VAEM

Ford Racing Mustang Supercharger System

The Kits

Ford Racing’s engineers worked in close collaboration with Ford powertrain engineers in the development of their 2.3L twin-screw supercharger for the 2011 Mustang. This supercharger system comes as a complete package in three variations: a 525 horsepower kit that carries a full 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty (when installed by a Ford or Mercury dealer technician), an upgraded 624 HP kit, and a tuner kit for racing and high-horsepower enthusiast applications. “We went at some the design of this system with the mentality of an OE installation, and so we feel our kit is a little more thought out, and the hardware is designed to give a long life for the engine and the user,” said Ford Racing’s Jesse Kershaw.

525 HP – Features the 2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly, intake manifold, complete air-to-liquid intercooler system, injectors, Ford racing ProCal calibrated tuning tool, drive belt, and 12 month/12,000 mile warranty.

624 HP – Includes all of the same components and hardware as the 525 HP base kit, but lacks the Ford 12/12 warranty.

*Note: Both the 525 HP and 624 HP Mustang Supercharger Systems fit only manual transmission-equipped 2011 Mustang GT’s.

Tuner Kit – Uses most of the primary under-hood components of the 525 and 624 HP kits, but lacks the Ford Racing ProCal tuning tool, supercharger pulley, injectors, and the Ford 12/12 warranty.

Installation Notes

Before installing the Mustang Supercharger Kit, Ford Racing requires product registration in order to receive the ProCal II flash tool for recalibration of the PCM. With this kit, consumers have the option of a do-it-yourself or dealership install. Installation requires the removal of re-gapping of factory spark plugs, and necessitates only the use of standard hand tools, tape, and soldering equipment. Ford Racing has provided the complete instruction manual in PDF form on their website.

Horsepower Claims

The base kit produces 525 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 470 ft-lbs of torque at 4,200 RPM at 7 pounds of boost on 91 octane, while the upgraded system delivers 624 horsepower at 6,900 RPM and 536 ft-lbs of torque at 4,700 RPM on 9 pounds of boost with 93 octane fuel.

Pricing

525 HP System: $7,199 (black); Polished chrome: $7,779
624 HP System: $7,499 (black); Polished chrome: $8,099
Tuner Kit: $6,499 (black); Polished chrome: $7,099

Fuel/CARB Requirements

Both the 525 and 624 horsepower kits are fully CARB certified and 50-state legal, and require the use of 91 octane fuel minimum.

Real World Testing

NMRA Race Pages Editor Jason Reiss got some hands-on experience with the Whipple-supercharged Ford Racing 2011 Mustang, which he detailed in a Race Pages Blog earlier this fall. Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords’ Amsoil 5.0L project car, unveiled at this years’ SEMA Show, sports the base Ford Racing supercharger system and while no dyno numbers have been released, is estimated to produce over 500 horsepower to the crank.

Vortech And Paxton Make A Formidable 5.0L Duo

The Kits

Vortech Superchargers, along with their Paxton brand, bring a stellar one-two punch to the new Mustang GT, with supercharger systems available that utilize popular and proven centrifugal units and come as complete, ready-to-install kits or in tuner form. “Out approach on these kits, moreso the Vortech, was to package the system for the simplest installation possible while maintaining the factory look and allowing for the OEM to be integrated into the system for emissions purposes,” said Vortech’s Engineering Manager Mike Reagan.

Vortech – The standard Vortech high-output system features the V-3 Si-Trim compressor with an air-to-air charge intercooler, complete air inlet assembly, replacement injectors, an SCT hand-held ECU programmer, intercooler, and all the required components and hardware that make this a complete kit. This kit comes with the option of a 20th Anniversary Edition black (limited production) or polished finish.

Vortech also offers the same kit in the tuner variety, coming without the fuel pump, fuel injectors or ECU programmer or any form of ECU recalibration, leaving that to the end-user. Tuner kits are available with the V-1 T-Trim unit for even greater power levels when mated to modified engines.

Paxton – The upcoming Paxton Mustang GT system will utilize the NOVI 2200 compressor and is designed for serious racing and street-strip applications with built engines and is capable of producing upwards of 1,000 horsepower with the same supercharger. Once finalized, the components that will comprise the Paxton system will be very similar to that found in the Vortech package.

The Paxton system is also available as tuner kit, minus the fuel management and tuner/programming.

Installation Notes

Approximate time for installation is 7-9 hours and requires standard hand/power tools and equipment. The base Vortech kit is designed for use on stock, OEM 5.0L Mustangs with a stock PCM and requires only general automotive mechanic knowledge and experience to complete the install.

Horsepower Claims

The base Vortech system with the V-3 Si-Trim compressor outputs roughly 600 horsepower at the flywheel on 7-8 pounds of boost, while the V-1 T-Trim in the Tuner kit is capable of a stout 825 horsepower at the flywheel.

The Paxton system meanwhile will produce in the neighborhood of 620 horsepower at the flywheel out of the box, with power numbers up to four figures attainable with the very same NOVI 2200 unit.

Pricing

Vortech complete system: $5,995; Tuner Kit: $4,995
Paxton complete system: $5,620 (satin finish), $5,995 (polished finish);
Tuner kit: $4,695 (satin finish), $4,995 (polished finish)

Fuel/CARB Requirements

Both systems feature a molded air intake tube that mates to the OEM airbox. This retains the carbon trap, making them capable of being 50-state smog legal and CARB certified, though Vortech/Paxton is currently seeking certification. The minimum fuel requirement is 91 octane.

Real World Testing

Terry “Beefcake” Reeves’ automatic GT utilizes the Vortech V3-Si Trim superchcharger kit, along with Stainless Works 1-7/8″ headers and a custom Jon Lund tune on 93 octane to belt out 528 RWHP and 448 ft-lbs of torque at just under 9 pounds of boost. Reeves recently drove the car four hours to the NMRA Finals and captured the Super Stang crown, running a 10.81 best elapsed time. For more information, including dyno videos, visit the Vortech blog.

