Eaton Helps the Shelby GT500 Breathe. Really Breathe.

(Images: Ford)

When the Ford powertrain engineers were working on the engine for the 2020 Shelby GT500, the word “performance” was undoubtedly paramount in their thinking. They developed a 5.2-liter V8 that produces 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque.

They started with the aluminum block, bore and stroke of the Shelby GT350, but to increase its capability they added a block and head structure, improved oil and cooling capacity and a cross-plane crank.

Super. Not Turbo.

And while nowadays an increasing number of engines are turbocharged, this double-over-head cam engine features a 2.65-liter Eaton supercharger, the TVS R2650.

Cutaway of the Shelby GT500 supercharger.

While turbochargers need the engine to reach high speeds before they kick in (think: turbo lag), superchargers provide boost across the entire RPM range, which means that it is instant. No lag.

More Than a Few.

Eaton has been developing and producing superchargers since 1985, during which time it has produced more than 7.5-million of them. It is now on Gen 5, the TVS, or “Twin Vortices Series,” which offers a speed capability up to 24,000 RPM.

The company offers two types of TVS superchargers, the R-Series and the V-Series. The R-Series features a rotor with four lobes, which is best suited for peak engine power applications. The V-Series has three lobes and is best suited for lower engine speeds or in applications when a turbocharger is combined with a supercharger.

So it is no surprise the Ford powertrain engineers opted for the R.

Twist for Air Efficiency.

The R2650 features a 170-degree helical twist of its rotors to help improve the overall efficiency of air handling; it handles a volume of 2,650 cubic centimeters per rotation. The GT500 features a 6.03-square foot hood vent to help the engine breathe.

Lots of air is required. Lots.

The V8 is hand-built by Ford at its Romeo Engine Plant in Romeo, Michigan. The supercharger is assembled by Eaton at its facility in Athens, Georgia.

The Shelby GT500 is produced at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan.