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Originally Posted by ArkySS
Does anyone else wonder why they stayed with the 5.4 with a s/c versus the new 5.0? I would think they could have gotten to 550 with less boost? I am not real familiar with forced and induction and direct injection being combined but surely it could be done fairly easy? Not knocking the Shelby, hell I am even asking for more punishment because you would think they would get 600 horses out of their new engine with forced induction? Is it development time for the new engine? If so the next iteration will be damn scary....as if the current one is not!
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The 5.4 is the same block as the Ford GT Supercar. In fact reviewers say it is better than the Ford GT engine. That fact alone gives me goosebumps. Imagine having a car with an engine from a supercar for $50k?
The Shelby GT350 uses a supercharged 5.0 engine. I'd be interested to know the stats of that car, but I bet it will be a heavier car.
What I'm guessing is, based on the fact that the 5.0 evolved from the FR500C engine, I'm thinking that it was a highly tuned racing engine that eventually ran its course on the racing circuit and Ford decided to make them available on regular GTs. Prior to that the 5.4 iron block was available on the 2007 GT500, and I'm guessing that since the 5.0 wasn't available for non-racing cars at the time, the SVT made a cheaper version of the Ford GT Supercar engine to put in the halo Mustang. Over time, they figured, why not just use the Aluminum Ford GT engine - it doesn't make sense to not use their old engines in their current cars. Meanwhile of course, the 2011 GT got the 5.0.
The 5.4 engine, since it's always been used for the Shelby GT500 is the common-sense engine to use, since it's tried and true and they are merely evolving the technology. Doesn't make sense in my opinion, to throw away those learnings and start over with a supercharged 5.0.