Let's face it, Mustang enthusiasts are big fans of nitrous oxide-for years it's been making fast fillies even faster and at a reasonable cost. We decided to have a little fun at the track by bolting on some of the latest nitrous components from Nitrous Express. Based in Wichita Falls, Texas, Nitrous Express has attacked the nitrous-oxide aftermarket, offering state-of-the-art nitrous systems and accessories to make your ride twice as fun.
We originally planned to bolster our latest project car, Stolen Goods, with a nitrous-oxide system, but we opted instead to use a vehicle that desperately needed a good kick in the pants-the '92 5.0 Mustang notchback belonging to Brian Bohnsack. Saddled by a mostly stock engine and the dreaded AOD automatic transmission, it was severely lacking at the dragstrip. When it came time to drop the hammer at the lights, the coupe eased through the quarter-mile at a leisurely 15.05 seconds at a whopping 92 mph.
Despite a pair of Flowmaster mufflers, an off-road H-pipe, 3.55 gears, and Ford Racing Performance Parts underdrive pulleys, the Mustang was running and hiding from some of the imports at the track, which was something that we as muscle-Mustang enthusiasts just couldn't let happen again.
After talking with Nitrous...
After talking with Nitrous Express' marketing director Randall Mathis, we decided on the Stage One EFI system (PN 20915-10). This is a universal EFI nitrous kit that uses NX's Shark nozzle to deliver a highly atomized air/fuel charge. Nitrous and fuel delivery are adjustable using the provided jets, and you can order anything from 35 to 150 wheel horsepower.
After consulting with NX Marketing Director Randall Mathis, we went with the company's Stage One EFI system, which is a universal EFI nitrous-oxide delivery kit that uses a single nozzle for injection. After perusing the NX Web catalog, we also specified the RPM Window activation switch. Mathis suggested we use the company's new throttle-position activation switch as well. The TPS switch reads the throttle-position sensor to know when the throttle is wide open or close to it. This eliminates having to bend the mechanical throttle switch bracket and adds to the stealth factor, since there is only an extra wire going to the sensor, which is easily concealed if necessary.
Performing the installation is our handyman-at-large, George Xenos, who did a bang-up job on our '93 Cobra, Project Stolen Goods. Xenos made the install appear as factory as aftermarket can get, and he served as crew chief at the track, making sure the bottle pressure was correct prior to all passes.
Having originally planned to install the NX system on Stolen Goods, we stopped by HP Performance in Orange Park, Florida, where we've performed most of the tuning on the Cobra. Though we decided the notchback was a better candidate, HP filled up our nitrous bottle for us. Top-notch refill stations like HP use a quality pump to administer the nitrous quickly and efficiently. Some places will need three hours to fill a bottle, whereas HP needed about 10 minutes.
Prior to the install, we added an upgraded fuel pump from Brothers Performance. The BBK 255-lph in-tank pump (PN BBK1607) would ensure that the engine and fuel solenoid were getting the proper amount of fuel. We've seen high-mileage 5.0 engines start to go lean with 80hp setups, so the 25 minutes we spent installing the $134 pump was well worth the added margin of safety.
Installation took a day and a half, with the RPM window switch and throttle-position activation switch adding a bit more time both in the installation and wiring. If it's going to be a permanent install, then you'll want to take your time mapping out where everything should go so it all works well within its environment. Once the wiring was complete, we got to the fun part.
After filling up the bottle and installing the 100hp jets, we headed to Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida, and laid down some baseline runs. A 15.12 followed by a 15.16 (both at 92 mph) had us gravely concerned about the tricked-out Lexus IS300 in the other lane. Our '93 Mustang is behind the times, technology-wise, but we were about to travel through time with the flick of a switch.
 NX'S RPM Activated window...  NX'S RPM Activated window switch (PN 18959) is a great safeguard against nitrous engagement at inopportune times. You don't want the nitrous to engage too early, and if you miss a shift, the window switch will keep the nitrous from shooting up the rpm too quickly. |  NX's Randall Mathis also sent...  NX's Randall Mathis also sent us NX's GenX-2 accessory kit (PN GENX-2), which includes an automatic bottle heater, a purge valve, and a fuel-pressure safety switch. |  We originally planned to install...  We originally planned to install the nitrous system in a hatchback Mustang and had installed this custom rear-seat delete from K-Dezines. The company offers numerous options on the kit and can provide the perfect mounting surface for any nitrous bottle or bottles. |
 The Rear-seat delete provides...  The Rear-seat delete provides easy access to the spare tire and jack. |  Our seat delete was a basic...  Our seat delete was a basic model, but subwoofer enclosures and nitrous bottle mounts are available. Once the seat delete is installed, you can fit your helmet inside the front compartment. |  Installing an aftermarket...  Installing an aftermarket fuel pump isn't that difficult. The less gas in the tank, the better. Start by supporting the tank and removing the two strap bolts. Unbolt the screw holding the filler neck on, and lower the tank until you can disconnect all of the wiring and vent lines. The most mysterious part of the whole process is getting the pump assembly out of the tank, which, after removing the ring on top, is simply a matter of tilting and then twisting the assembly until it comes out. |