Curse of the GT350 Voodoo: main stud in the oil pan and broken pickup tube

Found a main stud in the oil pan and a broken pickup tube mount when dropping the oil pan. And it gets worse from there. Sigh.

[@Esqezmee]

Big oof! Definitely sad to hear the news about the crank. Makes me think that the whole FPC was a marketing decision rather than an engineering one. As always, great video, Kevin. Looking forward to following HB's new journey!

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Thanks, Marlon. Bummer for sure. But am excited to finally make the big commitment. Going to really suck waiting, tho!

[@Wowzers2006]

Thank you for posting your engine teardown, you always have really great technical analysis that I don't think you can find anywhere else on the internet. I'm really sorry for your bad luck. I'm hoping that the secondary guide wear you're seeing isn't E85 related.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Thanks for the kind words! And we’ll see what the Ford engineers say about the wear. It caught me off guard for sure.

[@briancollins7820]

Update on engine rebuild. Building new with a gen 3 5.2L block. I did stay with the FPC. New gen 3 heads. Diamond pistons 11:1 CP. Forged rods, king race bearings. New GT 500 oil pan, oil pump, with Boundary black oil pump gear. New OEM pick up tube. New oil cooler and lines. New clutch. New Stainless works redline exhaust. (Had MBRP- It was awful) Having to get Whipple SC overhauled. Going to have to run it NA for a few months. What is the status of your build? Brian Collins

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Make sure to get that GT500 pickup tube reinforced. I broke one and a buddy of mine broke his. I'm in a holding pattern on the engine. No real rush as I'm a few months out of the dry sump kit and currently working on the roll cage stuff. Slow progress, but moving forward

[@briancollins7820]

How would you reinforce that pick up tube?

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

I’d add a bunch of flat stock and weld it to the existing mount so it was thicker

[@briancollins7820]

That’s painful. I just completed the same oil pan and pump upgrade that you had done . Now I’m scared to death of the oil pick up tube braking!!! Crazy stuff. Will be at RA this coming weekend with CHIN. Also, why did you remove the MMR TC tensioners and guides? Video shows that you had OEM parts. I just installed the MMR guides and tensioners. Sometimes better to leave OEM parts on, and after market may not be better. Your current plan of dry sump, and roll cage is also on my list. Was planning on it next winter. Keep up the great videos, they are very good. Appreciate your content. Brian

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Engine fully together? If not, might be worth pulling th tube to reinforce it. I sold off the tensioners and guides because the tensioners rubbed through the finish and started to chip away the material on the back of the guide. Builder told me I’d be better off just swapping in fresh OEM parts every time. And thanks for the kind words!

[@SkepticalVex]

@@honeybadgershenanigans Do you think I should not put MMR tensioners and Guides in my GT350? I just purchased them but would not want parts in my car that have issues.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

@@SkepticalVex I personally wouldn't use them (or anything MMR makes)

[@henryhowarth2487]

@@honeybadgershenanigans how would you recommend reinforcing the tube so that it wouldn't break? any ideas? TIA

[@henryhowarth2487]

what do you think caused the pickup tube arm to break? just the voodoo harmonics? I am installing this pan and pump in my 19R, a little concerned now. I am stock otherwise.

[@mayo3159]

As I learn more and more about these cars, it becomes less and less of a dream car.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

They’re definitely a love hate relationship for me

[@justinjacobs5777]

Hi my friend, I've heard that you use motorcraft DCT fluid in the trimec 6 speed . Is it currently what you run or have you found a better trans oil??

[@Melvin-belvin]

Oh man…now I’m debating on whether I should keep my ‘18. I love it as my occasional track toy (completely stock) but worry about its future and longevity.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

If you keep it 100% stock and don’t race it (like actual racing, not HPDE stuff) you should be fine assuming you’ve gotten past 10k or so miles

[@Melvin-belvin]

@@honeybadgershenanigans thanks for the info! Yeah, literally the only thing I’ve changed are adding some caliperfexion studs and the only track events I do are HPDEs…no racing for me 😅

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

@@Melvin-belvin in that case I'd just enjoy the hell out of it!

