Budget 1300whp Iron-Block Coyote

Build a 1300whp-Capable Iron-Block Coyote on a Budget

Yes, the iron block is about 80 pounds heavier than the aluminum version, but you skip sleeves, skip Darton shipping, and skip months of delay – while gaining the strength you actually need for four-digit power.

🧱 Iron block – no sleeves, no Darton wait, built for boost

💥 Forged rotating assembly & Gen 3 heads

🏁 Target: ~1300 wheel horsepower with proper fuel & tune

Why the iron block makes sense

Everybody loves the weight of an aluminum Coyote block… right up until you have to pay for sleeves and ship it off to Darton for months. This combo starts with a brand-new iron Coyote block instead:

➤~80 lbs heavier than aluminum, but the strength to handle big cylinder pressure without sleeves.
➤No Darton sleeving bill – you keep thousands of dollars in your pocket.
➤No sleeving delay – you’re not waiting months for a block to ship out, get machined, and come back.
➤Forged crank, rods, and pistons sized to drop into the standard bores, using a fresh block that doesn’t need machine work.
➤Gen 3 Mustang heads plus upgraded valves, springs, and cams to support ~1300whp with the right turbo or blower.

No machine shop required: because this is a new iron block with standard bores, you’re assembling – not rescuing – a tired core. Clean, measure, and bolt it together in your garage with normal tools and a good torque wrench instead of paying for sleeves and custom machining.

Parts total
$10,871.86

Parts Shopping List

Tap any row to open the exact part so you can order the same combo.

Part	Source	Price (USD)
Ford Performance Iron Coyote Bare Block Cast-iron Coyote block – about 80 lbs heavier than aluminum, but no sleeves, no Darton wait, and built to take big cylinder pressure.	View Part	$3,639.86
MMR Upgraded Forged H-Beam Rods, Pistons & Rings Forged rotating guts rated for serious boost and RPM.	View Part	$1,994.99
Ford Racing Forged Crankshaft (2011-2026 5.0 Coyote) Factory forged crank that lives at crazy power levels.	View Part	$577.99
Gen 3 Coyote Cylinder Head – Right 2018+ Mustang GT right-hand head – great flow, no porting needed.	View Part	$729.59
Gen 3 Coyote Cylinder Head – Left Matching left-hand head. Bolt-on 1300whp airflow.	View Part	$729.59
GSC 97lbs Conical Valve Springs & Titanium Retainers Single set for 2018+ Gen 3/4 Coyote – keeps valves under control at high RPM & boost.	View Part	$782.00
GSC Exhaust Valves 32mm STD – 2× Sets of 8 (16 total) Two sets to cover all 16 exhaust valves in a Coyote. Built to handle heat and pressure.	View Part	$397.40
GSC Intake Valves 37.6mm STD – 2× Sets of 8 (16 total) Two sets to cover all 16 intake valves. Big, efficient valves to feed serious power.	View Part	$382.88
COMP Cams Coyote Camshafts Aggressive cams that keep power climbing well past 7k.	View Part	$1,637.56
Core longblock hard-parts total		$10,871.86

Step 1Short Block

Drop forged guts into the iron block

Start with the brand-new iron Coyote block. Clean the cylinders, oil passages, and main saddles, then install the forged crankshaft, H-beam rods, and forged pistons from MMR. The block is already sized – no boring, no honing, no sleeving – so you’re not paying or waiting on a machine shop.

Step 2Top End Airflow

Gen 3 heads + valve spring & valve upgrade

Bolt on a pair of 2018+ Gen 3 Mustang GT heads. Out of the box, they flow enough air to support 1300+ whp when boosted. Add the GSC conical valve springs with titanium retainers plus GSC intake and exhaust valves (two sets of each to cover all 32 valves) so the valvetrain stays under control at big RPM and boost.

Step 3Cam & Timing

Install the COMP cams & time it like Ford intended

Install the COMP Cams Coyote cams and set up the timing system: chains, guides, tensioners, and phasers. Follow Ford’s procedures, degree the cams if you can, and you’ll have a combo that pulls hard up top without giving up drivability.

Step 4Boost & Tune

Fuel, tune, and boost for ~1300 wheel horsepower

This iron-block longblock is the foundation. With the right turbo or blower, proper fuel system (race E85 or similar), smart ignition timing, and a safe dyno tune, this combo is aimed squarely at the ~1300 wheel horsepower neighborhood – without waiting half a year for an aluminum block to come back from getting sleeved.