So, you have a supercharged Mustang. It makes the most power in town, right? It puts chassis dynos in tears and sends movie-mimicking imports scurrying away like cockroaches. It's the baddest machine around, but.... There always seems to be a "but." Such as, if you want to let someone else drive the car, you might have to provide him with an instruction sheet. You know, let it warm up before you start driving, give it a little gas at the stoplight if you want to run the air, and-oh yeah, whatever you do-don't get stuck in traffic 'cause it might overheat.
Admit it. Unless you have a tuner on retainer, your elaborate power combinations don't always drive like a new car. Most of us can deal with that from a weekend rumbler, but suppose you want to drive your big-power car every day and not break out into a cold sweat if you have to take it to the dealership for service. Short of buying an '03 Cobra, you might think having your cake and eating it too might be out of reach for anything past a mild combination.
Fortunately, that's not true.If you've been a loyal 5.0&SF reader, you've probably seen our article about Steeda Autosports' SEMA/Ford Technology Transfer program and the resulting fuel-system and computer package designed to deliver factory-style driveability and reliability with aftermarket horsepower levels ("Dual-Pump Dex-terity," Dec. '02, p. 103). You probably also know Steeda builds a few new specialty Mustangs each year featuring its parts installed systematically. These cars are for those who want all the performance and unique looks of aftermarket gear on their Mustangs without turning their own wrenches. Through the years, I've driven everything from top-of-the-line blown GTs to bolt-on V-6s coming out of the Steeda stable. They've all been balanced, fun cars.
What do you get when you combine Steeda's new Tech Transfer package with a catalog full of other performance parts, and a penchant for making those all work on a new Mustang? The resounding answer is Steeda's new top-of-the-line tuner rocket, the Q400. The Q is taken from a Q-ship (a disguised military ship used to lure enemy subs out into the open) and the 400 is taken off the chassis dyno. The result-not taking into account the performance giveaways: Steeda markings, splitter, and wing-is a street sleeper packing 400 supercharged horsepower at the rear wheels and a CARB exemption sticker on its EEC V processor.
Sounds like a great concept, right? It is-especially when experienced firsthand. As I walked up to the Q400, it reminded me of many New Edge Steedas I had seen before. The familiar front splitter, race wing, and Sidewinder graphics package leave no doubt this horse spent time on Steeda's thriving Pompano Beach, Florida, campus. But one look under the hood and I knew something was up. This is the first production Steeda I've seen fitted with a Paxton Novi 2000 supercharger, and certainly the first centrifugally supercharged New Edge Mustang I'd seen run with the stock EEC V and no piggyback chip.
When the Steeda crew took the car for a spin on the Dynojet to show me the goods, let's just say it was well over 400 hp to the tires. In addition to the supercharger, this example of the Q400 breed had every available option, including such power enhancers as a Bullitt intake manifold and a Steeda stainless after-cat exhaust system. So it's not quite stock, but with three bolt-on parts and Steeda's tuning, the car was cranking out more than 400 hp. Try that with your dad's nearly stock 5.0.