2010 Ford Shelby GT500 uses cast iron, NOT aluminum block!
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500
Let's make this perfectly clear. As much as Mustang fans (this author included) would like it to be otherwise, the 2010 Shelby GT500 does not use an aluminum block. At least a couple of times over the past few weeks, there have been online reports that the cast iron block of the last generation has been ditched in favor of the lighter material. These reports are incorrect.
At the Ford preview briefing just before Christmas, we explicitly asked SVT chief engineer Jamal Hameedi if the block had changed, and he told us that it remains iron. When the aluminum rumor popped up yet again yesterday, we contacted Ford spokesman Alan Hall, who repeated the iron refrain. Whatever Ford's reasoning was for keeping the hood closed on the GT500s at the Detroit Auto Show, it is not because they were hiding an aluminum block. The reason for the iron block is that the aluminum unit from the Ford GT is designed for a dry sump lubrication system and there is nowhere to package the oil reservoir in the production Mustang.
Gallery: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
[Sources: Ford, The Mustang Source]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Joshua 10:52AM (1/17/2009)
Of course the real reason it remains an iron block is because it's cheaper to produce a wet sump and the iron block is less failure prone when strained by a supercharger. A 1% failure rate (speculation to make the point) is acceptable on a limited run supercar, but not on something as common (relatively) as the cobra.
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JOHN COLWELL 10:52AM (1/17/2009)
I Sill Like It Very Sweet .
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Flashpoint 10:53AM (1/17/2009)
So it basically could have been faster if they had used Aluminum.
My question is, when will nanotechnology give us an ultralighteight - ultra strong Engine?
No doubt it will be in some 2 million dollar race car like the Veyron.
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HotRodzNKustoms 10:53AM (1/17/2009)
I would think that the V8 block in a regular Mustang would be perfectly up to the task of putting out that kind of power since Mustangs with aftermarket parts seem perfectly up to the task without any GT-R style failures, but I could be totally wrong.
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pmiddle5 12:42PM (1/17/2009)
I havent heard of any GTR failures related to the aluminum block..
I suppose you're making a joke regarding the fact that the GTR's transmissions fails after people use the launch control multiple times. From what I recall at my many times hanging out at the drag strip....I've seen almost any car that people take out there to drive hard have some sort of failure and often it is transmission, differential, or axle related. Strange you arent making jokes about how the c5 z06 wears its gears done and you have to hold it in gear after repeated launches on drag radials.
Jim 1:34PM (1/17/2009)
"I would think that the V8 block in a regular Mustang would be perfectly up to the task of putting out that kind of power since Mustangs with aftermarket parts seem perfectly up to the task without any GT-R style failures, but I could be totally wrong."
the aftermarket doesn't have to worry about stuff like the engine lasting 150k miles. Ford does.
ambientFLIER 2:55PM (1/17/2009)
Are the GTR engines failing now, or was that another cheap shot at Nissan?
seanleeforever 9:56PM (1/17/2009)
there are like TWO or THREE GTR had the transmission problem out of three thousands that were sold. not to mention ones had transmission problem are pretty much abused.
HotRodzNKustoms 11:41PM (1/18/2009)
I wasn't talking about the GT-R blocks but more catastrophic failure in general, don't get so pissy.
Tourian 10:56AM (1/17/2009)
Most tuners prefer iron blocks. They can generally handle more boost. I've heard that some Ford GT's converted to twin turbo sometimes are converted to Navigator iron blocks for this purpose. I can see how collector's who keep the car stock want in to perform best right out of the box, but I don't think this is a deal killer.
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npChaos 12:49PM (1/17/2009)
This is true even in the import world. Your high horsepower potential 6cylinders like the 1JZ/2JZ and the RB series are both cast-iron.
pmiddle5 4:02PM (1/17/2009)
Should I not bother to begin listing off the massive list of high hp boosted engines that used alloy??
http://www.autoblog.com/2005/11/03/a-350z-so-fast-it-will-make-you-barf/
I'll even link within Autoblog itself for fun when I can.
many a 2000hp ls1 exists.
http://www.bmeltd.com/Dragster/specs.htm
hey look Top Fuel using what is that cast iron? Heck no! iron block on that sucker.
After showing the Top Fuel dragster using alloy I dont really feel like there is much reason to show anything else..........
oh well I'll do formula 1 just cause.
http://www.gurneyflap.com/renaultef15.html
1200hp in qualifying out of a 1.5 liter with aluminum block...
Frickin weak ass aluminum.
Tourian 5:41PM (1/17/2009)
Wow pmiddle5, you are so smart. Finding some expcetions to a rule nobody made. I said most, not all. And two of your so called "applications" are cots no object motorsport groups, top fuel and F1 which should never be brought up as "proof" when we are talking about production cars. How much does one of those alloy F1 blocks cost? More then a whole GT500 maybe? Yeah great example. Not.
The LSX kicks ass yes, but it doesn't change the fact that tuners typically prefer an iron block for boosted applications.
pmiddle5 7:06PM (1/17/2009)
tuners aka old dudes who like big blocks.....
I mean when I think of "tuners" I think of dudes with Hondas and Nissans. All of those seem to be aluminum block these days. All the Chevy's seem to be alloy block as well. I mean yeah 20 years ago Iron was all the rage.
Congratulation on managing to take something personal on the internet =)
IOMTT 9:44PM (1/18/2009)
To help Pmiddle:
Porsche 917-30...aircooled and alloy...1300plus HP road racer
Various Turbo Porsches production and race, some winners of 24 hour races.
However, iron is cheap and strong...very important charateristics.
tankd0g 11:19AM (1/17/2009)
You can always drill it full of holes and plug them with nice lightweight JB-Weld :)
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KC 11:20AM (1/17/2009)
Before stupid anti-American people attack that decision, most VW engines sold today are iron block.
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CarbonBlack 11:32AM (1/17/2009)
There is nothing "Anti-American" about wishing for a lighter engine!!!
FSM 12:27PM (1/17/2009)
Thats right! Aluminum block engines hate our freedom!
pmiddle5 12:43PM (1/17/2009)
Aluminum is for communists!!