The engine is an integral package, including the throttle body, supercharger belt and manifold.

Muscle cars have long plagued the imagination and fantasy of old and young car enthusiasts. That kind of deep V8 idling rumble is irresistible.

The muscle car category carries the entire history of great men, and some of the key names have withstood the test of time. One of the most famous names in muscle car games is Mustang. Whether it's a classic late 1960s fastback car or a more modern Shelby GT500, such as the one in "I Am Legend", the magical combination of bulky, radical aesthetics and powerful performance is iconic.

However, as Internet "experts" like to point out, the new Mustang has slowly got rid of its bulky appearance and replaced it with a more sporty appearance. Although, this is by no means to say that the newer mustangs are not the real mustangs claimed by these experts, because the performance of these beasts is as high as ever. The new Shelby GT500 is equipped with a supercharged V8 that produces 760 horsepower. Things are about to become interesting because its engine can now be purchased as a crate engine.

Let us continue to understand this engine in more detail and see what its retail price is.

So what is this new engine? What is the hype?

Ford's latest generation GT500 truly pays tribute to what the original GT series represented; power. The new GT500 is by far the most powerful factory-produced Mustang. It is true that there are some more powerful special editions, such as the huge 1,200 HP 2013 Shelby 1000 S/C, but these vehicles are produced in limited quantities and many of them are not even legal. Therefore, let us realize that the new GT500 is by far the most powerful common factory standard Mustang. As any gearbox will tell you, the biggest key to increasing power potential is the engine under the hood. The latest GT500 is equipped with a huge 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that provides 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. In terms of actual performance, this means that the 0-60 MPH time is 3.3 seconds and the maximum speed is 180 MPH.

Ford has now decided to provide this engine that is exactly the same as the crate engine. This engine is a complete assembly, including the throttle body, supercharger belt, left and right manifolds, and various other mechanical components needed to build and run this engine. Nevertheless, before the engine can be started and a real predator can be produced from any configuration, various electronic devices need to be installed. These can be customized by the builder or purchased directly from Ford.

Therefore, let us take a deeper look at the specifications of the engine.

At its core is Ford's most powerful mass-produced engine to date: a hand-built 5.2-liter cross-plane V8 engine with a 2.7-liter Eaton TVS R2650 supercharger on the top. The engine block itself is made of high-strength aluminum, equipped with DOHC valve train, forged aluminum piston, forged steel connecting rod, forged steel crankshaft and 92mm throttle body. Its compression ratio is 9.51:1. The engine is priced at US$25,995.

This beast, aptly named Predator, will produce more than the quoted 760 HP and 625 lb-ft of torque because the aftermarket tuner has not yet tested the function of forged internal components. In addition, as the tuner implements some clever adjustments and changes, we are likely to see larger numbers.

Of course, there are many other crate engines to choose from, with different prices and power ranges. However, after recognizing the value for money, total power and praise of the 2021 Ford Mustang GT500, it is definitely one of the best engines. One of the biggest competitors is General Motors' new ZZ632/1000 10.3-liter naturally aspirated large cylinder V8, which will produce more than 1,000 horsepower and 876 pound-feet of torque. However, GM's engine has two key factors to consider: size and price. According to AutoBlog GM Performance, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of this engine is US$37,758, which is more than US$10,000 higher than the Ford Predator. In addition, the huge displacement of the engine means that the physical space required to install the engine is much larger, so finding a car with a suitable space in the engine compartment may bring some difficulties.

So considering all these good things, what else needs to be considered?

Like all good things, there are a few things to consider before buying. First of all, the price tag is the most important thing to consider. The price of this crate engine is US$25,995, and buyers only need US$1,210 to purchase the latest 2021 Ford Mustang Ecoboost. That's right, not just as a number of engines, but as a complete, fully functional car.

In addition, Ford Performance stated that “installing this component in a vehicle for unintended use may violate the laws and regulations on motor vehicle emissions in the United States and Canada.” However, there are no restrictions on who can purchase an engine, but be aware that any engine replacement is required. Emission testing may be required and may be illegal.

As these engines enter more and more versions, more information has not yet been announced, and they will definitely appear over time.

Source: HotCars, Ford, FordPerformance, AutoBlog, MotorTrend and TheDrive

These adjusted Ford Mustangs are equipped with horsepower numbers that can speed up the heartbeat of any adrenaline junkie.

Samuel is a political student, guitarist and car enthusiast in Melbourne, Australia. His favorite cars are classic muscle cars from the 60s and 70s, and he is more and more interested in JDM cars.