The Three-Valve in Chris'...
The Three-Valve in Chris' GT is a returned-to-stock special. Chris gave supercharging a try shortly after buying the 'Stang, but was forced to remove the blower and reinstall stock pieces when the blower locked up.
Remember the days when nitrous oxide used to (unfairly, in my opinion) get a bad rap as being the almighty destructor of 5.0-liter Mustang engines? Thankfully, things are a lot different (and better) now with regard to nitrous oxide kits for late-model Ponies. Read on and see one of the reasons.
When it comes to discussing power adders for late-model Mustangs, it seems like most of today's talk is centered around superchargers or turbochargers-especially for the latest additions to Ford's Pony Corral, '05-'10s. Seldom do we hear 'Stangbangers sing high praises about nitrous oxide. It doesn't matter whether cats are bench racing at the shop, at the track, or on the Internet, bold statements of wicked performance and questions about achieving impressive horsepower and torque gains usually include some mention of boost.
Even though there's a Tyrannosaurus...
Even though there's a Tyrannosaurus Rex on the Ny-Trex box, there's nothing prehistoric about this all-new nitrous system. We journeyed to Phoenix, Arizona, for the install and test on Chris Ciolek's '06 Mustang GT, which Chris personally handled at AMP Performance.
While blowers and turbos are cool in the grand scheme of things, as longtime enthusiasts we recall the days when nitrous systems were the only over-the-counter controlled substance that was available for supernaturally enhancing a Pony. As such, we think it's crucial to also keep juice in the minds of 'Stang owners with newer cars, especially when a company puts a new spin on the manner in which it is delivered. After all, oxide still leads all adders as far as extreme overall value is concerned.
Ny-Trex, a division of Design Engineering Incorporated-the folks who market the CryO2 brand of air-charge chillers-is one-such company that has given nitrous fresh breath, so to speak, with its new Triple-Threat wet system for '05-'10 Mustangs.
Ny-Trex makes installation...
Ny-Trex makes installation easy by including everything you'll need (except hand tools, a drill, and so on) for bolting a nitrous system on a Mustang, without leaving the friendly surroundings of your home garage or driveway.
You're probably asking, what could there possibly be that's "new" for a Mustang wet system, right? Well, we initially wondered the same thing, when Ny-Trex's president, Ken Brahier, contacted us to schedule a meeting and demonstration of his company's unique new unit. While we agreed to the visit, apprehension was somewhat high because, for all intents and purposes, "nitrous is nitrous" in our book when it comes to bolt-on wet kits for street/strip 'Stangs.
Breaking it down purely from a components standpoint, basic nitrous wet systems all usually include 10- or 15-pound tanks, bottle brackets, braided line for nitrous and fuel flow, electrical gear, a nozzle, and, again, like other entry-level setups, solenoids. There usually are two (one for nitrous and one for fuel), and sometimes a third solenoid (that is used as purge valve). This is where the traditional systems and the all-new Triple-Threat nitrous unit from Ny-Trex (PN 110029: $1,126.05) differ.
This Triple-Threat, three-valve...
This Triple-Threat, three-valve solenoid apparatus is the heart-and-soul of the nitrous unit it's named after. With its Triple-Threat solenoid, Ny-Trex combines the system's Teflon-sealed nitrous, and Viton-sealed fuel and purge solenoids into a single billet body. The solenoid valves are made with Volt-Trap coils (that only draw 9 amps) for stronger, more-efficient power.
Ny-Trex has taken the all-in-one idea to the next level. Not only is every piece you can imagine you'll ever need for a nitrous install included in the box, the company also has completely revolutionized solenoid technology for nitrous systems. This is thanks to its sleek three-solenoid system (from which the unit gets its Triple-Threat moniker), which incorporates nitrous, fuel, and purge solenoids into one single component.
Yes, it does sound a bit crazy, but the curiosity to see an all-inclusive solenoid structure in action resulted in the Ny-Trex Triple-Threat installation that is detailed in the following pages. The effort took us out to the Arizona desert for a visit with Tom Thompson and his team at AMP Performance in Phoenix. AMP's lead technician, Chris Ciolek, is the original owner of an '06 Mustang that was in need of a little more oomph. Believe it or not, it was still wanting for power after a brief and bad experience with increasing power with a supercharger; the blower failed, but thankfully did not cause any catastrophic engine damage.
With the Pony returned to its stock trim (with the exception of twin Shelby GT500 fuel pumps and an S&B CAI installed), we followed along as Chris went about installing this new nitrous kit on his steed, and, as we always do, evaluated the Triple-Threat's performance potential by putting the Mustang through its paces on the rollers of the Dynojet chassis dyno, once the pieces were in place.
Injection is handled by this...
Injection is handled by this T-Rex nitrous/fuel nozzle. The nozzle features a true-blend spray bowl that delivers nitrous at a 70-degree angle to the dead-middle of the throttle body. The T-Rex is stout enough to shoot a 300hp nitrous blast into a Pony's intake, provided the engine is strong enough to handle it.
After installing the T-Rex...
After installing the T-Rex nozzle (which requires drilling a 9/16-inch hole at the bottom of the plastic air-inlet tube, roughly 2 inches from the throttle body) in its two-piece adapter, Chris uses a flashlight to look inside the inlet tube and verify that the nozzle's spray pattern will be directed toward the throttle body when the tube is reinstalled.
The Triple-Threat solenoid...
The Triple-Threat solenoid unit is pre-drilled with holes to allow securing the mounting brackets in four different positions. When installing the assembly, it's important to pay attention to the "IN" and "OUT" fittings for nitrous and fuel. Chris chose to affix the solenoids' bracket to the fuse-box support on the passenger side of the engine compartment.
Fuel for this wet system is...
Fuel for this wet system is provided by an S197's OEM fuel rail. Ny-Trex includes a fuel-rail adapter that mounts between the driver-side rail and the factory fuel-pressure sensor, using longer fasteners that are supplied in the kit.
Due to the location Chris...
Due to the location Chris selected for mounting the solenoids assembly, a longer fuel-feed line was required. After measuring the distance between the fuel-rail adapter and the fuel "IN" port on the side of the solenoid block (approximately 37 inches), PSCA Limited Street racer Parrish Williams stopped by the shop and helped us out big time by whipping up a new braided line in the length we needed.
Because of the single location...
Because of the single location for all three solenoids, a stealth installation is easy. Chris uses basic wire loom to cover the fuel- and nitrous-feed lines that run into the solenoids assembly, which will make them pretty difficult to detect when people are "checking for nitrous" when the 'Stang's hood is up.