Shelby Dodge 3.3 & Can-Am

[shelbydodgeimp]

Not many people know of this engine, so I should point it out:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/evilshelbydodgeimp/shelbyengine.jpg

http://dodgedynasty.50megs.com/other/shelby.html

Shelby played with the 3.3 a year before it went into production and used it in the Can-Am circuit. None of his mods were really that extreme, and could prolly be duplicated for under $5k. Basically Shelby was making 255 HP using the 3.3 with: custom cam (very slightly mod'd tho), 11:1 compression ratio, forged crank, special PCM code (rev limitor moved to 6800rpm), special upper intake manifold, larger valves (both intake & exhaust slightly larger) and a slightly ported set of heads (tuned at shelby's shop).

Given that a 3.5L forged crank is believed to be able to be machined to work in the 3.3 (some intrepid guys have tracked down machine shops that have done it), it would not be impossible to hit or go beyond the 300hp mark with the 3.3.

Anyway I figure this info is of interest considering most people don't know this engine existed, let alone the specs on its internals.

[DodgeZ]

I didn't know all that.

[Force Fed Mopar]

Yeah, I've seen that pic before, actually there's a whole web page dedicated to the Shelby 3.3 Can-Am cars and engines. Can't remember what the address is though, maybe shelbydodgeimp can post it for us?

[shelbydodgeimp]

Here are all the links I know of that still work, for these cars/engines:
http://dodgedynasty.50megs.com/other/shelby.html (the site I run)

There's this article I wrote for allpar:
http://www.allpar.com/racing/shelby-dodge-canam.html

Brief mention of these cars here:
http://www.shelbyregistry.com/

This guy has a good website concept but so far very lil content:
http://www.shelbycanam.com/

Then here is the site for the circuit after it left the US for South America- 27 of the original 76 cars, plus all the spare parts/engines/car assemblies went down to south America. Only a year or two later, to have the circuit scrap the Can-Am cars down there (all 27+ parts), reuse the chassis with a custom south american body, and the Nissian 3.5L V6- and all the shelby stuff ended up in unknown places (most likely the open market for local buyers- I am sure most the 27 engines, etc- are intact, but bought up by various south america buyers). I did have one guy a few years ago email me with a picture of a room full of 3.3 can am engines he was selling, but I couldn't varrify if he was legit and it sounded "too good" (what could be a better definition of too good than someone emailing you with a picture, saying they have a dozen or so of the engine you'd kill for- and only wanted a few grand plus shipping for each??).

Sadly, the change in the cars used by the circuit in South America means tha there are only 49 (IF that) complete Shelby Dodge Can-Am cars left in existance (the ones that never left the US). Not sure if all 49 that stayed are still intact, I know maybe a dozen of them are for sure (I've talkd to 2 or 3 current Can-Am owners).

There used to be an other site on these cars but it is no more (forget the URL off hand).

[shelbydodgeimp]

opps- I forgot the link for the current circuit in South America running the Nissan 3.5LV6 with the old SDCA chassis:
http://www.shelbycanam.co.za/

[Richard Paul]

If you are in Las Vegas there is one of these cars at Shelby's shop. Not out on display (just Phords) it is in the back.

[shelbydodgeimp]

Yeah, of the original 76, abt half went to south america and got parted out and sold on the open market when the circuit switched to the nissan 3.5's, Shelby has at least one in his collection at that shop, one or two are in private car collections, and I know at least two are still occasionally raced.

The rest? prolly in storage with whoever originally owned them when the circut last existed in the US (1996?).

The shelby registry site only has two of them lised last I checked, and fail to mention that the ones that went to south america are no longer complete cars... as the circuit reused the chassis & trans with the Nissan 3.5 and a new south american body