New GT350

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/17/ford-mustang-shelby-gt350-official-photos/

Wow to a durable flat plane crankshaft!! I want to know more.

Cool! Actual confirmation from Ford. I wondered if the flat plane crank was just a rumor.

Confirmed on Ford's media site. This appears to be legit, not another internet wish list.

That looks spectacular.

In reply to tuna55:

What makes the flat plane crank non-durable?

Seems like it would be a TON more durable than the 90 deg throws.

The problem with the flat crank is NVH- there's a secondary shaking that's hard to deal with- now you have it in two planes.

But durability wise- instead of 8 throws, there are only 4. Thats easier to make and stronger at the same time.

Knowing that this Mustang will be sold overseas makes me feel a bit patriotic. America.

In reply to alfadriver:

I think there's an issue with blocks & main saddles not having enough meat to deal with the forces exerted by a flat-plane crank in certain situations. I don't think the crank itself is the problem.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to tuna55: What makes the flat plane crank non-durable? Seems like it would be a TON more durable than the 90 deg throws. The problem with the flat crank is NVH- there's a secondary shaking that's hard to deal with- now you have it in two planes. But durability wise- instead of 8 throws, there are only 4. Thats easier to make and stronger at the same time.

I was under the impression that those dynamic events affected the longevity, not just NVH. This was the reason I understood that flat plane cranks haven't existed in V8s outside of the exotic world. Am I wrong?

pres589 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: I think there's an issue with blocks & main saddles not having enough meat to deal with the forces exerted by a flat-plane crank in certain situations. I don't think the crank itself is the problem.

edit-... I'm not sure why that would be- v8's all share throws with each bank, so the bearing surfaces shouldn't change much. Same number of bearings, same sharing of throws, just different angles- ones that are really easy to make.

It's just a bigger version of a 4 cyl crank.

tuna55 wrote:

alfadriver wrote: In reply to tuna55: What makes the flat plane crank non-durable? Seems like it would be a TON more durable than the 90 deg throws. The problem with the flat crank is NVH- there's a secondary shaking that's hard to deal with- now you have it in two planes. But durability wise- instead of 8 throws, there are only 4. Thats easier to make and stronger at the same time.

I was under the impression that those dynamic events affected the longevity, not just NVH. This was the reason I understood that flat plane cranks haven't existed in V8s outside of the exotic world. Am I wrong?

The same effect would be on all 4 cyl engines, if that were the case. Like I just posted, this crank is just a longer version of a 4 cyl.

But I'd have to check for a better reason. NVH is a pretty big deal, and a 90deg v8 is very nicely ballanced with a 90 deg crank. Way better than a 4 cyl.

That'll look freakin' awesome...on my son's Xbox game...'cause that's as close as I'll ever get to driving one.

I don't understand why folks say this engine sounds so good, doesn't sound good to me at all.

In reply to alfadriver:

My understanding is the same forces that create worsened NVH characteristics make life harder on the bearings & saddles.

Can't you just go across the bar where the other automotive engineers hang out and ask the guys at Fiat Group why the Lancia Thema 8.32 got a 90 degree crank in place of the 180 degree unit that came stock in that engine? Having worked with Italian engineers I'm sure the answer will be spat out in rapid fashion with much hand waving but I'm sure they did it for a reason.

plance1 wrote: I don't understand why folks say this engine sounds so good, doesn't sound good to me at all.

When it comes to subjective matters, the "why" part is typically pretty hard to explain. "Because" is the best I can do for you.

plance1 wrote: I don't understand why folks say this engine sounds so good, doesn't sound good to me at all.

You are entitled to your opinion, but this particular one is completely wrong.

I think it sounds good, this is a car I might buy if I had the money for it and all the gas it would suck down

I have just one problem: Why call it an all-day track car and then offer a "track pack" option that includes the oil and gearbox coolers?

Scion and Subaru really did their homework on this one!

pres589 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: My understanding is the same forces that create worsened NVH characteristics make life harder on the bearings & saddles. Can't you just go across the bar where the other automotive engineers hang out and ask the guys at Fiat Group why the Lancia Thema 8.32 got a 90 degree crank in place of the 180 degree unit that came stock in that engine? Having worked with Italian engineers I'm sure the answer will be spat out in rapid fashion with much hand waving but I'm sure they did it for a reason.

Just talked to a few people- it's NVH. And the cost to mititgate the NVH issue.

Plus, the benefit to having super tuned exhaust really does not show to high revs (in a cost constrained world). So it's a nice trick to have decent low end torque and and engine that makes 500hp with only 400lb-ft.

If this peaks AT 400lb-ft- the peak power is just north of 6500rpm. And I'm sure peak torque isn't at peak power, so figure peak power is near 7000rpm, redline just above that. And that does cost money.

As for the Lancia- I'm going out on a limb here- I'm going to guess that the FWD Thema is a luxury car, which means NVH is more of an issue. And it being FWD, super high engine speeds and power isn't as needed. Drop in a 90deg crank, all is good.

GameboyRMH wrote: I think it sounds good, this is a car I might buy if I had the money for it and all the gas it would suck down I have just one problem: Why call it an all-day track car and then offer a "track pack" option that includes the oil and gearbox coolers?

moneys$$ss

plance1 wrote: I don't understand why folks say this engine sounds so good, doesn't sound good to me at all.

Oh it does.....it has a strangely sinister note to it. Especially as we've already heard it during testing at the Nurburgring.

That sound is music! Just as I was worried that ford forgot what ears are for after hearing the ecoboost.

Will wrote:

plance1 wrote: I don't understand why folks say this engine sounds so good, doesn't sound good to me at all.

When it comes to subjective matters, the "why" part is typically pretty hard to explain. "Because" is the best I can do for you.

Because Supercar Noises?

How much $$?

In reply to alfadriver:

Thanks for asking around. And yeah, the Thema was kind of a near-luxury car, and FWD. So losing a bit of power & making it easier to drive on the street vs the Ferrari 308 installation was probably a design goal. I stand corrected on the bearings / longevity.

I'm no where near a Ford fan and have never really liked Mustangs in general. But the only positive I have ever been able to say about them is they sound good. In my opinion the Coyote makes better music than the one in the video going around the ring. I'm with plance, it doesn't sound good to me.