The first thing we did was...
The first thing we did was take out the stock airbox and inlet tube. We then carefully removed the throttle body as we're reusing it with the blower.
With the kit being nonintercooled, the blower is advertised to create only 5-6 pounds of boost. While this may seem like a small amount, it's actually a great boost level for the Three-Valve. "On the 400hp kits, we kept the boost limited to a point where we could make the (horsepower) number safely without adding more complexity," Kershaw says. "Thanks to the excellent thermal efficiency of the twin-screw blower Whipple provides us, we were able to make 400 hp without requiring an intercooler, and it's still very safe. By keeping the intercooler out of the base system, it requires far less install time and keeps the cost down."
One of the reasons why the kit is so easy to install is that it comes with everything needed to bolt it on and go in two days time. "With this kit, you shouldn't need anything else," Kershaw says. "We include new injectors, which are sourced from the Ford GT, along with everything you would need to make it a painless installation."
While it's not recommended for automatic-equipped cars, those with S197 GTs can upgrade to the 500hp kit if they so choose. "When you go over 400 hp, you will need more fuel delivery," Kershaw says. "This is non-negotiable. If you don't have the extra fuel, at cold temperatures the fuel pump won't be able to keep up with the fuel demand no matter what size injectors you run. To get to the 500hp level, we include the GT500 fuel pumps with a unique wiring harness."
To make the install easier,...
To make the install easier, take a piece of masking tape and mark the drive-by-wire and mass air wires.
You could also swap the blower pulleys, but once again, this requires a change in the fuel system and in the software. "The pulley size is only one part of the equation due to the drive-by-wire and torque-limiting software," Kershaw says. "This software controls the power output via the throttle body. Changing the pulley without changing the software may result in nothing more than making your blower work harder for no good reason."
Since we agreed that Project MILF would be a docile yet hungry animal, we decided to leave well enough alone and install the 400hp kit as FRPP intended. We cruised Project MILF over to Crazy Horse Racing in South Amboy, New Jersey, where Chris Winter performed the task of getting our steed to breathe deeper. The install took us two days, was straightforward, and, thanks to the expansive and clear instruction manual, surprisingly easy. In fact, there was no fabrication involved. The only glitch came with the strut tower brace we installed previously. Due to the blower's taller height, the brace would not fit. Keep in mind, though, that as we mentioned in the last issue, FRPP is currently developing a fix for this problem.
The end result was noticeable. After performing both before and after dyno and dragstrip tests, the car showed a gain of almost 85 hp and almost 44 lb-ft of torque. That equated to an increase of 8 mph (into a 12-mph head wind), and we saw a decrease of more than 0.8 second in the quarter-mile. We went from 13.52 to 12.66 in the quarter, still on the stock tires. Along with the better numbers, the car felt factory stock on the street, unless you get into the loud pedal, during which time the car will break the rear tires loose without a second thought. Hitting the local supermarket will be a drag of a whole other kind now.
 Next, we removed the fuel...  Next, we removed the fuel rails and coil packs. When removing the fuel rails, carefully drain the fuel into a cup or small jug as it will keep the gas from making a mess of things. |  At this time, Winter also...  At this time, Winter also swapped the stock plugs for the ones that come with the kit and torqued them down to 25 ft-lb. |  Once all of the vacuum lines,...  Once all of the vacuum lines, wires, and hoses are out, loosen the bolts to the stock intake manifold and remove it. Once it's off the engine, take out the O-ring from the throttle body mouth, and throw the manifold in the discard pile. |