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Shelby GLH-S

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Motor vehicle

Shelby GLHS
1986 Shelby GLH-S on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum
Overview
Manufacturer	Talbot Shelby American
Production	1986–1987
Assembly	Belvidere, Illinois
Body and chassis
Class	Hot hatch
Body style	3-door hatchback (1987) 5-door hatchback (1986)
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	L-body
Related	Dodge Charger Dodge Omni Talbot Horizon Plymouth Turismo
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L Turbo I I4
Transmission	5-speed A525 manual

The Shelby GLH-S is a limited production series of sport compact automobiles from the mid-1980s based on the Dodge Omni and modified by Shelby American. Later the name would also be applied to a Shelby modified version of the Dodge Shelby Charger. The GLH-S models all used intercooled turbocharged 4-cylinder engines.

The 1986 Shelby Omni GLH-S was a modified Dodge Omni GLH, with changes made at the Shelby factory. They were retitled as Shelby Automobiles cars sold at select Dodge dealerships. GLH stood for "Goes Like Hell" and GLH-S stood for Goes Like Hell S'more.^[1]

Just 500 were made. Dash plaques using a three-digit serial numbering system were installed.

The Turbo I engine was modified with pre-production pieces from what would become the Turbo II inline-four engine. These changes included an intercooler, plus other changes to produce 175 hp (130 kW) at 5300 rpm and a flat 175 ft·lbf (237 N·m) torque curve. Not included were any of the durability changes to the short block (forged crank, full floating pin, stouter connecting rods, etc.) of the 1987 Chrysler Turbo II engine. Luckily, the Shelby engines have proved to be reliable even without the durability enhancements of the production Turbo II. The GLH-S had a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 6.5 seconds^[2] and a 14.8 second quarter mile (402 m) time. Top speed was 135 mph (217 km/h).

Shelby Automobiles received the first T-2 induction pieces (prior to Dodge/Chrysler), and installed them on the 500 GLH cars that shipped to the Whittier factory. Engine mods. included: New T-2 fuel rail, T-2 injectors, wiring harness, larger throttle body, bigger turbo, tuned intake & exhaust manifolds, intercooler/rad. & fan assemblies, induction hoses, T-2 airbox, GLH-S specific logic module, CS-Shelby-CS windshield decal, & tape graphics pkg. There was a Dodge emblem left on in production. A black/yellow overlay sticker was placed at the bottom of the speedometer to read to 135 mph. A Momo leather-wrapped shifter knob, Izumi leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shift pattern sticker were also installed. They also featured Shelby Centurion wheels, Koni Adjustable shocks/struts, and changes to the alignment. A Use Mobil 1 As Recommended in Shelby GLHS Owner's Manual plaque was affixed to the front of the standard production valve cover.

The primary differences between the Shelby engine and the Chrysler Turbo II engine are the torque: Shelby's unique engine computer shaved the torque to save the stock Omni transaxle, Chrysler Turbo II engines had 200 lb⋅ft (270 N⋅m) of torque; the trimetal bearings, forged crank and extra oil passages weren't present; and the wiring harness is a conglomeration of original Turbo I, with splicings for the heated oxygen sensor.

In SCCA Solo competition, it was never allowed a place in the stock categories because it failed to meet the required 1000 unit-a-year production quota. It also was significantly faster In the quarter mile than the Chevrolet Camaro with the 305 V8, Pontiac's Firebird/Trans Am with the 305 V8 and pre-1987 302 V8 Mustangs, and equal or slightly faster than the 1987–1993 V8 Ford Mustangs and Corvettes.

The 1987 Charger GLH-S was based on the 1987 Shelby Charger. Shelby Automobiles purchased the last 1,000 Chargers built and they were shipped to the Whittier factory for modification. Shelby modified the Charger using the same pieces as the 1986 GLH-S, with some changes. The differences include a non-EGR turbo, Shelby valve cover, wider Shelby windshield decal (no CS logos), different and more extensive tape graphics package, no reference to Dodge on the outer body, black/white speedo overlay, a four-digit serial numbering system on the dash plaque, wider Mobil 1 plaque installed on the radiator support, and Shelby Centurion II wheels.

One of the most popular performance upgrades for both of these vehicles is the MOPAR Performance Stage II Computer (Logic Module). This increased the boost to 14.7 psi under wide-open throttle, and output was raised to a claimed 205 hp and 246 lb⋅ft (334 N⋅m) of torque. Another popular mod was the "super 60 kit", which was named so because at full output the fuel pump as part of this kit could pump 60 gallons per hour. It included a computer, fuel pump, injectors, turbocharger and camshaft. The fuel injectors were highly sought after by not only GLH-S and later on SRT4 owners, but for Corvette, Camaro and Mustang owners because they were far better than anything that was offered on the market and were a direct fit.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shelby GLH-S.

• Shelby registry