It's officially not stock anymore. Anderson Ford Mercury tech Jason Polen removes the stock airbox. Before you do this, you need to pop the fuel-pump fuse, release the fuel pressure, and unbolt the factory strut-tower brace. Fortunately, Ford Racing's Superpack includes an new cold-air intake kit with a 113mm mass air housing. Our previous flowbench testing ("Top to Bottom," Nov. '07, p. 124) shows the stock air only flows a meager 826 cfm, which obviously stands in the way of making more power-especially when you're stepping up the boost.
It's a good thing that I've driven plenty of stock GT 500s, and I know they feel great in stock form-the stock blower only lasted for 20 or so miles, most of them on the dyno. At least it saw full boost before it went on the shelf. The stock supercharger actually bridges the gap from the familiar Eaton Roots blower to the more advanced Twin Vortices Series unit we're upgrading to. The stocker is dubbed the M122H, with H representing Hybrid-not the battery-powered variety, but a combination of the new rotors and the old rotor spacing. You can learn more about the stock blower on our Web site at www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0606w_2007_shelby_gt500_test_drive/my_way.html.
The M122H displaces approximately 1.99 liters, so the 2.3-liter TVS is not only more efficient, it's larger too. Better yet, this unit is as direct a bolt-on as it gets. Simply disconnect a few hoses, wires, and the fuel rails; unbolt the stock blower; then you're ready to bolt the TVS in place. As easy as it is, Ford Racing includes a comprehensive installation manual full of illustrations and specifications. If you want to stick with the warranty program, you must have the blower installed at the dealer by a trained tech. For more on the warranty, check out www.fordracingparts.com/announcements/news47.asp.
With the blower and associated hardware out of the way, it is the perfect time for Jason to swap out the stock wrinkle-finish cam covers for a set of Ford Racing's smoked-chrome covers. We also added the chrome Ford Racing coil pack covers. We can't show you photos as the covers showed up a couple days later. The chrome covers really wake up the sleepy engine compartment, and along with the new blower, announce that this GT 500 is no longer stock.
Jason is getting close. Here the TVS is completely installed, with the factory throttle and inlet bolting right on to the new blower. This is a straightforward swap and the FRPP instructions are excellent, so don't be afraid to try it at home if you're not a warranty worrier. If it wasn't for the Ford Racing tag on the blower, you'd think this thing was factory. It looks right at home and easily clears the factory strut brace.
The last step is to assemble and install the FRPP open-element cold-air intake system. Be sure to keep the factory airbox nearby, because you must first swap the mass air element into the FRPP mass air housing. This is also a simple install. The heat shield bolts to the chassis, while the new mass air housing/filter bolts to the heat shield and attaches to the factory rubber clean-air tube. Again, it's an elegant, factory-style design that doesn't look out of place underhood.