What’s New For The 2013 Shelby GT500 Engine

Now that the lights and cameras of the Los Angeles Auto Show have faded, the automotive world is all abuzz with the biggest surprise of the show; a 650 horsepower Shelby GT500. The rumors were true, that the Shelby’s engine would get bigger, but nobody expected 650 horsepower and a 202 MPH top speed. All the buzz surrounding the Camaro ZL1 up until now doesn’t matter, because Ford just stole the show in the 11th hour on Chevy.

So how did Ford engineers do it? Getting an extra 100 horsepower from an already supercharged engine is a tall order, and it started with adding some more displacement. The 5.4 liter V8 from 2012 was increased to 5.8 liters, while retaining the same profile and deck height. That means a lot of swap possibiities, if ya know what we’re sayin’.

The changes though were still numerous, starting with all-new forged internals to handle the extra boost from the 2.3 liter supercharger. Built by Eaton, it features all-new spiral vane technology, contributing more than its fair share to the extra horsepower and torque found in the 2013 GT500. A bigger supercharger requires a bigger intercooler, and Ford included that as well.

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But to really optimize the supercharger, Ford had to go all the way. That meant revised heads, updated camshaft profiles, a cross-drilled aluminum block, and a beefier oil pan. With aall that power, the engine needs better cooling, necessitating the use of a larger fan and fan shroud designed with relief doors to handle the 200+ MPH top speed.

Engineers at Ford considered 35 different gearing options before settling on the current setup, which allows the Shelby to achieve its top speed while avoiding the gas guzzler tax. The final gearing was 3.31:1, striking a balance between performance and fuel efficiency. We bet the carbon fiber driveshaft helps too.

The real test of the new engine’s performance will have to be unlocked by the aftermarket though. 650 horsepower is a great start, so it shouldn’t take too much effort to get it over 800. And if you’re going to go for 800…why not shoot for a 1,000? The revised aerodynamics are good enough to take the Shelby to 202 MPH (supposedly). So why not try to go even faster?

Just sayin’.