Just By flicking a switch, output increased by nearly 100 rwhp in the '84 Mustang that was used for this article. That wonderful increase in power came thanks to a plate nitrous system from Edelbrock. Nitrous has long been known to be a cheap and effective horsepower meter. The Performer RPM kit (adjustable to 250 hp) was set at 100 hp, and we repeatedly made 98 more rear-wheel horsepower than our baseline runs in naturally aspirated trim. That equates to approximately a 112hp increase at the flywheel.
 Dan Kester of JPC Racing handled...  Dan Kester of JPC Racing handled the installation of an Edelbrock Performer RPM nitrous kit on shop owner Justin Burcham's '84 Mustang GT. |  The Performer RPM plate comes...  The Performer RPM plate comes complete, and here's the bulk of the kit. Two solenoids are utilized: one to control nitrous and the other for fuel. |  The bars running across the...  The bars running across the carb spacer are the spray bars. They are stacked in this application. One flows nitrous, while the other injects fuel. |
The action of flipping the switch refers to us arming the nitrous system, which at wide-open throttle (WOT), adds the nitrous and fuel mixture. Simply stated, nitrous-oxide injection is a way to add additional air and burn more fuel without relying on Mother Nature. Nitrous (N20) is composed of two atoms of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The atom of oxygen is what our engines crave, since an internal-combustion engine harnesses the power created when we burn air and fuel. The two parts of nitrogen help to deliver the concentrated oxygen part to the combustion chamber. Once inside the cylinders, the combustion process (and subsequent heat) breaks down the nitrogen and frees the oxygen. Due to the greater oxygen content, additional fuel is required to maintain the correct air/fuel ratio for proper burn inside the cylinders.
A plate nitrous system in carbureted applications requires a simple carb spacer with spray bars running through it. One side feeds nitrous while the other feeds fuel. Nitrous oxide is stored under pressure, inside a bottle, and is delivered to the plate in liquid form. Once it's introduced into the atmosphere, nitrous turns from a liquid state to a gaseous one. It's mixed with fuel and sprayed into the intake runners, through the heads, and into the combustion chambers. The process is simple, effective, and most importantly-cost effective.
Like everything in life, moderate dosages can be healthy, and too much is harmful. We have seen nitrous work great on stock engines, though the owner must exercise restraint and not put too much in at one time or manipulate the tune to push the engine too hard. It's far too easy to load up the big nitrous pills and let it rip.
 Solenoids regulate the flow...  Solenoids regulate the flow of nitrous or fuel to the plate. Turning on the nitrous system means that the solenoids open up and let the nitrous and fuel flow into the plate. Solenoids come in many different shapes and sizes based on the volume the system is designed to flow. |  Remove the carburetor in order...  Remove the carburetor in order to mount the plate underneath it. |  Due to the extra height of...  Due to the extra height of the nitrous plate, Edelbrock provided taller studs in order to bolt on the carburetor. |
Edelbrock supplied us with a plate nitrous system designed to work on traditional 4150-style intake flange openings. The system is adjustable from a 100hp shot to a whopping 250hp increase. The kit comes complete with nitrous bottle, lines, wiring, a WOT activation switch, and other stuff to successfully add this system to virtually any carbureted vehicle. Additional equipment installed includes a purge kit, a bottle heater, and quick-release bottle brackets-all sourced from the Edelbrock catalog.
The test vehicle belongs to Justin Burcham of JPC Racing, and this '84 Mustang GT is his former daily driver. The car has been sitting for a few years, and he decided it was time to get it back on the road. The engine is fairly basic-a long-rod 306ci. The crank is stock, and it swings Chevy steel connecting rods and 10.5:1-compression pistons. A mild flat-tappet camshaft features 0.540-inch lift on both intake and exhaust. The heads are a set of Patriot Freedom aluminum castings (180cc intake ports), and the intake is a rather inexpensive Professional Products single-plane piece. Burcham bought the intake from some guy for peanuts, and he now knows why it was so cheap-one runner was cracked. We used JB weld to close it up for the test. Shortly after our photo shoot, an Edelbrock Victor Jr. was bolted to the engine.
 Two new gaskets are included...  Two new gaskets are included in the Edelbrock kit: one for under the plate and one for the top of it. |  The plate goes on effortlessly,...  The plate goes on effortlessly, and Edelbrock added directional arrows... |  ...eliminating the chance...  ...eliminating the chance of putting it on upside-down. |
 We wrestled with the solenoid...  We wrestled with the solenoid mounting locations in order to clear our fuel lines, ignition wires, and throttle-cable bracket. Edelbrock provides plates to mount them off of any of the four corners. After trying virtually every variation, we mounted the solenoids upside-down. The instructions informed us that is acceptable. |  Jets are used to regulate...  Jets are used to regulate the amount of nitrous and fuel that flow into the engine. A 100hp increase in the engine uses 55 nitrous and 61 fuel jets-more nitrous requires more fuel. Edelbrock provides a jetting chart for levels up to 250 hp. |  The jets are inserted in the...  The jets are inserted in the orifice leading into the plate. Don't mix up the nitrous and fuel jets. |