Justin Burcham and the JPC Performance crew have pushed their 2011 Mustang to the extreme in pursuit of becoming the quickest 2011 in the country, knocking out over 800 horsepower to the tires with the Paxton Novi 2200 head unit and system. Read more on Paxton’s blog here and here.

Vortech has recently put their in house project 2011 Mustang on the dyno. It features a standard Vortech kit with a 6 psi pulley. The only additional modification made to the Mustang was a Borla catback exhaust. The kit produced a respectable 577 RWHP and 442 lb/ft to the rear tires on a DynoJet.

Fastlane Brings Turbo Expertise to the 5.0L

The Kit

Fastlane Inc. has taken their expertise in turbocharging to the new Mustang and Coyote engine in developing a complete, customizable single turbo system. At this time, Fastlane is only offering the system as an install at their facility in Houston, Texas, but hope to make the kit available as a complete, do-it-yourself package in the near future based on interest and demand from the market.

Fastlane’s system features a 72mm BorgWarner S400 Series turbocharger and a large air-to-air intercooler that all tucks away nicely under the hood. Their system is planned to include everything necessary to get up and running, including Tial wastegates and blow off valves, fuel injectors, and a PCM re-calibration/tune. Said Fastlane’s Nick Field, “This is the only top-mount turbo kit out there for the 5.0L, which provides the benefit of a turbo with the ultimate in efficiency along with an OEM-type install. It’s the right way to build a turbo kit, and we went a lot of trouble to package it under that hood.”

Installation Notes

Installation time is around 10-12 hours using standard tools, and the process does involve some minor welding to complete the reconfiguration of the headers. Due to computer-related issues, the OEM automatic transmission is the only automatic that will work properly with the use of this turbo system at this time.

Horsepower Claims

On an otherwise stock motor, the 72mm system produces 672 horsepower at the crank on 6 pounds of boost, and with a built motor has churned out over 750 at the wheels on 14 pounds of boost.

Pricing

$8,995

Fuel/CARB Requirements

Because the factory airbox has to be removed to make way for the turbocharger setup, this kit lacks CARB certification but is otherwise 49-state legal. Fastlane tunes everything at their shop for 93 octane and recommends the same for end users.

Real World Testing

Fastlane has installed their 72mm turbocharger kit on an in-house GT, producing 672 horsepower at the wheels on the stock engine with 6 pounds of boost and over 750 on a motor with upgraded internals on 14 pounds. This car, which was on display in the SCT booth at this years SEMA Show, has run well into the 10’s in the quarter mile.

The 2011 Gets RoushCharged

The Kit

Roush and the Ford Mustang go hand-in-hand, and it’s only fitting they bring their RoushCharger system to the new 5.0L model. Largely a carryover from the 2010 package in terms of hardware, the new Roush supercharger system for the 2011-2012 GT utilizes an Eaton-based TVSR-2300 roots-style RoushCharger and features a high flow fuel rail, 47 lb/hr fuel injectors, an aluminum fabricated throttle spacer, heavy-duty dedicated first sheave FEAD (front end accessory drive) system, a 90mm pulley, twin 60mm throttle body, and all the necessary wiring, PCV, and vacuum systems that make it a complete kit. As well, it incorporates a high efficiency, full face air-to-water intercooler with a large degas bottle like that found in the 2010 kit.

“Everything that we produce is designed to OEM specifications or better in terms of functionality, quality, installation, and appearance. When you open up the hood, we want our owners to be the thrilled with the end product and have it look like it rolled off the Ford assembly line,” states John Clark. Roush presently has available a tuner kit that lacks calibration software and the full powertrain warranty, offering users the freedom to push the envelope with a custom combination. The complete system is slated to hit the market in the very near future and comes with Roush’s 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty.

Installation notes

For anyone familiar with Roush supercharger installs, there will be little in the way of surprises with this one. The stock induction and intake system have to be removed and replaced with the Roush fuel charging assembly and FEAD, and some basic installation/modification of wiring is required.

Installation is estimated at around 12-14 hours and requires no specialized tooling.

Horsepower Claims

At 10 pounds of boost, the RoushCharger produces 525 rear wheel horsepower at 6,700 RPM and 465 ft-lbs of torque at 4,700 RPM.

Pricing

Complete System: $6,099
Tuner kit: $5,899

Fuel/CARB Requirements

All Roush calibrated versions of this kit are pending EO certification and require the use of premium 91 octane.

Real World Testing

John Starkey and wife Rebecca of VMP Tuning in Florida have outfitted their automatic-equipped GT with a RoushCharger tuner kit coupled with a smaller pulley and custom calibration to produce over 550 horsepower at the wheels. Together with some minor modifications including aftermarket exhaust, lower controls arms, and drag radials — the Mustang blasted out a best of 10.61 at 130 MPH at the NMRA Finals in Bowling Green.

To read more on the VMP Mustang, visit the project car page here.

As you can see, despite the aftermarket manufacturers have already jumped all over the new Mustang in unison with the buying public, ample options for impressive gains in bolt-on horsepower. Among our guide are no less than 15 different kits from 8 industry-renowned manufacturers – some of which entail multiple upgrade options of their own – for a sizeable selection of both the turbocharger and supercharger variety. And like buying underwear, there really is no right or wrong choice. Each system brings to the table its own unique design from a functionality, appearance, and installation standpoint, meaning the decision comes down to what best fits your needs and of course, your budget.

SNAKEBITE

Nice read and dollar for dollar I would pick the 624hp kit.

1low03gt

/\/\I agree!!/\/\