For one devoted Shelby GT350 owner, the choice between chasing horsepower and nurturing a family legacy through cars has become a defining moment. At the heart of his dilemma lies Ford’s revered, yet temperamental, 5.2L Voodoo engine, a high-revving masterpiece that embodies both automotive passion and mechanical fragility.
Facing the crossroads of modification versus preservation, Kenny Holshouser turned to the Shelby GT350 enthusiast community on Facebook.
"I'm torn with this decision. I have always preferred boost. Driving this car has been one of my most prized driver experiences, and the car is mostly stock. I can’t say that statement about any other Mustang or Cobra I’ve ever owned. It’s an agile, high-revving fun car that’ll make the best of us crack a grin. I have an ’18 with 50k miles now. The last 19k I’ve put on the car. It’s got the Voodoo engine, either piston slap or lifter-follower slight tick."
Ford’s flat-plane crank Voodoo V8, which they put into the GT350, celebrated for its 8,250 RPM scream and track-ready agility, has long been a double-edged sword.
Owners like Holshouser face notorious issues, oil consumption, valvetrain noise, and the ominous “tick” that often signals piston slap or lifter wear. While warranties cover many concerns, the engine’s fragility looms over modification plans.
“I have a warranty, so I’m going to get that addressed prior to finally doing some modifications. I’m completely torn over doing a centri and keeping the boost relatively low. I don’t need 900WHP in this car (GT350). Or… just doing LTHs, flex fuel tune with some smaller 1050x ID, and calling it a day. I have played the max boost game with Whipples, Paxtons, Vortechs, PCs, etc… usually end up needing a beefier transmission, super high-dollar clutch, stronger axles, anti-hop kits, yada yada yada. I have 3 kids who absolutely love cars as well.
My daughter is 15 now and I’d like to share her passion. That being said, I don’t care to do the late nights, weekends, testing, solving issues anymore. I’d prefer to work on an older S197 or SN95 car with her and my boys than max my car out. Maybe I just answered my own question ha. How are these cars living and doing after the 75k mile mark? I don’t mind rebuilding this engine later on if it needs it.
I paid cash for the car and I plan to keep it for a very, very long time. Thanks for reading this post and for any information or bias one way or another guidance.”
Brilliance and Burden
Introduced in 1965 as Carroll Shelby’s race ready Mustang variant, the original GT350 featured a lightweight design and a 289 cubic-inch V8, dominating SCCA competitions and cementing its status as a motorsport legend.
- Reborn in 2015, the Shelby GT350 returned with Ford’s groundbreaking 5.2L flat-plane crank V8, dubbed "Voodoo," producing 526 horsepower and a screaming 8,250 RPM redline. This engine marked Ford’s first production flat-plane crank V8, prioritizing high-revving performance over traditional muscle car torque.
- Designed as a road-course weapon, the modern GT350 featured aerodynamic enhancements, MagneRide suspension, and carbon-fiber components. Discontinued in 2020, it remains a benchmark for driver engagement, bridging Ford’s racing heritage with cutting-edge engineering.
His debate, between a modest centrifugal supercharger or bolt-ons like headers and a tune, highlights a broader truth: the Voodoo’s magic is best preserved in its near-stock form. Chasing power risks not just reliability but the car’s soul, a lesson learned from past builds requiring reinforced drivetrains and endless troubleshooting.
“Preserve the Balance”
Seeking advice, the owner turned to the Shelby GT350 Facebook Group, where seasoned enthusiasts urged restraint. Lealand Young cautioned,
“The GT350 is the Miata of the Mustang world… its magic lies in how well it goes down a road course.”
Others echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that overpowering the chassis disrupts its finesse. One user shared,
“I have a 17 with the Gen 1 engine and 24k miles. I don’t plan on messing with it because for me the car is a driving machine just the way it is. I never get tired of it. I also have two boys, so I have a fox body with bolt-ons, a third-gen Camaro, and a C5 Corvette with a built motor. I would rather mess around with those cars and leave the GT350 alone. I get tired from time to time and want to sell everything but then I know it's hard to get back into it. I’m doing it for the boys while I can. Hoping to keep the car for a long time and pass it on to my boys.”
While the Mustang-Camaro rivalry once defined American muscle, the GT350’s story today transcends competition. As Chevrolet halts Camaro production (again), Ford’s focus on driver engagement, embodied by the Voodoo’s howl, shifts the narrative.
Legacy Over Horsepower
For the owner, the GT350’s ultimate purpose isn’t lap times but a legacy. “I paid cash for the car and plan to keep it for a very, very long time,” he states, envisioning future rebuilds with his children.
His pivot toward mentoring, via a Fox Body or SN95 project, reflects a universal truth: cars are vessels for bonding, not just speed. Late-night troubleshooting gives way to teaching moments, where wrenches and wisdom pass hands.
The Road Ahead
Analog machines like the GT350 remind us that passion is measured in shared experiences, not horsepower. For this father, the answer was always clear: legacy outlasts boost. The real modification isn’t to the car. It’s to the lives of those who’ll one day turn the key and remember.
The top image is Kenny's Shelby GT350 from his public Facebook post, which I referenced and linked above.
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.