Ah, the S550. The platform that dragged a whole new crowd of enthusiasts into the Mustang world. Still the Coyote underneath, but the new body and that independent rear suspension made it a completely different ballgame, and we were ready for it.
You would think that being a newer car we would have piles of documentation and photos. In reality we did not have this one very long. We made quick work of modding it, testing it, and then selling it to fund the next project. Here is what we have.
The Car and the Wrap
We wanted the car to stand out, so we had it wrapped in an iridescent matte blue by our buddies over at Kauffs. It came out fantastic. Then we stopped admiring it and started taking it apart.
Stage 1: Bolt-Ons, 408rwhp
First on the list was the usual honest starting point: a Lund Racing custom tune, a JLT cold air intake (colour matched to the wrap, naturally), and our own Lethal Performance Resonator Delete kit. We also hung a Magnaflow cat-back on it, which does not really make horsepower but makes the horsepower it already had sound considerably better.
Here is how it sounded:
And the numbers? Tune, intake and exhaust put it at 408rwhp and 389rwtq.
Stage 2: A 150 Shot, 542rwhp
We had messed around with nitrous on a couple of previous cars, the 2013 GT500 and the 2012 Boss 302 among them, so we kept the trend going while we waited on Whipple to finish their supercharger for the S550.
On went a Nitrous Express plate system jetted to a 150 shot, a set of Brisk spark plugs, and a JMS progressive nitrous controller to manage how much gets sprayed and how quickly. With the 150 on it the car made 542rwhp and 589rwtq.
Stage 3: Whipple, 805rwhp
After we had our fun with the giggle gas, Whipple got us their supercharger kit for the 15+ GT and we went to work. Well, Power By The Hour went to work.
The blower went on alongside a JMS FuelMax pump booster, Injector Dynamics ID1000 injectors, a full American Racing Headers exhaust and more.
With that setup, on MS109 race fuel, the car made 805rwhp and 618rwtq at 14psi. Not too shabby.
| Stage | Setup | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt-ons | Tune, intake, resonator delete, cat-back | 408rwhp | 389rwtq |
| Nitrous | Above plus a 150 shot | 542rwhp | 589rwtq |
| Supercharged | Whipple at 14psi, MS109, full supporting mods | 805rwhp | 618rwtq |
The Full Mod List
- Whipple supercharger with upgraded throttle body
- JMS FuelMax fuel pump voltage booster
- Injector Dynamics ID1000 injectors
- American Racing Headers full exhaust
- McLeod RXT twin disc clutch kit
- Barton short throw shifter
- Driveshaft Shop 1400hp halfshafts
- Driveshaft Shop aluminum driveshaft
- Racestar Darkstar wheels wrapped in M&H drag radials
- Vi-King Crusader shocks
- Lund Racing custom tune
- MS109 fuel
Build It Yourself
Intercooled
Stage 2 also available
Pump gas or E85
Excellent tuning data
Long tubes and X-pipe
Off-road, no cats
Twin disc with street manners
Holds serious torque
Over-600hp drag valving
Basically the only suspension change we made
The exact combination we ran
Sold as a package
We ran a 150 shot
Also available without a bottle
At the Track: 9.7 @ 150
We took the car out multiple times, adjusting tuning between passes to chip away at the number. It started at 10.33 at 134mph with a 1.55 sixty-foot. At its best, Jeremy clicked off a 9.70 at 150mph with a 1.47 sixty-foot.
| Pass | ET | MPH | 60ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| First outing | 10.33 | 134 | 1.55 |
| Best | 9.70 | 150 | 1.47 |
The car was then sold to make room for the next project, our 2016 Shelby GT350.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much power did the 2015 GT make on bolt-ons alone?
408rwhp and 389rwtq with a Lund Racing tune, a JLT cold air intake, our resonator delete kit and a Magnaflow cat-back.
What did the nitrous add?
A 150 shot on a Nitrous Express plate system took it from 408rwhp to 542rwhp, with torque jumping to 589rwtq.
What did the supercharged setup make?
805rwhp and 618rwtq at 14psi on MS109 fuel, with the Whipple kit, JMS FuelMax booster, ID1000 injectors and full American Racing Headers exhaust.
What did the car run in the quarter mile?
Best was a 9.70 at 150mph with a 1.47 sixty-foot. It started at 10.33 at 134mph with a 1.55 short time.
Was the suspension modified for those times?
No. Stock suspension throughout, with the sole exception of Vi-King shocks. That is the headline of this whole build: a 1.47 sixty-foot on factory IRS control arms and bushings.
Who did the supercharger install and the tuning?
Power By The Hour handled the Whipple install. Lund Racing tuned every stage of the car.
Can I still buy this supercharger kit?
Whipple has moved on to a newer generation of the kit for the 2015-2017 GT. Same platform, updated hardware. It is linked above.
More From Our Builds
Building something similar? Call 877-2-LETHAL or email us. We have done this one.
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805rwhp Is Closer Than You Think
Same blower, same injectors, same clutch, same wheels. We ran every part on this list on our own car.
