The new '05 Mustang has taken the automotive world by storm. In car-oriented circles, the '05 is a hit, and Ford is in the company of one when it comes to offering a modern, American designed and built, V-8-powered ponycar-a class the Mustang invented in 1964.
As the lowest-priced 300hp new car on the market today, the buzz for the '05 goes beyond the core group of Mustang enthusiasts. In fact, you can bet the '05 will likely bring many more new buffs into the fold, people who didn't consider themselves Mustang fans before this car was introduced.
Many of us Mustang devotees feel that late-model Mustangs and supercharging go hand-in-hand, mainly because the two- and four-valve 4.6L V-8s in the pre-'05 cars respond so well to forced induction-a fact not lost on Vortech Engineering. The company got its hands on a three-valve '05 Mustang GT as soon as it could begin development of a supercharger system for the new car.
That car, the Windveil Blue Mustang GT you see here, is the first '05 to get the supercharger and ancillary components that go along with it. Using as the foundation one of the most popular-size blowers Vortech makes-the V-2 SQ S-trim-the package has essentially the same content as the systems that fit '03-'04 GTs and Mach 1s. The main difference is the inclusion of a DiabloSport Predator handheld programmer.
A popular way to go for many dyno-tuning shops when tweaking supercharged '03-'04 Mustang Cobras, the Predator reflashes the '05's Motorola-made Spanish Oak processor (which replaces the not nearly as powerful EEC V) so the car can be tuned to run with the blower. The Predator allows Vortech (or a subsequent tuner) to modify the car's factory programming to add more fuel, remove timing, and check and clear diagnostic codes. While this is a simplified way to describe what the Predator will do and what has to be done to make the '05 Mustang run with the blower, the bottom line is, getting these cars to operate correctly in supercharged form will be entirely possible. Furthermore, though not related to blower tuning, you can adjust the Predator for gear-ratio and tire-size alterations, as well as data log, for up to 90 minutes.
These and other unique features-such as the blower mounted on the driver side of the engine and the availability of an air-to-water aftercooler that's configured for the '05 that will make the system a high-output setup-mean the main objective of having a package available for the '05s has been successfully achieved. As with any other Vortech blower kit for 4.6 Mustangs, several other major components are also included, such as higher-capacity fuel injectors, a high-flow bypass valve, and the usual Vortech-style bulletproof mounting bracketry. The other standard supporting parts like oil-feed and drain assemblies, all inlet and discharge connections, and other related mounting hardware are also included.
As is the case for most late-model Mustang applications, Vortech offers the supercharger in a standard satin finish or with a polished housing, and both are available in either standard or high-output setups, which adds the aftercooler. Pricing at this point ranges from under $4,000 (standard kit with a satin finish) to a little over $5,000 (high-output kit with a polished finish).
The car featured here is equipped with a standard system that makes about 8-9 psi of boost. The high-output air-to-water aftercooled system pullied to produce around 10-11 psi will be available by the time you read this, and this car will be used to prototype that setup.
Vortech forecasts that the three-valve 4.6 with the standard system and correct tune will produce around 410 hp at the flywheel. The engine and high-output aftercooled system is likely to produce upwards of 450 hp at the flywheel. Take approximate parasitic drivetrain losses into consideration, and these figures will equate to somewhere around 350-380 rear-wheel horsepower, factoring in variations with each individual car.