The Ford blue valve covers on the new 2011 Shelby GT500’s 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine catch the eye of any passerby but most Ford enthusiasts would agree: it is simply a thing of beauty. The new components of the engine result in a less girth-y, 102 pound weight loss. Ford can now boast better performance measures including fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision, to name a few. Seemingly small tweaks in design and manufacturing bumped horsepower to 550 and 510 ft-lb of torque. As we all know, cutting weight is the simplest, smartest way to improve performance.
The question we all have, regarding the new aluminum block is: Can we still mod it??? In a presentation on February 8, 2010, Kerry Baldori, SVT Engineer, made it quite clear that the block will be able to handle all the same torments we put our cast-iron blocks through. Structural webbing, unique bulkhead chillers and six-bolt billet main bearing caps help the 5.4-liter block stand up to consumer-demanded performance in extreme conditions.
Replacing the more commonly used cast-iron liners, a Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) cylinder liner coating, a Ford-patented process, is utilized. A micron composite of nanoparticles coats the surfaces of the engine cylinder bores. Air and electricity are used to create a 35,000 Fahrenheit plasma jet that is used to melt steel wire into a rotating spray gun. The cylinder bores are uniquely machined to accept the coating that is blown on to bores by atomized air. In today’s chemistry lesson, we learn that the specialized melting and application process causes the molten steel wire to oxidize, resulting in an iron and iron oxide composite. Benefits include durability and improved performance in comparison to the iron liners, plus reduced friction between rings and bores, better heat transfer and another source of the engine’s overall weight reduction.
And with tightening of the proverbial belts in so many aspects of everyday living, Ford seems to take into consideration this plight of so many Americans. Their improvements to the engine and body keep this GT500 out of the classification of “gas guzzler” and the sometimes excessive taxes that go with that ranking. Kudos to Ford, for keeping the true American car a tangible part of the American dream.
The question we all have, regarding the new aluminum block is: Can we still mod it??? In a presentation on February 8, 2010, Kerry Baldori, SVT Engineer, made it quite clear that the block will be able to handle all the same torments we put our cast-iron blocks through. Structural webbing, unique bulkhead chillers and six-bolt billet main bearing caps help the 5.4-liter block stand up to consumer-demanded performance in extreme conditions.
Replacing the more commonly used cast-iron liners, a Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) cylinder liner coating, a Ford-patented process, is utilized. A micron composite of nanoparticles coats the surfaces of the engine cylinder bores. Air and electricity are used to create a 35,000 Fahrenheit plasma jet that is used to melt steel wire into a rotating spray gun. The cylinder bores are uniquely machined to accept the coating that is blown on to bores by atomized air. In today’s chemistry lesson, we learn that the specialized melting and application process causes the molten steel wire to oxidize, resulting in an iron and iron oxide composite. Benefits include durability and improved performance in comparison to the iron liners, plus reduced friction between rings and bores, better heat transfer and another source of the engine’s overall weight reduction.
And with tightening of the proverbial belts in so many aspects of everyday living, Ford seems to take into consideration this plight of so many Americans. Their improvements to the engine and body keep this GT500 out of the classification of “gas guzzler” and the sometimes excessive taxes that go with that ranking. Kudos to Ford, for keeping the true American car a tangible part of the American dream.
