S650 Coyote V8: Differences in GT vs Dark Horse

[Dub347sbf]

Are the connecting rods plus tuning the only differences? I saw an article that stated as much. If so, I wonder if the redline is raised?

“The engines if you go back to the current generation, and you look at performance series — Mach 1s, Bullitts, etc. — they’ll have relatively unique engine hardware specifically on the intake manifold sometimes on the headers. And they achieve differentiation in performance through unique engines,” Krenz explained. “On this program, the engines are far more common between the GT and the Dark Horse. Literally, the only difference at the end of the day is we ported over the forged connecting rods from the Predator engine.”

Ford Muscle DH Coyote Article

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[tdstuart]

Connecting rods, upgraded cams, and tuning. That is the current info we have.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/gen-4-coyote-5-0l-v8-specs-photos-s650-mustang.156258/

 

[Dub347sbf]

Connecting rods, upgraded cams, and tuning. That is the current info we have.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/gen-4-coyote-5-0l-v8-specs-photos-s650-mustang.156258/

Thanks, I should have used that thread. I wonder why camshafts werent mentioned in the article. Not as much difference between the two as a Mach 1 or Boss for sure.

 

[tdstuart]

Thanks, I should have used that thread. I wonder why camshafts werent mentioned in the article. Not as much difference between the two as a Mach 1 or Boss for sure.

What does the mach 1 have different than the normal gt? I thought it was just the intake manifold, tune, and intake pipe?

 

[Dub347sbf]

What does the mach 1 have different than the normal gt? I thought it was just the intake manifold, tune, and intake pipe?

That's right. If the camshafts are different in the DH, that makes sense. If it is only the rods like the article above states, there really isn't much separating the two other than a tune horsepower wise. Same intake manifold and tubes etc. So i wonder if the redline was raised along with a tune, which is why they needed the gt500 rods.

 

[Ace]

THe Key of the Dark Horse is the better handling, the tremec for MTs and especially the aero package. Just like the Mach 1 it's more of a successor to the Performance Package 2 on the GT

 

[Gogoggansgo]

Don’t kid yourself upgraded cams could give the dark house a solid 20-30hp alone especially if they focus on valve timing to a key. Point being i wouldn’t be surprised if the dark horse hits 525hp

 

[Gogoggansgo]

That's right. If the camshafts are different in the DH, that makes sense. If it is only the rods like the article above states, there really isn't much separating the two other than a tune horsepower wise. Same intake manifold and tubes etc. So i wonder if the redline was raised along with a tune, which is why they needed the gt500 rods.

Have you seen a dark horse dash yet?
NOPE
So it also wouldn’t surprise me if they push it out a few hundred rpm

 

[Dub347sbf]

Don’t kid yourself upgraded cams could give the dark house a solid 20-30hp alone especially if they focus on valve timing to a key. Point being i wouldn’t be surprised if the dark horse hits 525hp

I agree, it's just that the article I linked doesn't say the camshafts are different. Im fact, it says while past models have different camshafts, it says the DH has less different than past models. Consider this quote.

While there may only be a 20 horsepower or so swing between the base Coyote and the sinister Dark Horse variant, we have seen more radical engine upgrades for similar differences in the past, such as back in 2013 when the Mustang GT Coyote delivered 420 horsepower, but the Boss 302 powered by its RoadRunner cousin stepped up with 24 additional horsepower, courtesy of ported heads, a unique intake, better cams, and more.

Despite the modest increase in power for Dark Horse, achieving more than 100 horsepower per liter in naturally aspirated form is an impressive feat, but achieved with far fewer modifications than past performance variants. It will be the most potent non-boosted Mustang powerplant to date, but to pass Ford’s durability tests, engineers needed more strength. It turned out that the company’s measurement tools sensed some “bending moments” in the standard, powdered-metal rods when the engine was run at full tilt.

 

[Schwerin]

Thanks, I should have used that thread. I wonder why camshafts werent mentioned in the article. Not as much difference between the two as a Mach 1 or Boss for sure.

Rods and cams are a bigger difference than a manifold that could be called "comparable" and an intake tube.

Also, the Boss had pistons, rods, compression ratio, camshafts, valve springs, crankshaft-sensor trigger-wheel and manifold over a normal GT. There was a reason the BOSS engine was given its own name, Roadrunner, and the Mach1 and, so far, the DH doesnt.

 

[Dub347sbf]

Rods and cams are a bigger difference than a manifold that could be called "comparable" and an intake tube.

Also, the Boss had pistons, rods, compression ratio, camshafts, valve springs, crankshaft-sensor trigger-wheel and manifold over a normal GT. There was a reason the BOSS engine was given its own name, Roadrunner, and the Mach1 and, so far, the DH doesnt.

Right. Again, the article says the cams are not different. That is what i am wondering about. Even the Ford media website Dark Hoese release says nothing about different camshafts, only rods.

“On this program, the engines are far more common between the GT and the Dark Horse. Literally, the only difference at the end of the day is we ported over the forged connecting rods from the Predator engine

 

[Schwerin]

Right. Again, the article says the cams are not different. That is what i am wondering about. Even the Ford media website Dark Hoese release says nothing about different camshafts, only rods.

Thats not going to make a 20HP difference. There is no way they are making the power just an ECU change. That would make the DH utterly pointless for anyone that's not doing road racing, as anyone wanting to make over 1200wheel will be building the internals anyway making the rod upgrade pointless.

Then again Ford gave the Performance Package Taurus SHO's upgraded internals for 0 reason also.

 

[tdstuart]

Right. Again, the article says the cams are not different. That is what i am wondering about. Even the Ford media website Dark Hoese release says nothing about different camshafts, only rods.

Motor trend says the camshafts are “strengthened”. (https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2024-ford-mustang-dark-horse-first-look-review/amp/)
But I feel they will have better specs for more power.

 

[JWS]

Thought I remember the Exhaust Manifolds changing. Or maybe it was something to do with the Godzilla Engine.

Ford Performance will be offering the Factory Active Exhaust for 18+ Mustangs that came without it.

 

[Fidelity]

read of rear suspension based on 350….

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