Kit car builders and street rod enthusiasts have traditionally had their share of issues mating the transmission to the engine in a project car; either one or the other would install smoothly, but rarely both would work in tandem without a lot of additional work.
Roush Performance has solved this problem with the introduction of the "Ford-in-a-Ford" powertrain package, which includes a powerful Roush crate engine perfectly matched to a complete aftermarket performance transmission. All hardware, calibrations, and everything needed for a seamless installation are included.
The first application was installed in a 1963 Ford Galaxie, which paired a Roush 511SRFE engine with 525 hp and 575 lb-ft torque to a Ford 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission. This car, and powertrain package, will debut at the 11th Annual Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, on July 11 to 13.
Bob Corn, a former Ford engineer who now works at Roush, is the project manager of the package development, which will eventually include both short- and tall-deck small-block engines. During his tenure with Ford, which ran from 1962 through 1981, Corn was instrumental in developing several of the now-legendary Ford engines, including the 427, which is often heralded as one of the most instrumental in automotive history. His background and knowledge made Corn a natural choice to help Roush Performance bring a complete powertrain package to market, a product offering unmatched by anyone else.
"As we looked around there was nobody that offered a complete engine powertrain package that was just 'plug and play,' to borrow a computer term," said Corn. "What Roush is offering the car builders is a complete kit with a recognizable and proven engine, mated with an industry-leading transmission. All the parts are included in the Roush kit-things like the calibration, electronics, throttle position sensor, torque converter, and everything that will be needed is already part of the package and all designed to work together and drop right into the chassis. Roush is doing all the hard work on the powertrain so all the customer has to be concerned about is the actual car build itself."
Although the 511SRFE engine was the model used to develop the concept, Roush will soon offer a complete line of engine and transmission packages that can fit a wide variety of applications. For more information, contact Roush Performance, (800) 59-ROUSH, or visit www.roushperformance.com.