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Shelby F-code specs: 4.3L (260 ci) 8-cylinder, 96.5 x 72.9 mm (3.8000 x 2.8700 in) bore and stroke. Rated 164 hp, 1962–1964. Used in the Ford Fairlane.
The Shelby F-code is oversquare — the 3.8" bore exceeds the 2.87" stroke by 32.4% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 2.87" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,350 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.796 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 32.5 ci (533 cc).
It is one of 3 engines in the Shelby 260ci family, all of them 260 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 3 factory variants share these dimensions, rated at 164 hp across 1962–1964.
| Displacement | 260 ci / 4.3 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.8" |
| Stroke | 2.87" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Rod length | 5.155" |
| Rod ratio | 1.796 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.324 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 164 hp |
| Years | 1962–1964 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.324 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 2,870 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.796 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 32.5 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 164 hp | F-code |
| 1963 | 164 hp | F-code |
| 1964 | 164 hp | F-code |