2003 Ford Mustang GT- Installing A Vortech V3-Si Supercharger

Tag : Tube Fabrication

Testing And Tuning
The Mustang's baseline dyno test showed us that there wasdefinitely room for improvement. With 182 hp to the rear wheels,the Mustang's power-to-weight ratio was 2 pounds per horsepowerhigher than a Honda Accord. That was sure to change. Sinceinstalling the supercharger, peak horsepower moved from 182 to 246,and torque from 195 to 257. The biggest change was not at peak, butshowed up in the higher power range. When it comes to racing,whether it be on the road course or the strip, this is where theengine lives. At some points in the powerband, such as at 6,000rpm, the supercharger showed as much as a 100hp improvement.Although the final dyno numbers are not groundbreaking, theimprovements are. To give you an idea of what this power will dofor you, based on a calculation of curb weight and rear-wheelhorsepower, a stock automatic Mustang GT will run a 15.4-secondquarter-mile time. With the supercharger, that time drops to 13.77seconds, so you better get a helmet!
On The StreetAfter the key turns, the distinct blower sound catchesyour attention. This whine is recognized by car enthusiasts of allages as the sound of power. The change in low-rpm grunt is obviousright away, followed by an even larger charge at the top end.Despite the extra 100 hp, and commensurate climb in torque, thecar's driveability was unchanged. There was no surging oroverheating-phenomena commonly linked to supercharged cars. Fromafar, with its stock body and whisper-quiet exhaust, the Mustangseemed stock-prey to almost any later-model V-8 ride, but make nomistake, this was no longer your everyday Mustang.
Still Not Enough?
Want to make even more power? One of the major limiting factors ofhow much you can gain from your supercharger is the heat theyproduce. It is a byproduct of physics that when air is compressed,heat is created. To get this heat out of the incoming air, anaftercooler is needed. Vortech makes a supplemental kit for theblower installed here that integrates an air-to-water chargecooler. The system resembles that of a car's cooling system with afinned heat exchanger, water pump, and water tank. The ambient airpasses through the heat exchanger, which is installed on theradiator support. The cooled water moves into the aftercooler,removing some of the heat created by the blower. With the coolerintake charge, the engine can handle a higher boost pressure fromthe supercharger. This, like the initial installation, calls for acomputer recalibration. The aftercooler kit can be purchased at thesame time as the supercharger kit, and a $1,000 savings is realizedover the standalone price.
Big Tip
You'll save yourself a lot of time down the road if you read theinstallation manual prior to starting. That way, you'll knowexactly what to expect throughout the installation. You'll alsoknow what needs to be done prior to installing the system. In thisspecific case, there is a note that tells you that one of the veryfirst things to be done is to remove the computer and place it inthe supplied UPS prepaid overnight shipping package. This packageis preaddressed to Vortech, and will arrive at Vortech no laterthan 10:00 a.m. the day after shipping. Vortech usually turns themaround that same day, or in the worst case, the next day.
Camaros & Firebirds Too!
Vortech offers similar kits to cover all third- andfourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds. All of these kits come inentry-level (standard output) and high-output (with aftercooler)versions, with the exception of the '88-92 kits. As with theMustang kit, you can save money by ordering the aftercooler kitinitially, if that is in your game plan. Most of these kits come insatin, as well as polished.