This S'd intake tubing will...
This S'd intake tubing will change in production kits to a plastic tube and likely a new air box with an enclosed filter. The tight 90 degree turn into the supercharger will remain however, and we forecast tuners will spend some time optimizing that area before too long.
While this story documents the Vortech V1/V2 installation, and since the Vortech V1/V2 superchargers interchange with the Paxton 1200 blowers from a bracket and installation standpoint, installation will be identical for the Paxton 1200 blowers as well.
Fitting widgets to the all-new '05 Mustang is the aftermarket's all-consuming passion these days. Mustang sales keep many an aftermarket company in business, and when your number-one seller is redesigned, there's little time to waste in making sure your gizmos fit the new chariot.
On the passenger side, the...
On the passenger side, the upper radiator hose is modified with a sharp dip to clear the charge cooler. This dip is not necessary with non-charge-cooled kits and the radiator hose is left stock.
And that's why we were at Vortech's expansive Camarillo, California, digs to see them beavering away on a prototype V2 supercharger installation on a new '05 Mustang GT. During our visit, the hardware installation was being finalized, but the electronic tuning was still underway, so we don't have horsepower numbers for you. We have no worries, however, the new blower and Three-Valve engine will conspire to make thrilling horsepower.
Vortech's '05 Mustang kit offers few surprises. The quiet, helical-geared V2 S-Trim blower is the primary street supercharger (the boisterous V1 is still available), with the same oiling, and boost output of current kits. That would be seven, maybe eight pounds of boost on standard, non-charge-cooled kits, and about 10 pounds of boost on the charge-cooled high output kits. The reverse-rotation supercharger sits on the driver side, pulley-side facing the engine and shares the six-rib serpentine belt with the other engine accessories. Ford left a fair amount of room between the engine and radiator on the new Mustang, so working room is acceptable.
Several hoses are added or...
Several hoses are added or modified on the driver side to move the stock '05 Mustang's remote-mounted thermostat housing further outboard. That's necessary to clear the supercharger itself.
Placing the air filter was something Vortech was working on during our visit. There is no room in the inner fender to vertically mount a conical air filter, so it has to go in the engine compartment. Furthermore, the new Mustang has a surprisingly small hole in the inner fender for drawing cool air, so that is something the aftermarket will no doubt want to improve. Vortech was thinking there might be a way to use the lower portion of the stock air filter box, but conceded the cost of an all-new container is almost a given. For the prototype, a simple, open-element cone filter breathing underhood air-but next to the stock inner fender cool air feed hole-was used. Expect molded plastic inlet tubes and under-hood air filter mounts on production kits.
One thing to be happy about is there is no need to relocate the alternator, air conditioning, or other front-engine-dress accessories. The A/C lines need not be opened. The radiator expansion tank must be replaced, and the power steering pump reservoir moves aside, but that's it for moving accessories.
Mangled by an air chisel during...
Mangled by an air chisel during removal, this coolant bypass hose nipple is discarded and its hole in the "water bridge," between the two cylinder heads, is plugged. The upper intake must be removed to access the water bridge for removal. Vortech is afraid that muscling the nipple out with the bridge in place will over-stress the bridge's puny mounting bolts, resulting in an ugly broken-bolt-removal job. Note also the new water neck used to mate with the relocated radiator hose.
The familiar Vortech T is...
The familiar Vortech T is fitted at the oil filter to provide an oil supply to the supercharger. A braided-steel hose runs from the fitting to the blower; the oil cooler is mounted at a different angle via the Vortech-supplied mounting plate.
As with all Vortech installations,...
As with all Vortech installations, the oil pan is punched open and this fitting installed to form an oil drain back from the supercharger. It's the same drainback as used on countless earlier Mustang kits.