US-based all-aluminium engine company Carroll Shelby announces major upgrade for its 289 V8 crate

US-based Carroll Shelby Engine Company, known for manufacturing specialised high-performance aluminium engines, has recently announced a major upgrade for its 289 V8 crate engine. The engine has been bored and stroked to increase its displacement to 364 cubic inches. As a result, it now produces over 470 bhp on 91-octane pump gas.

This engine is a modern, high-performance reproduction of the same engine used in the legendary Shelby Cobra, one of the most iconic sports cars of the 1960s. The upgraded engine is equipped with SCAT H-beam connecting rods, Mahle PowerPak 4032 aluminium pistons, a custom-ground hydraulic roller camshaft, a Quick Fuel Brawler 750 CFM carburettor, a Moroso Performance oil pan, and an MSD ignition system.

Most of the engines from the Carroll Shelby Engine Company begin with a 356 T6 CNC-machined aluminium Shelby block as its foundation. From there, each engine is custom-built to suit its intended purpose, whether for street driving or track performance, delivering dependable power outputs ranging from 393 to over 750 bhp.

The engine also features 205cc aluminium cylinder heads from Air Flow Research, aluminium roller rockers, and a port-matched dual-plane intake manifold. It's fitted with an 8-quart front-sump oil pan from Moroso Performance Products, along with a Melling high-volume oil pump and an aluminium water pump. Up top, you'll find black finned aluminium valve covers bearing the Shelby name. With a 10.5:1 compression ratio, the engine is tuned to run on readily available 91 octane pump gas.

The dyno results for this engine show impressive performance, with a peak output of 478 bhp at 6,500 rpm and a robust 475 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. For comparison, the original Hi-Po (high performance) Ford 289 V8 from the 1960s produced just 271 bhp.