If you’re in the market to build a lightweight, modular engine powerplant, the gang at Ford Racing Parts recently announced something that may seriously interest you.

Now the aluminum GT500 production block can be purchased right out of the Ford Racing Parts catalog, using part number M-6010-M58A. With a suggested retail price of only $5,600, a four-valve, 350-cube displacement block for a new engine project is readily available. Since the Shelby GT500’s engine is the most powerful production engine ever produced for fitment in a Ford passenger car, you can be sure that this piece will handle whatever you attempt to throw at it. 

The block is cast from premium aluminum and offers a substantial 100-pound weight savings over the cast-iron 5.4L block. Not only can enthusiasts achieve a huge weight savings over the nose of their Mustang (or other suitable chassis), the block also offers six-bolt-mains that’ll handle a ton of power. It also includes Ford’s new Plasma Transferred Wire Arc spray-weld liner coating, which offers reduced friction properties along with improved durability and heat transfer than a traditional sleeve-in-block aluminum casting.

Since the block is coming right out of the FoMoCo engine factory, the cylinder bores are finish-honed and ready to assemble. Additionally all other block machining operations like deck and crank bores, have also been finish-machined. This is a huge development for kit-car builders, street car enthusiasts, and race car builders, as they are now able to take advantage of the four-valve modular engine’s incredible deep breathing without the weight penalty of an iron block, all at a relatively-affordable price. It looks like a win-win on our end and has us drooling about the potential of building a lightweight, big-cube mod motor.