Horse Sense: The '10 Mustang really does put out sweet power straight from Ford. As a comparison, our vintage, lightly modified '91 5.0 hatchback that we drove to the GTR dyno tests makes less power at its peak than Noel's stock '10 GT does at 3,800 rpm. If we could only get several hundred pounds off of the new cars, we'd have crazy performance and fuel mileage, too.
Mustangs and bolt-ons are...
Mustangs and bolt-ons are such a natural fit.
Remember when a box full of bolt-ons was worth 45 hp? Not any more. Thanks to excellent-from-Ford cars such as the '10 Mustang GT, we live in the twilight of bolt-on glory, a transitional age when a few select parts struggle for modest gains or high-dollar superchargers blast out triple-digit thunder. In this feast-or-famine world, the current Mustang GT stands as perhaps the last of the bolt-on cars.
Good as it is from Ford-and it is great-a few modestly priced, easy-to-install parts still make it fun to fiddle with a new Mustang. We're taking a few of those bolt-on power makers to the chassis dyno to see what they're worth. Our partner in this test was GTR, the Southern California speed shop, bolt-on center, and mail-order player. Owners Ricardo and Gonzolo Topete are pure Mustang specialists-we counted some 15-odd Mustangs in the shop during our visit-and are right in the thick of the bolt-on (and better) Mustang scene.
Looking sharp in stainless...
Looking sharp in stainless steel, Steeda's muffler kit surprised us with a useful 5hp gain. We weren't expecting anything from mufflers on an otherwise-stock Mustang GT, but we'll take the extra power!
Ricardo Topete holds court in the GTR service bays, using his above-ground Dynojet to tune and verify Mustangs on a daily basis. He was kind enough to round-up the Steeda mufflers, underdrive pulleys, and C&L cold air kit we're looking at here. He also did all the leg work with '10 Mustang GT owner Noel Donato, who gets special thanks for bringing his car in to GTR for us.
So how much is a box full of bolt-ons worth these days? When Ricardo first strapped Noel's '10 GT to the rollers, it peaked at 279 hp at 5,400 rpm and 299 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. After installation of all three pieces, the new grand total was 298 hp at 6,000 rpm and 309 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. That's 19 hp and 10 lb-ft of torque to the better. Not a 45hp gain, but a solid improvement over stock, and a boost in sonic personality from the mufflers and intake.
At $199, these were the least...
At $199, these were the least expensive bolt-on in our examination, and their 8hp gain proved the largest as well, so call the Steeda underdrive pulleys a success. The harmonic damper is well-marked for ignition timing checks, too.
C&L's molded plastic intake...
C&L's molded plastic intake picks up minimal engine heat in the bargain. With the Predator, the C&L cold-air kit retails for $699; we saw an 8hp gain from it.
Muffler installation on the...
Muffler installation on the '10 is just like the '09 and earlier S197 cars-easy. The muffler/tailpipe assembly suspends by two rubber hangers plus the muffler clamp. The trick is reaching the 13mm bolt head on the clamp; Ricardo says a ratcheting, boxed-end wrench is a must-have for this job.
Like all S197 mufflers, the...
Like all S197 mufflers, the Steeda parts required juggling and nudging to fit just right. Expect to eyeball the tailpipes relative to the rear fascia, then go under the car and lightly persuade the mufflers to hang one way or the other. Often it's necessary to loosen the exhaust at the H-pipe, as seen here, and slide one pipe fore or aft slightly to get the tailpipes even.
Accessing the harmonic damper...
Accessing the harmonic damper for the pulley change means moving a few things around the radiator. The coolant tank is the first item to go. Just unbolt it and lift it out of the way. There is no need to drain coolant.
Remove just a couple of bolts,...
Remove just a couple of bolts, and the fan electrical connection and the cooling fan lifts out of the way. With it gone, a ton of room is available to work on the water pump pulley and harmonic damper.