Edelbrock suggested we utilize...
Edelbrock suggested we utilize the company's bottle heater to keep the bottle pressure between 900 and 1,000 psi, which is the optimum bottle pressure in any nitrous system.
We added Edelbrock's quick-release...
We added Edelbrock's quick-release bottle bracket to mount the bottle in the hatch area. Another extra we added was a purge valve to ensure fresh nitrous is in the lines and to bleed bottle pressure if it creeps passed 1,100.
The engine combination is...
The engine combination is a budget-minded buildup-save for the carb from Pro Systems. A stock block was bored to 4.030 inches and stuffed with 10.5:1-compression pistons, Chevy rods, stock crankshaft, Patriot Freedom heads, a 0.540-inch lift camshaft, and a Profession Products single-plane intake manifold.
Ten Tips from Edelbrock's tuning guru, Steve Johnson
Our good friend Steve Johnson, Motorsports Director at Edelbrock and head dude at the specialty nitrous shop, Induction Solutions (www.induction-solutions.com) shared a few nitrous tips with us.
1. Never inject nitrous into an engine that is not running.
2. Always check to make sure your fuel system is capable of providing enough fuel for the nitrous system. If you're running one fuel pump for both, then make sure the pump is capable of doing so.
3. Follow the instructions closely, and pay attention to the manufacturer's tune-up information. Understanding how much timing to pull out for the nitrous system's horsepower level is key.
4. Mount the nitrous bottle with the tag up and at about a 15-degree angle facing toward the front of the car. Most standard nitrous bottles have the siphon positioned properly when the bottle tag is up. If you want to mount a bottle straight up, you can turn the outlet to the rear of the car.
5. Run colder spark plugs. The instructions should have a recommendation on the heat range.
6. After a pass, check your spark plugs (all of them) to verify whether the engine is running rich or lean. A lightly tanned porcelain, with little to no bluing on the tip of the ground strap, is usually a safe place to start.
7. Always run bottle pressure in between 900 and 1,000 psi, or as stated in your instructions.
8. Get a purge kit, bottle heater, and an inline nitrous pressure gauge; it will be money well spent. The purge will ensure you put fresh nitrous in the engine and eliminate a delay at the crack of the solenoid. The bottle heater keeps the bottle pressure up. The pressure gauge helps you keep track of the pressure, aiding in consistent and effective nitrous usage.
9. Medical-grade nitrous is not better than non-medical grade. It is also illegal to possess medical stuff, so don't even bother trying to get some for your Mustang.
10. Start with the smallest jets and work your way up from there. Resist the urge to go directly to the biggest horsepower ratings.
Bonus Tip: Never run nitrous through your engine below 2,500 rpm and always when at wide-open throttle.