742 HP / 709 ft lbs Torque

[Dave Rodak]

I just wanted to post my sincere thanks to Keith for the great engine he just completed for me. I told Keith I dreamed of a reliable, low maintenance Shelby block street engine that would deliver around 700 hp and be aesthetically pleasing in my new SPF. Together we discussed the various ways to fulfill my dream; the pros & cons of cast vs. billet cranks and rods, solid or hydraulic rollers, single vs. dual plane intakes and webers, 2x4’s or big ‘ol single quads. When we were done planning, he promised me a 700 hp/675 tq engine on pump gas. I did my best to wait patiently… and was I ever rewarded !!! This engine made 635 foot lbs of torque at 4000 and pulled 709 at 5000. It still made 616 at 6100 and 608 at 6200. It was making 570 at 3000 rpms !!!!! That’s a lot of torque! As for horsepower, well, it made 685 hp at 5200 and pulled 742 hp at 6700 rpms. It was still making 681 hp at 7400 rpms on one of the pulls!!! Every reading between 5900 and 6900 rpms was somewhere in the 730’s !

I couldn’t be more pleased. This engine is a big bore Shelby at 4.380 with a LAE Kryptonite billet crankshaft (4.375) displacing 527 cid. It’s got a custom hydraulic roller (Yes, it idles at 900 rpm!) with Craft Racing CNC Edlebrock heads, custom JE pistons (10.8:1) Lunatti billet rods, polished victor intake, DaVinci 950 and polished water pump. We lightened up the valve train for increased rpms with titanium valves & retainers. Not only does it produce… it’s gorgeous also !

Keith also just finished a 428 for my brother with cast SCAT crank & rods that made 602 hp and 597 tq in a 463 cid package. That engine is headed for a 1968 Mustang Fastback. We pulled out the 289/C4 and this engine with a TKO should really breathe some giddyup into the classic ‘stang.

Anyway… I normally prefer a low profile and like to lurk… but I just had to share these details with people who can appreciate this information (my wife says it all mumbo-jumbo to her!).