Ford Racing Performance Parts...
Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP) produces a blower kit for the '10 Shelby GT500 that will bring output to a stellar 675 rwhp and 629 lb-ft of torque. The kit is 50-state emissions legal when used with the FRPP computer re-calibration.
Factory-supplied horsepower has launched us into a new golden generation of hot rodding not seen since the '60s muscle-car era. In some respects, we are living through better times since OEM power is far greater than anything Detroit ever produced, and it's doing so with reduced emissions and outstanding mpg ratings. Some might argue that the muscle-car era did offer more variety, but the horsepower of today far exceeds that of yesteryear. The forthcoming '11 Mustang GT has a 5.0L producing 412 hp-a Shelby GT500 makes 500 rwhp off the showroom floor (or more), and let's not forget the wild offerings from Roush, Saleen, Shelby, SMS, and Steeda.
MM&FF tested a '10 Shelby GT500 in the Oct. '09 issue ("Shelby Shakedown"), and the results were outstanding. It cranked out 502 rwhp and 476 rwtq and ran mid-11s at about 120 mph on the dragstrip (using Mickey Thompson ET Street 26x11.5 tires). And don't think the latest Shelby GT500 is all brawn-the fit, finish, and refinement of interior and exterior appearances show Ford's commitment to producing an awesome modern muscle car. As great as the '10 Shelby GT500 is, there is always room for improvement.
This month, we sample the offerings directly from Ford's in-house aftermarket component company, Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP). It seems the factory hot-rod parts division has ramped up its efforts since the introduction of the S197 platform back in 2005.
The GT500 comes with an Eaton...
The GT500 comes with an Eaton M122 supercharger on top of a 5.4L engine that features cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder. In stock trim, our test vehicle unleashed 501 rwhp and 474 lb-ft of torque, which is on par with the '10 Shelby GT500 MM&FF tested last year.
Case in point, the 750hp Supercharger Upgrade Kit (PN M-6066-MSVT29PC) for the '10 Shelby GT500. We stopped by Downs Ford Motorsport (Toms River, New Jersey) to check out the addition of this kit to Shay Varone's brand-new Shelby. Based around a replacement blower from Whipple Superchargers, it boasts a displacement of 2.9L and is classified as a twin-screw-style supercharger.
A twin-screw blower is different than the Eaton M122 Roots-style supercharger that comes from the factory. The twin-screw compresses the air internally in the housing, whereas the Roots-style blower compresses the air in the intake manifold. Typically, a Roots blower will produce more low-end grunt while the twin-screw is more efficient in the upper rpm levels.
The battery is removed, as...
The battery is removed, as is the stock supercharger, EGR pipe, and the intake tract.....
Ricky Riccardi of Downs Ford Motorsport told us that the kit is more than just a blower upgrade. A dual-bore throttle body (PN M-9926-CJ) is included in the system. Opening up the restriction in front of a positive-displacement-style supercharger will yield large gains and 30 rwhp is not unrealistic. A 123mm MAF sensor is utilized so the 2.9L and dual-bore throttle body have ample air to suck in. More air is useless without additional fuel, and a new FRPP high-volume dual fuel pump assembly is part of the package. An FRPP handheld ECU calibrator modifies the tune and keeps the car 50-state legal.
"The kits are sold as a package. You receive a voucher that requires you to go online to register your kit. Once that happens, FRPP builds a tune and ships it the next day. We have sold and installed many of these kits and have not had one customer have a problem because FRPP builds it to be safe," said Riccardi. He did say that if a customer is adamant on getting a custom tune or has other mods that require a custom ECU recalibration, then Downs Ford Motorsport works with Dwayne Gutridge of Big Daddy Performance to handle those requests.
....These components are replaced...
....These components are replaced with new ones from FRPP.
If there is one drawback to the 750hp kit, it's that installation voids the powertrain warranty, but the non-powertrain components are still covered.
"While we take the industry's best steps to ensure long life with our testing, we cannot warranty the car at that power level. With normal street driving, the likelihood of having an issue is slim," says Jesse Kershaw of FRPP.
FRPP includes new NGK spark...
FRPP includes new NGK spark plugs, which Shaun Lacko gapped at 0.035 inch. The NGK plugs are a traditional style, unlike the....
....'05-'07 4.6L Three-Valve...
....'05-'07 4.6L Three-Valve engine that has a specialized plug end and long body.
The 2.9L twin-screw unit does...
The 2.9L twin-screw unit does not require a cowl hood like some other superchargers on the market, however, Lacko had to bend the engine ground strap bracket to clear the inlet tube.
Two dowels were removed from...
Two dowels were removed from the factory blower and placed on the lower manifold. The dowels are used to properly line up the supercharger.
One tip from Lacko is to add...
One tip from Lacko is to add gasket sealer to the bolts on the bottom of the supercharger.....
....It's not very common,...
....It's not very common, but Lacko said he has seen pressure leak through these bolt holes.
The trickle-down effect from...
