Fastlane's Dustin Rizzo drops...
Fastlane's Dustin Rizzo drops three Walbro 255-gph fuel pumps into the stock fuel tank of Jaimie Cisneros' '04 Cobra. Three pumps are possible thanks to Fore Precision Works' triple-pump hat fuel-pump bracket, a badass CNC'd, billet work of art that allows in-tank fitment for as many as three stock-style fuel pumps, dependent on an application's fuel requirements, in '99-'04 Mustangs.
As late-model Mustangs go, we believe it's probably difficult for any enthusiast worth his salt as a 'Stangbanger to not love the '03-'04 Cobras. Prior to the '07 debut of Shelby GT500s, Ford's supercharged Pony, better known as Terminator, sat at the top of the Mustang's hierarchy, with it's 390 hp and huge potential to make much bigger steam with the addition of just a few bolt-on parts.
Power adders are by far the most-popular bolt-ons for making a Snake's back-tire venom more potent. However, as we've learned over the years-actually, since 1999, when the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board dropped their collective hammers on evaporative emissions control for all automobiles-adding aftermarket components that will further enhance a Mustang's already impressive power mandates improved fuel delivery, especially on a factory-blown Terminator.
A New Edge Cobra's stock, non-return-style fuel system uses two in-tank pumps to feed fuel to the stock 39-lb/hr injectors. With a non-return-style system, gasoline flows only one way from the tank and is regulated on an as-needed basis based on engine load, manifold vacuum, or boost, by a fuel-pressure sensor in the fuel rail and by the PCM.
The dual-pump setup works fine for hopped-up Snakes that put as much as 550 hp on the ground, but the big steam we all crave really isn't attainable with the stock fuel system, mainly due to the fact that big-time horsepower requires fuel volume. Even if the two stock pumps are swapped with bigger units, without a bypass of some sort in the fuel-line schema, there still is no way to bleed off unused fuel. The subsequent pressure backup can eventually lead to an overheating condition and severe pump cavitation, which can certainly put a modified Terminator's engine in dire straits when the boost starts climbing.
Our test ride features the...
Our test ride features the basic bolt-on pieces-cold-air induction, throttle body, 2.75-inch supercharger pulley, upgraded heat exchanger and exhaust-that are found on most daily driven Cobras before they're taken to the next level, usually with the installation of a bigger blower, twin turbochargers, and more.
Return-style fuel systems are far from new. Fuel is pumped at high-speed directly to the fuel rails, and after the engine has used a portion of the gasoline, the residual fuel then passes through a bypass regulator and is returned back to the tank. As we stated earlier in this report, the return-style method was the norm for pre-'99 Ponies. Many times, the stock systems could easily be enhanced with second pumps, bigger lines and rails, and so on, to support power increases that were brought about with the addition of power adders.
While the return-style concept and principles haven't changed, some of the components that are used in aftermarket setups definitely have evolved. Fore Precision Works' triple-pump hat is one such component,. It was brought to our attention during a phone conversation with Anthony Hoekstra of Fastlane, who tells us that the trick, billet fuel-pump holder from Fore Precision is the cornerstone of the Houston-based 'Stang emporium's new turnkey, return-style fuel-system package for '03-'04 Cobras.
In our never-ending mission to seek and find the latest in Mustang newness, your tech editor added H-Town as a stop during his travels in the Lone Star State to see what Fastlane's fuel setup is really all about. Continue on through the photos and captions as Dustin Rizzo and Jeremy Zimmerman take you through an installation of Fastlane's Terminator Fuel System on Jaimie Cisneros' '04 Cobra. It's a perfect candidate for the upgrade, as the stock fuel pumps were barely hanging on when we began the project, and Jaimie has plans of someday bolting a big Whipple supercharger on his Snake's engine.
 After disconnecting the negative...  After disconnecting the negative battery cable and removing the Cobra's air-inlet hardware to access their primary work area in the engine compartment, Fastlane technicians Dustin Rizzo and Jeremy Zimmerman tag-teamed the fuel rail and injector swap. |  |  Fastlane's Terminator fuel...  Fastlane's Terminator fuel system includes Red Horse Performance ProSeries stainless, double-braided premium hose and a series of 30-, 45-, 60-, and 90-degree straight and swivel AN -6 and AN -8 hose ends, as well as all of the various other anodized black fittings, bulkheads, and adapters that are required for completing the install. We used the optional ProSeries black stainless-core hose for our project. |
 For now, Jaimie's Snake keeps...  For now, Jaimie's Snake keeps it's factory 39-lb/hr fuel injectors, which Jeremy installs in the Fore Precision Works billet fuel rail that's included in the Fastlane upgrade. |  Here's a closer look at one...  Here's a closer look at one of the Fore Precision Works CNC-machined, aluminum, big-bore Terminator fuel rails that are included in Fastlane's return-style system. The low-profile rails are designed specifically for '03-'04 Cobras, and fit in the factory position without any modifications. |  The driver-side Fore fuel...  The driver-side Fore fuel rail's mounting location for the factory fuel-pressure sensor is slightly different from the sensor's location in a stock rail, which thus requires minor trimming of the vacuum accessory bracket for reinstalling the vacuum control solenoid (activator valve). |
 With the modified bracket...  With the modified bracket and an aluminum backing plate in place, the vacuum-control solenoid bolts in place on the blower slightly forward of its original position. |  Red Horse's AN -6 line and...  Red Horse's AN -6 line and this 45-degree fitting are used for the fuel-return line in the Fastlane Terminator fuel system. The outer part of the fuel tank's baffle must be bent slightly to allow returning fuel to fall directly onto the pickup for the fuel pumps. |  Based on Jaime's future plans...  Based on Jaime's future plans for going big with his Cobra's horsepower, three Walbro 255-gph fuel pumps are added in our upgrade. One of the cool features of the triple-pump hat is the fact that three pumps are not required for using the bracket. The system can function with one, two, or three pumps installed. |