instead of an aluminum block".

Is he nuts/lying/or the owner of a really rare car?

[ITLRUN]

I don't know about nuts, etc. but in 03 the MACH'S came with a cast-iron block. It wasn't until 04, that they came all aluminum, heads and block just like the screaming yellow one you see here, Mike. ( As for the code, to be honest I can't help you there. ):pinkthumb:

[rsnider]

Hmmmm. In five years of reading these forums you'd a thunk I'd have seen this topic before? If this is true shouldn't there be a big difference in the cars weight?

I'm sure this will open a can of worms.

[ITLRUN]

Hmmmm. In five years of reading these forums you'd a thunk I'd have seen this topic before? If this is true shouldn't there be a big difference in the cars weight?

I'm sure this will open a can of worms. More than likely, also the automatics had cast iron cranks, while the sticks had forged steel cranks and an extra 1000 RPMs to the red line, Mike.:pinkthumb:

[IMSHAKN]

ALL mach's came with a Aluminum block, that I'm certain of as I was ordering them when I was working at the dealer when they first came out. The "rare" is the R in the VIN of every single Mach 1 that designates that it is a Mach 1. The only major difference between the two years of the car are the emissions control setup, where the 04 varies just a little bit. Other than that all manuals came with an 8-bolt forged crankshaft, while autos came with a 6-bolt the cast.

There were no cast iron blocks put into these cars to my knowledge.

[ITLRUN]

ALL mach's came with a Aluminum block, that I'm certain of as I was ordering them when I was working at the dealer when they first came out. The "rare" is the R in the VIN of every single Mach 1 that designates that it is a Mach 1. The only major difference between the two years of the car are the emissions control setup, where the 04 varies just a little bit. Other than that all manuals came with an 8-bolt forged crankshaft, while autos came with a 6-bolt the cast.

There were no cast iron blocks put into these cars to my knowledge. The only thing aluminum on the 03's, was the heads and the front cover for the timing chains. Hate to disappoint you, but a friend of mine has 3, 2 03's and an 04. One Blue, one red, and the 04 is competition orange.:twothumbsup:

[TorchedMach1]

No ALL of the Mach's came with an aluminum block, both the 03 and 04 years. Andrew was correct in what he said. Also all of the Mach's came with the special R in the vin. There where no factory installed iron blocks in either the 03 or 04 Machs.

There where very few differences in the 03 and 04. One being emissions like Andrew said, the 04's sported the 40th anniversary badge, 04's had bare valve covers 03's where painted black, and 03's have a net up in the ceiling that 04's didn't have.

[IMSHAKN]

Yep. I've got an aluminum block and I know it's the stocker. I promise ya they were all stock aluminum blocks...

[ttocs]

are you sure that it was not the rare mustang GTR? I saw it in a video

YouTube - MUSTANG GTR (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlDLybhuOH0)

this one is not much better...

YouTube - MUSTANG GTR (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlDLybhuOH0)

[Blackmagic1]

Thats hilarious !! :rollingfloorrlol::rollingfloorrlol::z7shysterical : "Turbo Rotary with Pistons,and ALL-That" !!

[Torchmach]

Every thing I have read, said that the blocks were Aluminum for both 03' and 04' Mach's.

Being a limited production Car with 9652 built in 03', and 7137 built in 04', I don't see Ford switching over between model years, it is said that they lost $3000 on each one built, as it is.

The "R" in the vin is the engine code, designating the 4.6L DOHC motor (same code as the 69 428 Cobra Jet motor). The emissions difference is in the catalytic converters, 03' Cars have 4 brick Cats, 04' Cars have 6 brick Cats.

Cast Iron Blocks were used in Cobras, due to the need for higher strength (at a reasonable cost) for the stress of the supercharger. And on the GT, as a cost reduction measure. Earler N/A Cobras also had Aluminum blocks, the most desirable being the Tecskid blocks cast in Italy in the same foundry where blocks for Ferrari, and Maserata are also cast.

[QTRPONY]

The only thing aluminum on the 03's, was the heads and the front cover for the timing chains. Hate to disappoint you, but a friend of mine has 3, 2 03's and an 04. One Blue, one red, and the 04 is competition orange.:twothumbsup:

I love it when people put out bogus information and try to pass off their source of information to be a friend.

Let's try this:

http://www.mach1registry.com/Specs/Specs.htm

Most if not all on here are members at the registry. Dave has put together a lot of facts and info on the Mach. On the spec sheet it shows an aluminum block also if you scroll down and look at the comparison (Mach vs. GT vs. Bullit) it clearly specifies once again that the block is aluminum.

ITLRUN-if you got something other than "your friend" as a source then how about posting it. Has everybody else but you has confirmed on here they were aluminum blocks and you AND your friend are mistaken.

Rick,

I would say anything is possible BUT I doubt he has a "rare" iron block. He could be wrong and it is aluminum (probably told by a friend-lol) or he could have blown his motor and replaced it with one with an iron block.
I have seen where there are certain mistakes that come out of the factory that get through but I would have a hard time believing he had a 2v GT motor in his car from the fatory or that they would have built a 4v mach motor with an iron block.

I would be curious to see what his explanation is for having an iron block.

[QTRPONY]

A second confirmation:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0310_2003_ford_mustang_mach_1/index.html



The Bullitt's engine (cast-iron block and two-valve aluminum heads) has a lower center of gravity than the Mach 1 (or Cobra) engine, with its aluminum block but heavier four-valve heads.