D'Agostino Racing's fuel upgrade kit essentials include a pair of Ford GT pumps, larger 3/8-inch plumbing, and the software and hardware required to support those parts. The kit was developed mainly by Kenne Bell to support all-out Mammoth efforts, but it's only sold through D'Agostino Racing[954)583-884;www.dagostinoracing.com].
Above the mid-500-rwhp mark, KB uses race gas. The Mammoth kit was developed using MS109 gasoline, with the highest boost levels augmented by a couple of gallons of 116 octane C16 race gas. Admittedly these octanes are overkill, but it's definitely the smart way to go when doing development work. Some KB customers report getting away with nail-biting stunts such as 650 rwhp on 94 octane, but we and KB can only caution that this is begging to pay for a new long-block. A safer octane strategy is to limit boost to 17 pounds or less on 93/94 octane. That will net 600 rwhp.
Getting back to the hardware, for power outputs in excess of 700 rwhp, the Mustang Cobra's fuel system needs considerably more help than a Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump. See the Fuel System Upgrade sidebar for details.
Don't Get Stepped On
In the '60s, the Chrysler Hemi was known as the Elephant, and the saying was "Don't get stepped on." While mammoths and elephants are different animals, today Kenne Bell could redirect the same thoughts of over-powering thrust to its Mammoth Terminator kit.
Besides the obviously stupendous thrust of its 700hp potential, the Mammoth prototype kit we briefly sampled on the side streets around Kenne Bell's shop drove nicely and would easily serve as a daily driver. The installation was set at a 91-octane tune with 3.500-inch blower and 6.5-inch crank pulleys (565 rwhp) during our drive, so it was breathing easily. The torque-bulging power was immediate and abundant. Blower whine was muted through the long intake snorkel at full throttle, but it was still there to be enjoyed when hammering away and nonexistent at plunking around speeds. Much more power would only result in wheelspin, as we found with the 800-rwhp tune on Kenne Bell's all-out GT 500 months ago. Lazy as we are in our old age, even the street tune was impressive.
So, it boils down to if you can use the extra power the Mammoth kit delivers. For purely street-driven Cobras, we say not really. The standard kit roasts the tires hard and is even more or equally efficient at low to mid rpm. Moving to the Mammoth gives an incremental bump in power with pump gasoline, be it either West Coast 91-octane or 93/94-octane East Coast fare. With the standard kit putting out 525 rwhp on 91 octane and the Mammoth delivering 40 rwhp more on the same fuel thanks to its more-efficient-at-higher-boost blower, it's tough to justify the additional $2,300 cost if sticking with a typical 15 pounds of boost and pump gas combination. That's why Kenne Bell offers both kits.
When moving on to race gasoline and smaller pulleys, the Mammoth is a no-excuses winner. The power goes up a staggering 101-plus rwhp over the standard kit-about 220 hp over stock-so that's definitely worth the price of entry. Plus, everyone becomes power jaded, so starting with a Mammoth in street tune and eventually moving to the track is a good way of prolonging a Cobra love affair.
As its typical engine-dyno pratice, Kenne Bell employs a sophisticated, expensive air/fuel monitor for independent verification of what's really going on in the cylinders. It's one of many ways KB keeps a tight grip on te electronics, mechanicals, and even the business side of its supercharging efforts.
Ultimately, teaming a Mammoth with a cammed and ported Terminator engine seems a standout idea. The resulting power would be terrifying, and for those thinking big, a combination of a built Terminator, Mammoth blower, and fuel system upgrade kit has 1,000 hp written all over it. That's mad power built mainly from kits.
If you're ready for the Mammoth, Kenne Bell has them in stock now. Pricing is $5,750 with a satin finish, as seen in our photos, or $6,400 for a polished blower. Tuning is optional-at this level, most owners have custom tuning done locally. However, Kenne Bell offers its tune for $249.
For comparison, the standard KB kit for '03-'04 Cobras uses the smaller 2.6H compressor and is $3,349. It too is supplied without tuning, so add $249 for the KB tune. It's also recommended that the $249 Boost-A-Pump be used.
For either kit, a dual-tune Switch Chip is optional at $299, additional pulleys are available for $69, and the rapid-fire pulley-changing wrench costs $25.