Just a few months ago, the Ford GT engine was removed-replacing it is an engine that could set the performance world in a tailspin-a new Ford V-8 powerplant designed to be bigger, stronger, and better than any current Blue Oval-performance engine in production today.
In conjunction with Roush Engineering and Ford Motor Company, Don has fit an experimental engine under the hood of his Roush Stage 3 Mustang. The mysterious engine made its debut at the NMRA event at Milan Dragway (Milan, Michigan), and it performed admirably with a best of 9.10 at 145 mph. That was accomplished without the aid of a power adder and in less-than-stellar weather conditions. On-track performances were run at a race weight of 3,300 pounds, which puts output in the 800hp range.
Naturally, we went wild when we saw the new engine and how it performed. Unfortunately, Ford execs will say nothing-not a word or a peep other than that it's a V-8-even though we tried really hard to squeeze them for info. We've been shut down everywhere we turned for information on the mystery motor.
The Long shifter is connected...
The Long shifter is connected to a G-Force five-speed.
Finally, after some creative investigating, we uncovered what we think are rock-solid answers to the obvious questions. For starters, we're sure this engine is big. Our source in Detroit tells us it's 7.0 liters (about 427 ci), and it can go as big as 7.5 liters. We also hear it has favorable 4.250-inch bores, and from that we can calculate that the stroke is roughly 3.75 inches, offering nice revability. As for the heads, we hear the valves are laid out in a Hemi-style configuration, and we think there's a camshaft in the block and some pushrods in there.
This version sports twin injectors per cylinder with an individual-runner manifold and EFI. Of course, there could, and likely will, be numerous manifold designs to accommodate the variety of vehicles the engine will be plugged in to.
Like the current V-8s, we believe this new plant will serve a dual-purpose, showing up in everything from trucks to new Mustang special-edition models. For now, it's a race engine, and it's turning heads. Additionally, this engine is powered by E85 fuel, an alternative fuel that provides an excellent octane rating (110 octane).
Testing is scheduled to continue as the team will push the limits of the new bullet and find its weaknesses and strengths. Using test data, the Ford engineers will refine this V-8 and ensure it will stomp the LS-series and Mopar Hemi engines that are running around the streets. Thanks to Don, this engine will be well versed at going fast on the dragstrip.
While our Ford contacts remain tight-lipped, they did tell us a full media presentation will go down in due time. We hope it's soon-a big V-8 is just what the Ford fanatics have been waiting for.
Bowles Won his first NMRA...
Bowles Won his first NMRA event at the season opener in Bradenton, Florida, and is currently third in points.
Don still has fun drag racing,...
Don still has fun drag racing, and he continues to bang gears in a five-speed transmission. He began racing NMRA three years ago along with his family and friends.