[@benbrown5913]

Love following you here and on M6G. Question after seeing all you go through: do you think a Porsche would be less expensive for a frequent track toy? I hear Porsche guys say they have a higher entry price but are built to take track abuse again and again.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Lots of Porsches down here at cota. I don’t think they’re cheaper to run, but they’re most definitely more reliable. They’ll do it all day long with little-to-no complaints. Very robust setup. Just high $$ everywhere else.

[@CoreyBuffington]

Have you made the swap to cross plane yet? I have a voodoo swapped 69 and just stacked a bearing.. thinking of changing over myself…

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

pretty sure we've connect on Instagram, correct? But if not, I am swapping to CPC with this rebuild

[@briancollins7820]

Car update for you. Car caught on fire after 12 miles of new engine build. Total loss. Been in shock for the last 3 days. 3 years of blood, sweat, and lots of $$$$, GONE!!!

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Whoa!! Any idea what happened? How’d it catch fire!! That really sucks, Brian! Pretty much my worst nightmare. Sorry for your loss!

[@SD-bk2uu]

Hey Honey Badger, respect to all the work you are putting in. I noticed on one of the forums you mentioned engine codes P0024 & P0025. My 2016 350 has been in for that code 3 times, each time the dealer hasn't been able to duplicate it. Car seems to stutter or hesitate at low RPM, I mentioned it could be an electrical issue, but no one seems to pay any mind. Have you ever been able to nail down the cause? Car has 2600 miles on it, and has had many oil changes, and is very well maintained.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

9 times out of 10 that’s an engine harness issue. The wires where they plug into the cam solenoids are prone to failure. You can either replace the plug or swap in a whole new harness. If you inspect closely, you might even be able to see it in the form of a fatigued wire

[@SD-bk2uu]

@@honeybadgershenanigans Thanks brother!

[@darioherrera2597]

Hey there buddy. Just wondering where you located maybe you can help me with my 2017 GT350?

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

I’m in central Texas. What’s up?

[@jg11596]

Mr Honey Badger, do you recommend a non mechanic buy a used GT350?

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

If under warranty, 100%. If not, it's a gamble, IMHO. Given enough engine hours/time, I feel like all Voodoo engines will have issues. But that could be decades for some or the first weekend for others. One thing is for sure - track use exacerbates the issues because of the high RPM.

[@konjiki240sx]

Are you running a factory harmonic damper on this engine?

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

ATI Super damper

[@LLTAC]

Thoughts on switching to a Gen 2 MGW shifter while everything is blown apart? George made it sound like the Gen 2 would feel more like the shifter for the MT-82, which is intriguing to me because I preferred the MGW in my GT to the (now 1st gen) MGW in my GT350.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Long term, my plan is drop in a sequential trans, so I’ll likely roll with the Gen 1 until I make the switch. I’ve heard good things about the Gen 2. Love that George has continued to refine it.

[@Mangobrain82]

@@honeybadgershenanigans Any sequential brands you're looking into specifically? Australian's love the sequentials I'm learning.

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Specifically been looking at 6xd and HGT

[@briancollins7820]

Just blew my engine today. NASA Hyperfest at VIR. Warm up laps, lost it going into Oak tree. Any recommendations? Try to repair and build back better, or just replace with a new engine? Your thoughts? Brian

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Ahh that sucks. Sorry to hear. Warranty or are you on your own?

[@briancollins7820]

On my own

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Oof. I know the pain. I’d switch to cross plane and rebuild. I wouldn’t use the FPC again under any circumstances

[@maleckis]

Hi, Would you be so kind and give me your email so I could contact you? I have a few questions related to your engine work. Thank you in advance! Regards

[@honeybadgershenanigans]

Do you have instagram? I do most of correspondence there. If not, I can share email