That's an odd bore/stroke combo.

Great for pulling a trailer or heavy cars I guess.

 

the crank breakage problems are just another internet rumor.The shelby is on schedule for a june startup with july or aug deliveries.My car has even got a vin # already.

 

a) Sure does sound like alot of complexity... until you actually realize we're talking 500 horsepower. Think about this.....Five Hundred frigging horsepower!!! On a regular 4 passenger car!! Out of 329 cubic inches!!!

b) Haven't heard anything about production problems. Not saying it doesn't exist, but with Ford's heavy involvement in racing, and the fact that the Ford GT has had no engine problems (and the GT500 is basically a fortified version of that engine), I'd take rumors of engine problems with a grain of salt.

c) Every since Ford got burned on horsepower ratings on a previous Cobra, they have been padding their numbers, and I don't expect the GT500 to be any different. Like the Ford GT, it's pretty suspicious that the numbers keep going up. We won't know for sure till someone gets a production model on a dyno.

d) Easy on the Z28 hints. I think that's a revelation that should be left to a certain person.

 

According to an article on the GT's supercharged 5.4L a couple of years ago, that motor also had a problem with breaking the crank snout during dyno tests. It was supposedly fixed by adding a simple undercut to the crank to eliminate a stress riser. Not sure if that's the same thing that's going on here, and if it is, I hope that someone gets the appropriate lecture about not repeating the same mistakes.

I am indeed curious to see how the rest of the powertrain holds up to this monster motor on one end and two tons of mass on the other. The GT500 on display at the Chicago Auto Show did appear to have a pretty trick multiplate clutch; it'll be interesting to see if that makes it to production.

Oh, yea, I'm drooling over this thing like I have few other production cars in recent history. It's a close #2 to the Z06 on my list of cars that I'd buy if someone handed me a $100K check tomorrow.

 

GT500's will be running 10.9x@130+ for about a grand in bolt ons and tuning. Who gives a rat's pitoot what they weigh?

 

People who care about how it will handle.

 

Exactly. Personally, I'd rather have a less powerful C5 Z06 than a 500hp pig. But then again, that's just me. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who will still buy this car, for one reason or another.

 

i would like to see how it handles in street trim by non-ford people before i cast judgement on how horrible it does or does not handle due to its tide-altering size.

there are a few decent cars out there that handle quite well despite their weight.

 

I'm in no way implying that Ford could or should build a 7800 rpm street 5.4. I'm simply saying that even with the "poor" bore/stroke, the layout is still capable of it - not just 6000 rpm as was inferred above.

Me. Lighter cars go faster, handle better, break fewer parts, and get better gas mileage (yes, some of us do pay attention to gas mileage).

Bob

 

IMHO that's a little on the optimistic side. Not putting down the car by any means it does have five hundred friggin HP.

3900 lbs, 500HP and a decent 60' say 1.8 sec. 11.7 @ 117 or there abouts... that that might be a little optimistic still.

 

He meant after $1000 in mods

 

It'll be interesting to see how that powerplant holds up in the Mustang. It should see quite a few real world road miles in that car versus the "sunday driver" Ford GT supercar.

 

Gotcha, I over looked that part. For a comparison I had a 556 RWHP car at 3650lbs that ran 11.0@132 complete with 6pt roll bar and all safety gear. Again not taking anything away from the FIVE HUNDRED HP factory offering, and I'm by no means any type of racing authority, nor do I intend to be. .... adding an additional 100 to 120HP along with the required safety gear to run 10.9's your looking at a car weighing north of 4000lbs IMHO still gonna be tough to squeak out 10.9's. Going to be interesting to see the results once people start to tinker with them. Who knows what the top benchmark will be once the Camaro and Challenger hit the streets as well.

 

I apolgize for inferring that that was all that they are capable of. I am aware that many run far beyond that. I do find it more or less curious that OHC gets touted for all its rpm capability, and efficiency, and Ford went a built something (that in every day use) is heavier, less effecient, more complex, and does not have a distinct rpm advantage (in stock trim) over its direct OHV competitors.

 

The 5.4 was never meant to be a performance car engine.