The trickle-down effect from the Cobra Jet program is seen here with the Whipple Crusher inlet. Removing any restriction in front of a positive-displacement blower helps it provide more boost, without spinning the supercharger harder.
The positive side of the 750hp kit is that it is 50-state emissions compliant, which is amazing given its extreme output. The 50-state legality is only when the FRPP tune is utilized. Kershaw continues: "There are many cases of customers getting one of our kits and then immediately having the calibration re-done to find more power. Those calibrations, however, do not have the durability built in like the FRPP tune. It's common to see catalyst failure and exhaust valves take a tulip shape from the exhaust heat in those cases. In addition, custom tunes do not have emissions approval."
This kit was designed specifically for the '10 GT500. It can't be used for '07-'09 Shelby GT500s due to the calibration difference, as well as the inlet system. Ford Racing sells a specific '07-'09 Shelby GT500 supercharger upgrade system. Its boasts 605 hp (at the crank), and the factory warranty remains if it's installed by an authorized Ford Racing shop.
Kershaw noted that Whipple offers a tuner kit directly; it fits '07-'09 models as well. The system produces the same 675 rwhp that we witnessed from the FRPP kit we tested on the '10 GT500 model.
Lacko and Cook lower the 2.9L...
Lacko and Cook lower the 2.9L twin-screw blower on top of the stock lower manifold, which houses the air-to-water intercooler. ARP bolts are used to fasten the blower to the manifold.
Shaun Lacko and Bob Cook of Downs Ford Motorsport handled the installation; we then made the short drive to Big Daddy Performance for chassis dyno testing. The installation was easy and straightforward, except for the rear bolt on the supercharger. Lacko had to make a custom tool to reach it. The custom tool was basically a straight metal bar with a wrench welded to the end of it. The makeshift tool allowed Lacko to reach the bolt and tighten it down. Other than that, it was a simple blower swap, drop-in fuel pump assembly, and ECU recalibration.
On the dyno, the 2.9L supercharger peaked at 19 psi at the top of the pull, and the dyno read 675 rwhp and 629 tq. That was up from our baseline of 501 rwhp and 474 tq-gains of 174 rwhp and 155 tq.
"There is a bit more left in the tune," said Dwayne Gutridge of Big Daddy Performance as he pointed at the air/fuel mixture. The FRPP tune showed a consistent 12.5:1 A/F ratio, and "the 4.6L and 5.4L modular engines, whether it be the Two-Valve, Four-Valve, or Three-Valve-any of them-like to run rich in the 11-11.5:1 range," says Gutridge.
The stock eight-rib blower...
The stock eight-rib blower belt is reused.
Adding more fuel to our test GT500 would have netted more power-Gutridge wouldn't say how much, but we wouldn't be surprised to see 700 rwhp. Although, as Kershaw stated earlier, doing so would eliminate the emissions-legal status of the kit.
The 750hp package instantly puts the '10 Shelby GT500 into ZR1-slaying territory-just add sticky tires.
Another component sourced...
Another component sourced from the successful Cobra Jet program is this dual-bore billet throttle body. Each bore measures 65 mm, and while a mono-blade-style throttle body makes more power, this FRPP billet unit is said to have stock-like idle qualities and driveability.
The engine is almost ready...
The engine is almost ready to fire up. The 123mm MAF sensor and cold-air kit are installed. The FRPP kit continues to employ the ram-air tube from the front grill, which is a standard feature on the '10 Shelby GT500.
Cook fills the supercharger...
Cook fills the supercharger with a proprietary lubricant, which was thin. According to Lacko, the Whipple blower features an inspection window to check the level. There isn't a set timeframe to change the fluid as it depends on use and abuse. Lacko told us that the fluid should be changed when it looks dirty.
A new FRPP high-output fuel...
A new FRPP high-output fuel pump assembly is dropped into the tank. The drop-in pump setup is a simple swap-and-play system that plugs into the same wiring harness as the stock setup. The two pumps are modified and flow 255 lph each.
From 501 rwhp to an impressive...
From 501 rwhp to an impressive 675 rwhp in a short period of time-the total installation took around 3-4 hours, including the fabrication of a custom wrench to tighten a hard-to-get bolt.
"Ford Racing tests its calibrations...
"Ford Racing tests its calibrations extensively in a wide range of conditions," said Wayne Geoffrey of FRPP. "Our engineers take extreme care to provide as much power and torque as can be safely delivered, and also to deliver high durability and exceptional drivability. Ford Racing calibrations are developed with certain protections against damage, both short-term and long-term, caused by particular internal conditions-mainly heat, spark knock, or pre-ignition."
Due to multiple calibrations,...
Due to multiple calibrations, FRPP requires an online registration and will ship the tune to the customer. A memory chip is installed in the handheld programmer. It is connected to the ECU through the OBD-II port under the dashboard.
We relied on Big Daddy Performance...
We relied on Big Daddy Performance for our dyno testing. It's home to legendary Mustang racer Dwayne Gutridge and is located in Lakewood, New Jersey.