Ford Drops 526 HP, 5.2L V8 Into Shelby GT350, GT350R Mustangs

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Future Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustang owners will have plenty of firepower for the strip and track, thanks to Ford’s new 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V8.

The new flat-plane crankshaft engine generates 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, delivering 102 horses per liter of displacement. Redlining occurs at 8,250 rpm, making the V8 the highest-revving unit used by any of Ford’s lineup, while 90 percent of its peak torque occurs between 3,450 rpm and 7,000 rpm.

The power generated by the 5.2-liter will be funnelled to the back via a Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual, the only transmission available aboard the Shelby GT350 and GT350R. The six-speed uses a die-cast aluminum case and clutch housing for increased stiffness, and the dual-mass flywheel and dual-clutch disc were both optimized to reduce inertia and weight.

The engine itself is based on an aluminum engine block whose cylinder walls use Ford’s patented plasma transferred wire arc cylinder-liner technology, replacing iron cylinder liners with an electroplate coating. Further weight savings include a gun-drilled flat-plane forged-steel crankshaft, and a high-capacity composite oil pan whose baffling can handle sustained high-speed cornering and hard braking situations.




[Photo credit: Ford]

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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